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project: laptop reborn *mini project*

Discussion in 'Project Logs' started by megaglowz, 1 Aug 2005.

  1. megaglowz

    megaglowz What's a Dremel?

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    Ok
    I got a Dell cpi-a 300xt for some work i did on a friends pc

    Here it is in all its crappy glory!
    [​IMG]
    lol
    Specs ATM.
    300 mhz pII
    128 meg pc100 ram
    3.2 gig hdd.
    :(
    Any way i have ordered an mmc-2 pIII 500 mhz proc.
    2 128 sticks of pc100 low profile ram
    And am hunting a hdd,i have a 10 gig maybe(depends if HAL will ever get off his arse..lol)
    Ill probibly end up just buying a 40-60 gig hdd.
    Ive done ALOT of research on the lappy and this is the max for the hardware.

    Im starting this project as a filler while im working on that stupid window for "uv dark energy"
    Yes Im still phucking with that.
    So first thing was to take her all apart.
    [​IMG]
    Going to start prep work now for painting.....But I wanted to do somthing a little diffrent.
    CD rom....check,took the top off,that was a pain(litle bitty ass screws)
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    Here is the top in all its crappy glory!(pic from google images)
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    I lost my cut out wheel shaft so i did this with a 1/16th drill bit, a grinding stone,and a emery board...lol
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    lol
    Im not sure on this yet.Im eather going with plexi...Or plexi and this.
    [​IMG]
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    Its just held there by tape at the moment till I can do a little shaping and get it to fit flush with the surface.

    After i figure out my paint color's ill think about what color leds ill use to light this bad boy up.
    So thats it so far,ill be taping and priming this weekend
    But I can't get to far with it till its upgrades come in,i have to flash the bios for the laptop to recognize the new proc.i had to order a floppy drive for it so i can do that.should be in this weekend.
    I want to make sure it works before I go any further.
    I also ordered a new keyboard for it as this one has a busted backspace,spacebar and B.

    I hope I will have a better cam this weekend.And Ill shoot some pics of the stuff I did, and the stuff that comes in for it.

    wooohoo!
     
    Last edited: 20 Aug 2005
  2. mattthegamer463

    mattthegamer463 What's a Dremel?

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    um, ok, so first off, you essentially insulted the same computer im on right now, my best laptop, that i like very much. but i cant blame you, it takes forever to start and cant play any games, but its good for school.

    second, make sure that the plexi isnt too close because heat might deform it and make it droop or something. also, watch out for the laser beam, it might come through the cd ( ive heard of this happening) and blind you.

    so far good craftsmanship on it, itl look great with some leds in there.
     
  3. megaglowz

    megaglowz What's a Dremel?

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    lol,
    Its a great little machine,if i can just get windows 2000 on it...
    It dose not seem to like the install disk's i have.
    Its a legal windows 2000 disk and ive tryed the boot disks it came with and Bootdisk.com's set,all i get is a BSOD when the 4th boot disk is done.

    what OS do you run on yours???
     
    Last edited: 1 Aug 2005
  4. Idioteque

    Idioteque Telephasic Mongoose

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    run linux on it... buy pcformat for a free version of suse linux 9.2 (if u really can't be bothered to download it) but don't really think that laptop is any good for running microsoft OSes
     
  5. Bluefan

    Bluefan test 123

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    Nice idea, modding a laptop that far :thumb:
     
  6. megaglowz

    megaglowz What's a Dremel?

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    Well here it is.
    I finaly finished a mod..lol
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    If i can figure out how to light the window,i will..lol.
    The paint is MetalSpecks Burnt Copper.

    Laptop specs are now as follows.
    500 mhz pIII
    256 meg pc100 ram
    DVD drive.
    40 gig 5200 rpm harddrive w 16 mb cache.
    Orinioco gold wifi.
    Windows xp pro.

    Mods are as follows.
    Upgraded from 300 mhz to 500
    Upgraded from 64 megs o ram to 256.
    Upgraded from 3.2 gig hd to 40 gig.
    Window for dvd rom and modded dvd rom.
    Paint and pinstripping(there are 5 coats of paint and 5 coats of clear.)
    Modded chassis and removed alot of metal for weight.
    Upgraded internal speakers from the pos ones in it.
    New keyboard.

    Thanks to leduke30 on the dell forums for helping me figure out the hardware aspect of it.
     
  7. megaglowz

    megaglowz What's a Dremel?

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    Some pics out in the sun
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  8. megaglowz

    megaglowz What's a Dremel?

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    The desktop now :naughty:

    [​IMG] :cool:
     
  9. gometro33

    gometro33 What's a Dremel?

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    Awesome color. I really like it. Two questions: does the mesh hurt your wrist when you're typing? What theme is that for your desktop?
     
  10. megaglowz

    megaglowz What's a Dremel?

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    answer#1 you cant even feel it.
    answer#2 and its copperdeck,windowblinds
    the wallpaper is copperdeck II :thumb:
     
  11. THEkorean

    THEkorean 42

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    NICE mod ill do that with my laptop when it gets old and stinky :p
    1 word of advice, you should put a thin layer of plexi or some realy thin palstic over the mesh kuz if you sweat into the cd drive or spill into it your screwed :) anyhow nice mod you could paint voodoo on the top and make people think its a uber high end pc lololol
     
  12. megaglowz

    megaglowz What's a Dremel?

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    i might just do that,but i dont even use this thing...lol

    i have an inspiron 9300 to play with :naughty:
     
  13. MobileNeophyte

    MobileNeophyte What's a Dremel?

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    that is one sexxy paint job..wish i could do that to my vaio :(..
    Maby when i get my 14" ibook, anyway i can get that paint online?
     
  14. megaglowz

    megaglowz What's a Dremel?

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    just find a walmart,there carrying in right now.
    and thanks!!
     
  15. kaotic504

    kaotic504 What's a Dremel?

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    is that spray can paint or automotive paint? b/c that looks way to good to be coming from a can. i've shot some metallic blue paint before and it doesn't have flakes like that. hell, i have a pint of Dodge Viper Blue Pearl paint, that's very metallic ( i can see all the mini flakes when i mix it up) and it doesn't look that good.
     
  16. megaglowz

    megaglowz What's a Dremel?

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    no its from a can :jawdrop:

    duplicolor metalspecks,comes in blue,green,red,silver and copper.
    and i used duplicolor clear coat.

    http://www.duplicolor.com/products/metalspecks.html
    :rock:
     
    Last edited: 3 Aug 2005
  17. The_Pope

    The_Pope Geoff Richards Super Moderator

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  18. calnen

    calnen moo!!

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    Thats so cool! I wants one!!!
     
  19. pranks7er

    pranks7er mange tout

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    looks great good job!

    sure u could make good sale on ebay now even with low specs
     
  20. btk100

    btk100 What's a Dremel?

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    :rock:

    Awesome job man, I'm gonna try something like that with an old Compaq I have, but for Linux!

    Is XP run smooth on it?
     

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