Project Laptop Surgery and Ressurection, By NzC

Discussion in 'Project Logs' started by NzC, 13 Oct 2005.

  1. NzC

    NzC What's a Dremel?

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    Project Laptop Surgery and Ressurection, 13th October

    ** COMMENT THREAD **

    Hey everyone! As some of you may know, I just completed my previous project about my room. I am now getting back into some work that is strictly computers--well laptops actually.

    Background
    The science department at my school was given a grant about 4 years ago and they purchased a set of 20 laptops, 20 USB microscopes (pretty sweet actually) and also a set of LabPro interfaces. (LabPro is a lab intrument/data collection system with a USB interface.) As you can imagine, these laptops have taken quite a beating...

    Requirements
    -With little to no cost, repair as many laptops as possible.
    -Running XP Pro Corp with all required software
    -Create an unattended XP CD that also will install all of the required software first login
    -Create an organized check in/out system for the computers.

    Ok, onto the pics and project beginings


    Well, I have one Laptop that someone installed a boot password on (before I was at the school all of the PCs will now not be able to do this) that can not be removed. This is the organ donor.

    [​IMG]
    The donor organs (MoBo).

    [​IMG]
    The donor body.

    The first two that I will be repairing will need to be completely dismantled. One has a damaged power jack (required because usually the laptops function on AC power) and another has a damaged USB port (required for the scopes and LabPro which are the main functions of the laptops).

    [​IMG]
    Sorry its a little blurry, but it is the messed up USB port (Don't know how someone can do this to a USB port).

    [​IMG]
    This is the power connector where 2 of the 3 pins are broken off.

    As I mentioned above, I will also be creating the unattended XP disk with all APPS installed too. There is all kinds of crap I have to do to perfect this.

    [​IMG]
    The guinee pigs for my XP disk.

    ** COMMENT THREAD **
    THAT THREAD IS 99999! w00t!

    Peace,
    Nick
     
    Last edited: 13 Oct 2005
  2. NzC

    NzC What's a Dremel?

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    HEY! Comments for my thread!
     
  3. NzC

    NzC What's a Dremel?

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    I just realized this thread is number 99999 on bit-tech!!
     
  4. woof82

    woof82 What's a Dremel?

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    w00t for thread 99999!! (go you!)

    What I actually came here to say, was that I had the same problem with my usb port. It was a crappy one on my case, and my stupid iPod shuffle is a little too tight fitting. So when I pulled it out it also pulled out the plastic spacer in the port (yours looks like its missing too). I didnt realise at first, so when I tried to put something else in later I bent one of the pins, then I noticed the plastic spacer in the port had been pulled out by my shuffle and was lying on my desk. So I guess thats what happened to yours.
     
  5. Cabe

    Cabe What's a Dremel?

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    If you fancy going down that route, Microsoft have a feature on 2003 server called WSUS which will allow you to create profiles/push out applications across the network.
     
  6. NzC

    NzC What's a Dremel?

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    I would LOVE to go down that route; unfortunately, the IT admins at my school district will not allow us to set up a server and domain for the laptops, and they also will not allow us to use their domain unless we use their configuration (which sucks). Basically, this is the only way to do it. Thanks for the suggestion though!

    Nick
     
  7. ch424

    ch424 Design Warrior

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    Surely if that mobo has the BIOS locked, then you can't use it in another computer as the BIOS is still on the motherboard, right? Might you be able to clear the BIOS by flashing it to a newer version?

    Good luck making the windows cds. :thumb: I'd be cool to see how you did it!

    ch424
     
  8. NzC

    NzC What's a Dremel?

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    I must not have been clear, sorry. I am only using parts off of the MoBo in the other computers, not the whole MoBo. I am desoldering the USB and Power connectors and using them on the 2 laptops with those things damaged. I am also going to replace the KeyBoard on another.

    I already flashed the BIOS but it carried the PW over.

    Once I have it all setup I will describe how I made the CD.


    Nick
     
  9. TTmodder

    TTmodder Hammertime

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    omg how can anybody destroy a usb port
     
  10. ch424

    ch424 Design Warrior

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    Ahh! :duh:
    How frustrating :(

    ch424
     

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