Just bagged myself a free comp - Now what to do with it!

Desmo · 01-09-2009, 15:52

Bumped in to my mate at the weekend as he was walking out of Comet. He'd just smashed the screen on his old laptop and had bought a new one. He asked me to recover some files off it so I popped his HDD in to my laptop and copied the files on the a USB drive. Asked him what he wanted to do with the old laptop and he said bin it so I asked to keep it as I could nab some parts.

I don't know the full spec yet but do know it's got 2GB ram and 250GB HDD. My current laptop only has a 120GB hard drive.

I'm thinking of using it as a silent HTPC of sorts. Can plug it straight in to the TV and go from there, controlling it via VNC/RDP with Win7 maybe?

Was also thinking of putting the 250GB HDD in my laptop and dual booting Ubuntu/Windows properly. Whilst virtualising Windows does work, I think dual booting is better overall. This means the 120GB HDD from mine can go in to the HTPC. Not masses of space, but enough to drop a few films on as and when.

Anything else I should or could do?

Mark · 01-09-2009, 16:25

Sounds like a plan. I'd treat the 250GB disk with caution though. If it's taken enough of a knock to smash the screen, has that had any impact on the HDD? Obviously, knowing how the screen got smashed in the first place should give you a good idea.

Desmo · 01-09-2009, 16:40

HDD seems fine. I'll give it a good going over with a decent scan of sorts, but I had no problems grabbing the data off it and it booted absolutely fine in my laptop.

Another thought....what would happen if I removed the current screen? Would the laptop fail to boot? Would something in the firmware or software say "there is no screen" and just stop it from working? I'd quite like to just remove the cracked screen totally.

Desmo · 01-09-2009, 16:44

Just seen it's an Intel Pentium Dual 1.86GHz with Mobile Intel 965 video built in. Should be enough to run 720p mkv's OK?

Mark · 01-09-2009, 17:06

Not sure about the CPU requirements of MKVs, but it seems the graphics chipset is probably GMA X3100. The older GMA 950 can just about handle 720p so yes, it should be fine there.

Burble · 01-09-2009, 17:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Desmo

Another thought....what would happen if I removed the current screen? Would the laptop fail to boot? Would something in the firmware or software say "there is no screen" and just stop it from working? I'd quite like to just remove the cracked screen totally.

It can vary from laptop to laptop. I've got a Dell something-or-other here that has no screen but boots and runs fine. I've also got an HP something-or-other that won't boot without the screen attached. In theory as long as the graphics card is still attached (and that's gonna be on the motherboard) it should work.

iCraig · 01-09-2009, 17:26

Will it blend?

Desmo · 01-09-2009, 17:35

Looks like it already has been

It's a Toshiba Satellite l350 btw.

Psymonkee · 01-09-2009, 20:09

Destroy it Mythbusters style!

Desmo · 01-09-2009, 20:45

Battery is dead

Can't do a thing until I get the charger off him now, although I could start partitioning the HDD and installing some OS's. Am I best doing Windows first and then Linux? Think that's the easier way isn't it as Linux installs grub and sets it all up.

01-09-2009, 15:52	#1
Desmo The Last Airbender Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pigmopad Posts: 11,915	Just bagged myself a free comp - Now what to do with it! Bumped in to my mate at the weekend as he was walking out of Comet. He'd just smashed the screen on his old laptop and had bought a new one. He asked me to recover some files off it so I popped his HDD in to my laptop and copied the files on the a USB drive. Asked him what he wanted to do with the old laptop and he said bin it so I asked to keep it as I could nab some parts. I don't know the full spec yet but do know it's got 2GB ram and 250GB HDD. My current laptop only has a 120GB hard drive. I'm thinking of using it as a silent HTPC of sorts. Can plug it straight in to the TV and go from there, controlling it via VNC/RDP with Win7 maybe? Was also thinking of putting the 250GB HDD in my laptop and dual booting Ubuntu/Windows properly. Whilst virtualising Windows does work, I think dual booting is better overall. This means the 120GB HDD from mine can go in to the HTPC. Not masses of space, but enough to drop a few films on as and when. Anything else I should or could do? __________________

01-09-2009, 16:40	#3
Desmo The Last Airbender Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pigmopad Posts: 11,915	HDD seems fine. I'll give it a good going over with a decent scan of sorts, but I had no problems grabbing the data off it and it booted absolutely fine in my laptop. Another thought....what would happen if I removed the current screen? Would the laptop fail to boot? Would something in the firmware or software say "there is no screen" and just stop it from working? I'd quite like to just remove the cracked screen totally. __________________

01-09-2009, 16:44	#4
Desmo The Last Airbender Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pigmopad Posts: 11,915	Just seen it's an Intel Pentium Dual 1.86GHz with Mobile Intel 965 video built in. Should be enough to run 720p mkv's OK? __________________

01-09-2009, 17:26	#7
iCraig iCustom User Title Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,250	Will it blend? __________________

01-09-2009, 17:35	#8
Desmo The Last Airbender Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pigmopad Posts: 11,915	Looks like it already has been It's a Toshiba Satellite l350 btw. __________________

01-09-2009, 16:25	#2
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Sounds like a plan. I'd treat the 250GB disk with caution though. If it's taken enough of a knock to smash the screen, has that had any impact on the HDD? Obviously, knowing how the screen got smashed in the first place should give you a good idea.

01-09-2009, 17:06	#5
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Not sure about the CPU requirements of MKVs, but it seems the graphics chipset is probably GMA X3100. The older GMA 950 can just about handle 720p so yes, it should be fine there.

01-09-2009, 20:09	#9
Psymonkee A cat wearing a wet suit Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: St.Andrews Posts: 2,023	Destroy it Mythbusters style! __________________ Sonisphere FMC Code: 1k949178

01-09-2009, 20:45	#10
Desmo The Last Airbender Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pigmopad Posts: 11,915	Battery is dead Can't do a thing until I get the charger off him now, although I could start partitioning the HDD and installing some OS's. Am I best doing Windows first and then Linux? Think that's the easier way isn't it as Linux installs grub and sets it all up. __________________

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