What should I do with it!? :)

[ATC]

I was looking through some of my boxes today that I haven't unpacked since I renovated my office and house. I was surprised to find a "battle scarred" and bloody old Toshiba laptop in there, and it worked! I powered it up, and was swamped with fake virus alerts and tons of malware. And there were a few strains of legit viruses on there (true self-replicators). I spent the last few hours gutting all the unnecessary junk (like AOL and McAfee Mc-Bloatware) and killing all the malware. Good ol' XP is back in action! But now I realize this computer was my mother's old laptop she tossed aside after getting it infected and breaking the keys off the built-in board, lol.

So now I'm wondering what I ought to do with the ol thing. I don't care if I tear it up, but I'm not going to intentionally do so, lol. I at least want it to be a sacrificial lamb for testing risky things I won't dare on my work computers. I also have the latest Ubuntu distro burned on a fresh CD. So I'm highly considering partitioning it to run 3 different systems (the third being my own WIP). So, I'm wondering if anyone has some creative ideas for the fate of this thing? C'mon, you guys are creative! I know you've got it in ya!

P.S.- Tossing it in the air and shooting it with a 12-gauge isn't creative. I mean, who hasn't ever done that? So played out and cliche... Tsk Tsk...

[Combuster]

Install a lean-and-mean linux with grub, install a crosscompiler, and have it drop the kernel binaries in /boot, and you have a portable OS development machine

Or install win'98 so you can test your drivers without reboots

[ATC]

Install a lean-and-mean linux with grub, install a crosscompiler, and have it drop the kernel binaries in /boot, and you have a portable OS development machine

Or install win'98 so you can test your drivers without reboots

I like! I most definitely want a Linux install on it. It will be nice to just have a machine natively running it rather than having to swap to my virtual machine(s) for some Linux fun. I had been planning on doing that with my old spare computer, but I'm still using it as a MASS-MASS-MASS storage device and I'm too lazy to burn a billion DVDs with my files, lol. You see Com, even though you're a bit slow, you can be useful (at times)! Just kidding!

It's definitely not fit to be a "real" development machine... erm... It would actually be a bit embarrassing to tote this deplorable looking broken-keyboard'ed machine around, lol. I can replace that soon though if I feel it's worthy of a few bucks. Just maybe... But I agree, she definitely needs a good Linux distro and all the fancy tools. And of course, I'll plop another install of VS Pro on the XP drive. If I get around to it, I might mod XP for nerdish kicks.

[Thomas]

Hi,
If you have 4-5 such lappies you should give a shot at open mosix. I do have 3 desktops at my home town now,but I dont have time to try .

--Thomas

[ATC]

<- (My face) Lol!

Sounds so awesome. Wish I did have a few more of these to play with it! I'm installing Linux on a second partition right now. I had to make a 1GB USB stick bootable, because the dang CD/DVD drive is trashed, lol. I thought it was an XP problem/result of faulty or infected reg entries, but the BIOS doesn't even recognize it. Anyway, formatting the USB was rather painless. I just hope the install goes well and nothing gets screwed up (happened to poor little ol me before, lol)! This will be my only Linux distro running on real hardware though. Been virtual for ages, but this should be nice!

Well yeah, Linux is working fine. Just need to test that Windows XP is still intact.

[Dex]

Use it to test all the OS's on the forum and do a write up of the down and plus side's of each one.
Eg: how easy was it, to make a boot disk
did they boot ok
How fast did they boot
did they have any app and if so, did they run ok
e.t.c

This is a OS Dev forum, so just putting xp or linux on it, is a kick in the teeth to what this forum stands for, which is making usable OS's.
Once you have done that, turn it into a picture frame, or web server, home automation server or maybe a dashboard widget displayer.

[ATC]

Use it to test all the OS's on the forum and do a write up of the down and plus side's of each one.
Eg: how easy was it, to make a boot disk
did they boot ok
How fast did they boot
did they have any app and if so, did they run ok
e.t.c

This is a OS Dev forum, so just putting xp or linux on it, is a kick in the teeth to what this forum stands for, which is making usable OS's.
Once you have done that, turn it into a picture frame, or web server, home automation server or maybe a dashboard widget displayer.

That's why I left a lot of extra room! I definitely wanted to have an open slot for testing my system/dangerous code and anything else. I can come up with some whacky ideas which I'm too chicken to try on my work computers. I'll gladly test as many systems as I have time to. Of course, those who ask will get preferential testing time. Mind you, I realized last night just how screwed up this computer is. The mouse pad sporadically dies or sends random signals to the hardware, and keyboard is missing keys and the caps lock flickers in and out, etc. I'll fix it all when I'm able to focus on it. Won't cost too much (est. $50-75 tops). But as of now, I could test someone's system and not know if their drivers are faulty or if it's this crappy old hardware (most likely hardware though, lol).

If the demand for dedicated OS testers is great, I have several friends who I may be able to talk into it. They are not advanced programmers, but instead, general computer/tech enthusiasts who would enjoy tinkering with alternative operating systems. Just ask, and I'll see if I can rope em in. Don't expect them to be programming and development gurus though; just testers.

[Coty]

I turned my old toshiba into a DexBox. Still have not found a worthy
use for its monitor though, Just an Idea, although if that one ran winXP it might not
be a good idea to put in a real carboard box, more chance of fire

I honestly think using it as a Linux portable dev machine is a good Idea.

[Zacariaz]

Software/OS wise, you could install Gentoo or mess around with some LFS. When that is done, you find the johnny castaway screensaver and make that work somehow and you've got an entertainment center

If you wanna mess around with the hardware you could put wheels on, set up a wireless link to your desktop and race it around in the office when you're bored


Best of luck.

[ATC]

@ Coddy: All I can say is -- Lol! That's freakin cool! I am a walking fire hazard though, so maybe not such a good idea for me, personally.

I finally got mad, took it apart and removed the built in keyboard. The caps flickering on and off was maddening, and preventing me from simply typing something with the spare USB board I'm using, lol. Think there's anything interesting that could be done with the keyboard parts? It's pretty beat up, and had some... ehhh... liquor spilled in it, lol (none other than my mother's handy work). But many parts of it are in decent shape. I've never thought of what could be done with one of these little flimsy things. I've done some interesting things in the past with rocketry and electronics. I'm quite a pyro.... so... Inspire me!

@ Zacariaz: HAHAH! Brilliant! <3 So many cool ideas to think about now, lol. Keep em coming before I decide on an 'ultimate fate'!

[neato]

You're probably just going to end up in jail or missing a finger. Just toss it in the trash and buy a new one.

[ATC]

You're probably just going to end up in jail or missing a finger. Just toss it in the trash and buy a new one.

What? Are you talking about rocketry? There's nothing illegal there. You can even buy pre-made kits in stores if you're 16yrs+. Making your own is more fun and challenging and there's nothing wrong with it. You just have to be safe and use common sense. You WILL, however, get in trouble for manufacturing "DDs" (Destructive Devices) and High Explosives. Think the ATF, FBI and BATFE swarming your house at 4:15am, lol. But you'd have to be a bit insane and stupid to try that. Other than that, I have no idea what you're talking about, lol. This is U.S. law though, and it IS illegal in other countries (I think in the UK for instance).

[neato]

I was thinking IEDs which will land your @$$ in Federal Prison. What "rocket by numbers" are you going to find strong enough to lift the weight of your laptop? Anything powerful enough is a potential missile, again PRISON. It is quite possible that in the process of making your IED or your over-sized bottle rocket that it will explode in your hand or face. You must play too many military games... lol.

Listen, I would just salvage what I can, even the screws, because you never know where you might be able to incorporate it later. With all my deceased machines, I try to harvest what I can and I typically end up using the parts in other machines later on down the road. You could save the hard drive, the screen, the CPU, the battery, the power supply, the burner (if you have one on there), etc. Like I said, you might end up using those parts in something else you acquire down the road, so it will be worth holding on to them eventually.

But, if your heart is set on mayhem and destruction, I'd build a catapult and launch it directly into a brick wall. Then I'd drive over top of the remains until fully crushed, and I'd put the powdered remains in a jar to spread at sea.

[ATC]

No, no... I think you took the remark much too seriously! I'm not destroying the laptop. I was just sort of wondering what sort of things could be done with the keyboard, which I had to remove. It's wrecked, and I've got to replace it. I'm sure there could be some good fuse and circuit material in it. I just haven't cracked it open yet. And I've never torn one open or explored what could be done with the parts. I've loved tinkering with electronics since I was old enough to know what they were, so I think it might be fun to come up with something.

And no offense, but I think you have some huge misconceptions about the hobby/sport of rocketry and (U.S.) laws. In fact, one could make a three stage rocket to carry their sofa to the stratosphere and it's not illegal; so long as you don't endanger others (such as by doing it in a suburban subdivision or city, lol).

Check these out, they're pretty cool:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZImm0BiEwE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzI8sAJZ ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=828HJzN2 ... re=related

Lol, this kinda ran off with my original topic, but still quite interesting. And no, I don't have any time to play video games, and I wouldn't play games like Call of Duty if I did. I only wish I had more time to enjoy flight simulators like IL-2 Sturmovik, X-Plane, MFS X+, etc.

[neato]

Woah, that rocket footage was nuts. Not sure why it would be worth doing all that just to see something fly in the air, but I'm sure it is much more exhilarating when you are actually standing near to it. Plus, maybe it is more about the challenge of making a successful rocket fly that keeps 'em coming back. And, I understand the laws, I never expected you to use such rockets as those in the videos or even a location as they did. I pictured you in the back yard, igniting a homemade rocket, that fails to lift the laptop, spins erratically, burns the string, and then rockets through the neighbor's window, successfully igniting their home. So, I was concerned. lol BTW, I was mostly joking earlier.

I don't have an Xbox or PS-'X' or anything, I mostly play flash games I find online. My friends have the Xbox and crap and I play theirs. I liked UFC, I got really good at it pretty fast. I liked GTA "Vice City", that was probably my favorite game ever. I never got into the flight simulators for some reason. I played some, but I guess it wasn't my cup of tea.

Well, I don't know if there is many cool things to do with a keyboard. I know if you have a burner you can make a burning laser. Other than spare parts, I can't think of too many things you could use those parts for. In a laptop most are proprietary, so they wont be easily transferable. Usually I chuck laptops. I do keep the hard drive and any drives that came with it. I might keep the power supply, but that's about it normally. I'm almost positive that you could search google for DIY projects concerning the laptop keyboard or some other laptop component you might have though. Let us know if you find anything cool.