Article Index
DIY Digital Photo Frame
Dismantle laptop
Edit boot files
Installing Extensions
The Frame
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 As a computer repairman i find myself in possession of way too much electrical equipment and components. I try to put them to use where i can and this log has to be one of my favourites. Millions of tons of e-garbage is continuing to pile up

on our mother earths skin and it is all our fault.

 

We demand newer and smaller products for mere aesthetic reasons and upgrade our e-gadgets well before they have expired.

 

When a friend upgraded their laptop i took possession of the old laptop and decided to turn it into a digital photo frame. This is the log of the process i went through to create the frame. I warn you now it is not for the average user and requires knowledge in hardware, software and defenestration. You are working with old hardware and most times there is compatibility mismatches that need to be overcome. Many unforeseen things pop up like the power connection giving in just before you finish the project ... which requires a steady soldering hand and knowledge of repair. All in all i had fun and learnt a bit along the way.

 

OVERVIEW:

The frame will be made from an old Toshiba laptop that was running windows 98. After being dismantled the necessary hardware will be kept and fitted into a modified frame. The end result will be a walltop computer that has many functions. It can display your images and videos in a slideshow fashion, it can check the latest stock market prices or perhaps display the TV guide. Your friends in Italy can upload photos to the internet that will be displayed on your frame or you can simply play your music and watch the video clips. The Software: I will be using a lightweight version of Linux called 'Damn small Linux - not'. The image viewer will be a linux script called 'feh' which uses next to no resources. A program called unclutter will be used to hide the cursor and tool bar while the slide show is running. There will be an SSH daemon running so that i can remotely log into the frame for maintenance. The frame will turn off at a certain time each night requiring a manual restart each morning.

EQUIPMENT REQUIRED:

1. Old toshiba laptop with USB and floppy. (free)
2. Damn small linux OS
3. Photo Frame
4. Remu ply wood
5. Router
6. Floppy Disk
7. USB Stick