Mobilized Servers

[Silicate Wielder]

Hey Guys, My sisters laptop is a wreck and since shes going to be getting a new one soon, i want to use hers and convert it into a Mobilized Computer Server. but I have a few problems...

1.) Her Charging port is shot
2.) Its Very slow.

I have to Re-partition the entire hardrive but i can just replace the Operating system and go from there. Also i have Teamviewer and can setup a VPN server on it.

To turn Her laptop into a mobilized server i'm going to Replace the enter windows OS with Ubuntu 11.10 then install Teamviewer 6 on it. Once team viewer is installed im going to turn her laptop of andf
Remove the Screen and keyboard then replace the cover with the screen cover. then After that I'm going to install all my software remotely through Teamviewer and go from there.

[StoppingTime]

Exactly how do you plan on using it if you can't charge it?

[Silicate Wielder]

Exactly how do you plan on using it if you can't charge it?

I'm Going to modify the part of the cord the plugs into the charging port so it has a straight line to the battery. that or scrap the charging port from another laptop. someones supposed to be giving me an old laptop to take apart.

[anonymous53]

I'm Going to modify the part of the cord the plugs into the charging port so it has a straight line to the battery. that or scrap the charging port from another laptop. someones supposed to be giving me an old laptop to take apart.

This. Is. A . Bad. Idea

First I'll say, you need to make sure the voltages are correct, as well as wattage and connector types.

Straight line into the battery is just a horrible idea. Don't do this.




If you want to *properly* replace a charging port you will need a replacement part (Exact model number) You will need either a desoldering pump or desoldering braid to remove the other one. Next you will need to solder the new part on, I find this process really isn't worth the time or effort and it usually is not a permanent fix.



I'm going to give you my professional opinion though. Do not do it at all. Leave the laptop alone unless you know someone certified to repair it or know's enough about the electrical part.



Next, why would you remove the screen? That makes absolutely no sense. You can just set it to stay "awake" while the screen is closed.


I would suggest this isn't a good project for a 13 year old, I get it, you're curious but you need to be safe. This isn't safe. Even after 4 years of training I'm still very cautious while actually soldering/desoldering new parts onto motherboards, it's usually not something I do.



*EDIT*

Just please. Leave it alone, re-reading your posts shows me that you really don't understand enough about this to be trying something dangerous. Read more and ask an adult.

[Silicate Wielder]

This. Is. A . Bad. Idea

First I'll say, you need to make sure the voltages are correct, as well as wattage and connector types.

Straight line into the battery is just a horrible idea. Don't do this.




If you want to *properly* replace a charging port you will need a replacement part (Exact model number) You will need either a desoldering pump or desoldering braid to remove the other one. Next you will need to solder the new part on, I find this process really isn't worth the time or effort and it usually is not a permanent fix.



I'm going to give you my professional opinion though. Do not do it at all. Leave the laptop alone unless you know someone certified to repair it or know's enough about the electrical part.



Next, why would you remove the screen? That makes absolutely no sense. You can just set it to stay "awake" while the screen is closed.


I would suggest this isn't a good project for a 13 year old, I get it, you're curious but you need to be safe. This isn't safe. Even after 4 years of training I'm still very cautious while actually soldering/desoldering new parts onto motherboards, it's usually not something I do.



*EDIT*

Just please. Leave it alone, re-reading your posts shows me that you really don't understand enough about this to be trying something dangerous. Read more and ask an adult.

Well, I've been tinkering with electronics since i was 9 and was taught some things by one of my uncles about how laptops work... also i've taken a few laptops apart and on some the circuit boards the charging port is connected by a wire to the motherboard, I'm Very Technically inclined. I've also fixed two computers before and they were ancient, one ran Windows 95 and the other ran Windows Millennium Edition. one issue was with a ram card having gone bad and i replaced it with an older one, then other was that the mother board had a bad pin connector.

I'm removing the screen because the Video card is bad and it causes the screen to go black at times, also the screen is just starting to fall apart and the hinges are falling off aswell. i just dont want to be carrying the server to a friends house just to have it fall apart when i take out out of its laptop case.

[StoppingTime]

Well, I've been tinkering with electronics since i was 9 and was taught some things by one of my uncles about how laptops work... also i've taken a few laptops apart and on some the circuit boards the charging port is connected by a wire to the motherboard, I'm Very Technically inclined. I've also fixed two computers before and they were ancient, one ran Windows 95 and the other ran Windows Millennium Edition. one issue was with a ram card having gone bad and i replaced it with an older one, then other was that the mother board had a bad pin connector.

I'm removing the screen because the Video card is bad and it causes the screen to go black at times, also the screen is just starting to fall apart and the hinges are falling off aswell. i just dont want to be carrying the server to a friends house just to have it fall apart when i take out out of its laptop case.

Honestly man, your 13. I don't think doing all of this is really necessary just to accomplish this simple task. I think, that unless its done by a pro, the charging may not work for you. And yes, you need to know the voltage, pin types etc... It isn't just going to snap together. And if your going to take the screen off because the video card is bad, replace the video card! And the hinges would be a much simpler fix than actually removing the screen.

[TheMatrix]

Well, I've been tinkering with electronics since i was 9 and was taught some things by one of my uncles about how laptops work...
And yet it seems there's a lot of things you need to know but don't. As a general rule, you will fry a LiIon battery by simply connecting the charger directly to it. There is internal circuitry that charges it properly in the laptop.

also i've taken a few laptops apart and on some the circuit boards the charging port is connected by a wire to the motherboard,
How else were you expecting it to be? Oh wait, I forgot, the electrons can also just jump from the port to the motherboard.

I'm Very Technically inclined.
Sure, man.

I've also fixed two computers before and they were ancient, one ran Windows 95 and the other ran Windows Millennium Edition. one issue was with a ram card having gone bad and i replaced it with an older one, then other was that the mother board had a bad pin connector.
Installing/replacing RAM is nothing compared to replicating a charger circuit.

I'm removing the screen because the Video card is bad and it causes the screen to go black at times, also the screen is just starting to fall apart and the hinges are falling off aswell. i just dont want to be carrying the server to a friends house just to have it fall apart when i take out out of its laptop case.
If the video card is bad, then you will need to replace it. But since they are usually integrated, that will prove to be a difficult task.

Get the fire extinguisher ready, bro, or that battery may be the end of your house ;)

[Silicate Wielder]

Honestly man, your 13. I don't think doing all of this is really necessary just to accomplish this simple task. I think, that unless its done by a pro, the charging may not work for you. And yes, you need to know the voltage, pin types etc... It isn't just going to snap together. And if your going to take the screen off because the video card is bad, replace the video card! And the hinges would be a much simpler fix than actually removing the screen.


I just want to make this look simple and not freak people out when they see it... Its happened twice already, people think my sisters laptop is a death-trap when the look at it.

[anonymous53]

How else were you expecting it to be? Oh wait, I forgot, the electrons can also just jump from the port to the motherboard.




I believe he was referring to laptops such as the "DV" series made by HP that have actually easily replaceable charging ports, connected by just a little plug in wire. I'm afraid that won't be the case with this other laptop
http://www.365laptoprepair.com/content/products/296_HP-Pavilion-dv9000-DC-Power-Jack-Board-CK66394V-0-cable_1.JPG

As most laptops I have worked with have the charging port soldered directly onto the motherboard.


I hate to be offensive, but fixing a computer with a bad stick of RAM isn't really an accomplishment. I understand you were nine years old, and I understand you're curious. I was curious at 7 and have been technically inclined as well, but I honestly think you need this repaired by a professional.



You're overcomplicating the process by removing the screen. As well as creating an unnecessary hazard to yourself.



You're a bright little kid, you know a little and I encourage you to pursue your passion, but I believe you have a lot more to learn before taking on a project like this. Honestly I think it's a waste of time because usually server's aren't meant to be mobile. They're supposed to have 99.9999% up time. You'd have better like purchasing yourself a little "Home server" on newegg. They're small.

[Silicate Wielder]

I believe he was referring to laptops such as the "DV" series made by HP that have actually easily replaceable charging ports, connected by just a little plug in wire. I'm afraid that won't be the case with this other laptop

As most laptops I have worked with have the charging port soldered directly onto the motherboard.


I hate to be offensive, but fixing a computer with a bad stick of RAM isn't really an accomplishment. I understand you were nine years old, and I understand you're curious. I was curious at 7 and have been technically inclined as well, but I honestly think you need this repaired by a professional.

I could just Scrap an old Desktop Computer into a heavy Mobilized server instead. Building Desktop Computers is somthing i'm really good at. :yeah: I'll just power it with a backup ower supply like the ACE series Backup batteries, i'll just use a small one :D

[herpderp44]

A laptop as a server? Hold on there cowboy, you're getting a little ahead of yourself. Laptops aren't build to be servers. They aren't build to run 99% uptime. I feel as though you're under-complicating this entire project. Dealing with 120V from a wall outlet is NO laughing matter. You know what a wall outlet will do if you aren't careful? You will be killed. Taking out a stick of ram and putting a new one in or fixing a bad pin isn't nearly as much as you make it seem. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to say I can do much better. I could, as I've soldered before and have minor experience with electronics, but I also don't know your experience. I deal more with software issues. And a little tip, if you're going to use this as a REAL server, don't use Ubuntu. It's great, but the Gnome setup eats more resources than the others. And I'd suggest going to an older version, not 11.10. They will also use less resources. And what do you plan on running on this server?

And I just read that it's slow.......are you kidding me here? You're going to run a server off of a computer that you KNOW is slow?

I really recommend getting a better computer or an actual server to do this. A slow laptop won't cut it.

[anonymous53]

An ace backup battery is usually only rated for 10-15 minutes. Seriously, what is the point of a Mobilized server though?


Yet again, anyone can build a desktop. It's puzzle pieces.

[StoppingTime]

You are overcomplicating this, and I don't want to sound rude, but there is no point, like stated above, to have a mobile server. It is supposed to be up all the time, and unless you have a way to connect it to broadband anywhere, this could be a problem. Just get a hime server. It is much easier, and in the end, you'll find it is going to be much easier. And sure, you won't have the "fun" of fixing up an old computer, but would you rather risk that, or just buy something that works now, and when you have a little more knowledge, do something more complicated.

[TheMatrix]

Here's what I started out with to make my computer: http://halted.com/commerce/catalog/product.jsp?product_id=22529&czuid=1324440499775

It had pretty much nothing. No RAM, no HD, a very bad graphics card(ATI Rage XL - 8MB), but 2 gigabit ethernet ports, and enough PCI slots. Up to 4GB DDR1 RAM can be put into it(bloody expensive).

For about $147, I got a decent PC running. I tried Ubuntu - the 10.04 version - which crashed twice. Then I tried Fedora - versions 14 and 15 - but SELinux didn't like me. And the repos were shit. Finally, I went to openSUSE 11.3, which worked well. I upgraded to 11.4, which works great. 12.1 was another story, though...

In conclusion, if I can get openSUSE to work WITH an X11 and Gnome server running, if you leave those bits out, you can get a pretty nice server. You just have to be willing to put some money into it, or it will never work.
Yes, it's not a "mobile server", but servers were not intended to be mobile, or it would defeat the purpose. Good luck though, you will need it. ;)

[Silicate Wielder]

I'll just ditch the server thing, but i am going to see about building a a Compact Server.
I need somthing i can just build and it wont use up all my Storage space.

[TheMatrix]

The case that I used to have for my computer isn't that big. It's like your standard ATX case, but a lot thinner.