Converting an old laptop (IBM 380D) to a digital picture frame. <a href="http://repair4laptop.org" target="_blank">Here</a> is an excellent resource for many other computer conversions, upgrades, and repairs- <a href="http://repair4laptop.org" target="_blank">repair4laptop.org</a>. http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/frame-023/41306987_2cbkZ-Ti.jpg http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/gallery/907948_Y8a3S/ 2005-11-06T07:59:17Z Copyright 2009, the copyright holder of each photograph. Some portions copyright SmugMug. All rights reserved. SmugMug <p><a href="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com">LucidMusic</a><br />I took a functioning, but no longer practical, laptop. My goal was to make a digital picture frame out of it. Similar to these expensive models.</p><p><a href="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/907948_Y8a3S#41303559_ASSVq" title="I took a functioning, but no longer practical, laptop. My goal was to make a digital picture frame out of it. Similar to these expensive models."><img src="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/frame-002/41303559_ASSVq-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="I took a functioning, but no longer practical, laptop. My goal was to make a digital picture frame out of it. Similar to these expensive models." title="I took a functioning, but no longer practical, laptop. My goal was to make a digital picture frame out of it. Similar to these expensive models." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-10T10:22:40Z LucidMusic http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/frame-002/41303559_ASSVq-Th.jpg 2005-08-28 09:42:31 <p><a href="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com">LucidMusic</a><br />Since it will hang on a wall, I want to make it as light as possible. But it still has to work. I take out the battery (typically heavy), and need to make sure it will run without it.</p><p><a href="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/907948_Y8a3S#41304327_R4SL6" title="Since it will hang on a wall, I want to make it as light as possible. But it still has to work. I take out the battery (typically heavy), and need to make sure it will run without it."><img src="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/frame-003/41304327_R4SL6-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="Since it will hang on a wall, I want to make it as light as possible. But it still has to work. I take out the battery (typically heavy), and need to make sure it will run without it." title="Since it will hang on a wall, I want to make it as light as possible. But it still has to work. I take out the battery (typically heavy), and need to make sure it will run without it." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-10T10:22:40Z LucidMusic http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/frame-003/41304327_R4SL6-Th.jpg 2005-08-28 09:43:21 <p><a href="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com">LucidMusic</a><br />And it does. Now I'll repeat that with all the internal pieces not needed for the picture frame function (keyboard, floppy drive, pcmcia slots, modem, etc.).</p><p><a href="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/907948_Y8a3S#41306878_xAwJY" title="And it does. Now I'll repeat that with all the internal pieces not needed for the picture frame function (keyboard, floppy drive, pcmcia slots, modem, etc.)."><img src="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/frame-004/41306878_xAwJY-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="And it does. Now I'll repeat that with all the internal pieces not needed for the picture frame function (keyboard, floppy drive, pcmcia slots, modem, etc.)." title="And it does. Now I'll repeat that with all the internal pieces not needed for the picture frame function (keyboard, floppy drive, pcmcia slots, modem, etc.)." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-10T10:22:40Z LucidMusic http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/frame-004/41306878_xAwJY-Th.jpg 2005-08-28 09:57:16 <p><a href="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com">LucidMusic</a><br />I also double-checked that the slideshow program was set to automatically start. I planned to run it off of the CD ROM drive, and also checked to see if I could switch CDs without having to ...</p><p><a href="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/907948_Y8a3S#41305923_yLtcs" title="I also double-checked that the slideshow program was set to automatically start. I planned to run it off of the CD ROM drive, and also checked to see if I could switch CDs without having to ..."><img src="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/frame-005/41305923_yLtcs-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="I also double-checked that the slideshow program was set to automatically start. I planned to run it off of the CD ROM drive, and also checked to see if I could switch CDs without having to ..." title="I also double-checked that the slideshow program was set to automatically start. I planned to run it off of the CD ROM drive, and also checked to see if I could switch CDs without having to ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-10T10:22:40Z LucidMusic http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/frame-005/41305923_yLtcs-Th.jpg 2005-08-28 09:58:21 <p><a href="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com">LucidMusic</a><br />Reference manuals are usually available for download from the manufacturer site. I printed out just the sections I needed.</p><p><a href="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/907948_Y8a3S#41306278_T7EWj" title="Reference manuals are usually available for download from the manufacturer site. I printed out just the sections I needed."><img src="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/frame-006/41306278_T7EWj-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="Reference manuals are usually available for download from the manufacturer site. I printed out just the sections I needed." title="Reference manuals are usually available for download from the manufacturer site. I printed out just the sections I needed." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-10T10:22:40Z LucidMusic http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/frame-006/41306278_T7EWj-Th.jpg 2005-08-28 10:03:54 <p><a href="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com">LucidMusic</a><br />The manual makes it easy to keep track of removed pieces, Without manuals, I'd recommend numbering and labelling each part (for easier reassembly, if needed).</p><p><a href="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/907948_Y8a3S#41305735_aVFWu" title="The manual makes it easy to keep track of removed pieces, Without manuals, I'd recommend numbering and labelling each part (for easier reassembly, if needed)."><img src="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/frame-007/41305735_aVFWu-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="The manual makes it easy to keep track of removed pieces, Without manuals, I'd recommend numbering and labelling each part (for easier reassembly, if needed)." title="The manual makes it easy to keep track of removed pieces, Without manuals, I'd recommend numbering and labelling each part (for easier reassembly, if needed)." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-10T10:22:40Z LucidMusic http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/frame-007/41305735_aVFWu-Th.jpg 2005-08-28 11:06:11 <p><a href="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com">LucidMusic</a><br />Robert Pirsig would be proud. (Read "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.")</p><p><a href="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/907948_Y8a3S#41305184_TnULo" title="Robert Pirsig would be proud. (Read "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.")"><img src="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/frame-008/41305184_TnULo-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="Robert Pirsig would be proud. (Read "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.")" title="Robert Pirsig would be proud. (Read "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.")" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-10T10:22:40Z LucidMusic http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/frame-008/41305184_TnULo-Th.jpg 2005-08-28 11:06:18 <p><a href="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com">LucidMusic</a><br />Progress. Since they are already exposed, cleaning the components with canned air is a good idea.</p><p><a href="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/907948_Y8a3S#41303788_FEcEF" title="Progress. Since they are already exposed, cleaning the components with canned air is a good idea."><img src="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/frame-009/41303788_FEcEF-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="Progress. Since they are already exposed, cleaning the components with canned air is a good idea." title="Progress. Since they are already exposed, cleaning the components with canned air is a good idea." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-10T10:22:40Z LucidMusic http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/frame-009/41303788_FEcEF-Th.jpg 2005-08-28 11:20:29 <p><a href="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com">LucidMusic</a><br />With most identified parts removed, I check to make sure it still works. I learned from earlier tests that this model will not operate without the keyboard.</p><p><a href="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/907948_Y8a3S#41307162_NguKa" title="With most identified parts removed, I check to make sure it still works. I learned from earlier tests that this model will not operate without the keyboard."><img src="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/frame-010/41307162_NguKa-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="With most identified parts removed, I check to make sure it still works. I learned from earlier tests that this model will not operate without the keyboard." title="With most identified parts removed, I check to make sure it still works. I learned from earlier tests that this model will not operate without the keyboard." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-10T10:22:40Z LucidMusic http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/frame-010/41307162_NguKa-Th.jpg 2005-08-28 11:53:59 <p><a href="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com">LucidMusic</a><br />Beneath the keyboard there's fewer parts than before. Now I need to modify the casing to allow the screen to fold all the way back around so the rest of the computer can hide behind it.</p><p><a href="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/907948_Y8a3S#41306121_obNja" title="Beneath the keyboard there's fewer parts than before. Now I need to modify the casing to allow the screen to fold all the way back around so the rest of the computer can hide behind it."><img src="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/frame-012/41306121_obNja-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="Beneath the keyboard there's fewer parts than before. Now I need to modify the casing to allow the screen to fold all the way back around so the rest of the computer can hide behind it." title="Beneath the keyboard there's fewer parts than before. Now I need to modify the casing to allow the screen to fold all the way back around so the rest of the computer can hide behind it." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-10T10:22:40Z LucidMusic http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/frame-012/41306121_obNja-Th.jpg 2005-08-28 11:54:35 <p><a href="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com">LucidMusic</a><br />The video cable doesn't have much slack. To get enough room for it to bend all the way around, I need to cut away some of the plastic framing.</p><p><a href="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/907948_Y8a3S#41307410_k94Ux" title="The video cable doesn't have much slack. To get enough room for it to bend all the way around, I need to cut away some of the plastic framing."><img src="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/frame-013/41307410_k94Ux-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="The video cable doesn't have much slack. To get enough room for it to bend all the way around, I need to cut away some of the plastic framing." title="The video cable doesn't have much slack. To get enough room for it to bend all the way around, I need to cut away some of the plastic framing." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-10T10:22:40Z LucidMusic http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/frame-013/41307410_k94Ux-Th.jpg 2005-08-28 13:53:47 <p><a href="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com">LucidMusic</a><br />And a chunk from the screen backing buys a little more room for the cable.</p><p><a href="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/907948_Y8a3S#41303287_v7kTH" title="And a chunk from the screen backing buys a little more room for the cable."><img src="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/frame-015/41303287_v7kTH-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="And a chunk from the screen backing buys a little more room for the cable." title="And a chunk from the screen backing buys a little more room for the cable." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-10T10:22:40Z LucidMusic http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/frame-015/41303287_v7kTH-Th.jpg 2005-08-28 14:11:25 <p><a href="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com">LucidMusic</a><br />The hinges are also removed, so now the cord has more room...</p><p><a href="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/907948_Y8a3S#41304877_SnPTR" title="The hinges are also removed, so now the cord has more room..."><img src="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/frame-016/41304877_SnPTR-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="The hinges are also removed, so now the cord has more room..." title="The hinges are also removed, so now the cord has more room..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-10T10:22:40Z LucidMusic http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/frame-016/41304877_SnPTR-Th.jpg 2005-08-28 16:01:56 <p><a href="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com">LucidMusic</a><br />...to be folded around...</p><p><a href="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/907948_Y8a3S#41304583_i2XXG" title="...to be folded around..."><img src="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/frame-017/41304583_i2XXG-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="...to be folded around..." title="...to be folded around..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-10T10:22:40Z LucidMusic http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/frame-017/41304583_i2XXG-Th.jpg 2005-08-28 15:59:01 <p><a href="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com">LucidMusic</a><br />... all the way back. Now it's ready to take to the local frame shop to dress it up.</p><p><a href="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/907948_Y8a3S#41305481_sdoqj" title="... all the way back. Now it's ready to take to the local frame shop to dress it up."><img src="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/frame-018/41305481_sdoqj-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="... all the way back. Now it's ready to take to the local frame shop to dress it up." title="... all the way back. Now it's ready to take to the local frame shop to dress it up." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-10T10:22:40Z LucidMusic http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/frame-018/41305481_sdoqj-Th.jpg 2005-08-28 15:58:31 <p><a href="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com">LucidMusic</a><br />Here's the leftovers. The speaker and microphone were also removable, and the screen hinges and frame were pretty weighty.</p><p><a href="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/907948_Y8a3S#41304095_6Nr23" title="Here's the leftovers. The speaker and microphone were also removable, and the screen hinges and frame were pretty weighty."><img src="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/frame-019/41304095_6Nr23-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="Here's the leftovers. The speaker and microphone were also removable, and the screen hinges and frame were pretty weighty." title="Here's the leftovers. The speaker and microphone were also removable, and the screen hinges and frame were pretty weighty." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-10T10:22:40Z LucidMusic http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/frame-019/41304095_6Nr23-Th.jpg 2005-08-28 16:26:32 <p><a href="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com">LucidMusic</a><br />A weeek later...back from the frame shop!</p><p><a href="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/907948_Y8a3S#41303099_BfExY" title="A weeek later...back from the frame shop!"><img src="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/frame-020/41303099_BfExY-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="A weeek later...back from the frame shop!" title="A weeek later...back from the frame shop!" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-10T10:22:40Z LucidMusic http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/frame-020/41303099_BfExY-Th.jpg 2005-10-14 15:58:27 <p><a href="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com">LucidMusic</a><br />The back will hang against the wall, but I can still access the keyboard if needed. To change CDs I need to loosen one screw and tilt the base of the laptop up far enough to clear the side o ...</p><p><a href="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/907948_Y8a3S#41306656_aKVk8" title="The back will hang against the wall, but I can still access the keyboard if needed. To change CDs I need to loosen one screw and tilt the base of the laptop up far enough to clear the side o ..."><img src="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/frame-021/41306656_aKVk8-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="The back will hang against the wall, but I can still access the keyboard if needed. To change CDs I need to loosen one screw and tilt the base of the laptop up far enough to clear the side o ..." title="The back will hang against the wall, but I can still access the keyboard if needed. To change CDs I need to loosen one screw and tilt the base of the laptop up far enough to clear the side o ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-10T10:22:40Z LucidMusic http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/frame-021/41306656_aKVk8-Th.jpg 2005-10-14 15:59:31 <p><a href="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com">LucidMusic</a><br />Looks good!</p><p><a href="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/907948_Y8a3S#41306455_jtgfC" title="Looks good!"><img src="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/frame-022/41306455_jtgfC-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="Looks good!" title="Looks good!" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-10T10:22:40Z LucidMusic http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/frame-022/41306455_jtgfC-Th.jpg 2005-10-14 16:00:09 <p><a href="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com">LucidMusic</a><br />And it still works.</p><p><a href="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/907948_Y8a3S#41306987_2cbkZ" title="And it still works."><img src="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/frame-023/41306987_2cbkZ-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="And it still works." title="And it still works." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-10T10:22:40Z LucidMusic http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/frame-023/41306987_2cbkZ-Th.jpg 2005-10-14 16:15:00 <p><a href="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com">LucidMusic</a><br />Mounted on the wall, all I need to do now is hide the the power cord with some white tape, or run it through the wall. Similar units sell new for $750 or more. The only cost I had was the ...</p><p><a href="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/907948_Y8a3S#41307529_EykJe" title="Mounted on the wall, all I need to do now is hide the the power cord with some white tape, or run it through the wall. Similar units sell new for $750 or more. The only cost I had was the ..."><img src="http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/frame-024/41307529_EykJe-Th.jpg" width="100" height="150" alt="Mounted on the wall, all I need to do now is hide the the power cord with some white tape, or run it through the wall. Similar units sell new for $750 or more. The only cost I had was the ..." title="Mounted on the wall, all I need to do now is hide the the power cord with some white tape, or run it through the wall. Similar units sell new for $750 or more. The only cost I had was the ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-10T10:22:40Z LucidMusic http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com http://lucidmusic.smugmug.com/Other/Digital-Frame-from-Old-Laptop/frame-024/41307529_EykJe-Th.jpg 2005-10-15 08:15:47