Convert an old laptop into a digital picture frame.
Digital picture frames are expensive, especially if they can hold a large number of pictures, but you can make a picture frame using an old laptop. Many old Pentium II and III laptops still work, but are too slow for internet applications. These working laptops can be made into a digital frame by disassembling the LCD from the plastic casing and placing the LCD screen in a beautiful wood frame.
Instructions
1. Locate a large wood frame that is 16 X 20 or larger--assuming your old laptop screen is 14 to15 inches meaning you need a frame larger than that. If your laptop screen is even larger then get an incrementally larger frame. You want to leave at least an inch or two all the way around the LCD screen to insert a framing mat. The LCD screen will sit behind the framing mat.
2. Place the frame on your work surface with the back facing you. Remove the original wall mounts. You will have to add stronger wall mounts later. Take the backing and glass out of the frame.
3. Locate the repair manual for your laptop from the manufacturer's website. Dowload it, and follow the take apart instructions. You can also find laptop disassembly instructions on Inside My Laptop, Laptop Disassembly Help, or Laptop Repair. Remove the top screen component from the bottom half of the laptop with a precision Phillips head screwdriver. Take the plastic off of the computer LCD. Reconnect the LCD cable to the bottom half of the laptop. Connect the laptop power cord and press the power button to make sure the computer turns on. Turn the computer back off and disconnect the power cord.
4. Cut a 1 to 5-inch mat to fit the frame and lay the lcd on top of. If the LCD is 14 inches then cut the interior frame of the mat to be 13 ¾ wide to give it a ¼ inch lip where the lcd can sit behind. Measure the side width and again give the cut that ¼ inch margin. The mat will probably be wider on the sides than on the top and bottom because of the LCD screen size. Cut the outside measurements of the mat board to 16 x 20 if you are using this sized frame. Otherwise measure the inside areas of the frame and cut to size.
5. Place the mat inside the frame, and the LCD screen behind the mat, along with the backlight or any other circuit board that was with the LCD in the upper part of the laptop assembly. Place two long cardboard strips over the vertical side ends of the LCD. The strips should be about 1 inch wide and ½ inch should cover the LCD and ½ inch cover the back of the mat. Tape these cardboard pieces to the back of the mat with duct tape, making a holder for the LCD and keeping it in place.
6. Place any cover that might have come with the frame over the LCD screen and either nail with tiny framing nails or relock using the frame locks. In some cases the LCD will be too thick to use the original frame locks. Be sure to pull out the video cable before affixing the backing. You may have to make a small hole for the video cable to come through the cardboard backing. Duct tape the entire cardboard backing to the frame to keep the frame and LCD secure, and keep dust from getting into the LCD or backlight circuits.
7. Place the laptop base on the back of the frame, with the keyboard and power button facing upward and to the wall when the frame is hung. Secure the laptop base to the frame by placing two wood slats or bars over each edge of the base. Secure the slats to the picture frame with wood screws at each end. Tape the sides of the slat to the frame with the duct tape. Tape the power cord to the frame too so it does not fall to the floor when the frame is hung. Place a washer on a wood screw and attach the screw to the side of the frame at the point where you want to hang it. Wrap 2mm wire around the screw behind the washer, creating a hanging bracket. Attach another screw and washer at the same distance on the other side of the frame and wrap 2mm wire tightly around the screw behind the washer. Use these as strong wall brackets to hang the frame.
8. Before you hang the new LCD frame, turn the laptop on and load your pictures by memory stick, by inserting a CD into the CD-Rom, or by using your wireless network. Copy your pictures to the laptop hard drive in the "My Pictures" folder. Go to "Start" "Control Panel" and select "Appearance and Themes." Click on "Choose Appearance and Theme" and set the screensaver to use all the pictures in the "My Pictures" folder. Have the screen saver start within 1 minute.
9. Hang the digital frame, connect the power cord and press the power button on the laptop base behind the frame. Wait for Windows to load, and wait another minute for the screensaver to start working.
Tags: power cord, frame with, laptop base, picture frame, power button