I Have A Distinct Advantage

Once again, I'm reminded of the distinct advantage I have in regard to this project. This advantage is, once again, a direct result of the unlimited information - available at the touch of a key - on the internet. The advantage also is because of the several/many who have previously completed this very project and the fact that they documented the steps in a manner that has proved very beneficial to me. I've read through many if not most of these blogs, wiki's, documents, in an attempt to lay out my own process and especially to uncover those little gotchas that I would likely overlook.

One of the more important pieces of guidance that I received was: to get all of the OS/ software pieces of the project implemented and working the way I want them to before dismantling the laptop. Remember that when I'm done, the laptop will not have a keyboard or mouse; so the machine has to boot up and execute the looping slideshow application on it's own. I will be able to add/replace the slideshow application via the wireless network, but the only way to reboot the machine and restart the application is to, turn it off and back on.

Here are some of the things that I would have overlooked, or not thought of, if I had proceeded with this project without the benefit of information and insight of some of those who did this project before me:

1. Any Screensaver needs to be disabled.
2. Any Suspend mode activity needs to be disabled
3. The Thinkpad laptop will boot without a keyboard only if the trackpoint mouse has been disabled. (I would have for sure missed this one)

There are likely several other gotchas, and I'll describe them as I get to them, but the three above are easily addressed if the laptop is intact and in good working order.

In my next post, I'll describe my currently working configuration including the slide show application and how it's functioning on the intact laptop.

The grandkids are coming in today and will be with us for a week, so I'll not likely spend much time on this project as I'll be having great fun with 10yr old Calli, and 7yr old Max.

I will start dismantling next week - I promise!!