Thread: HOW TO TURN ON LAPTOP IF YOU CANT REACH BUTTON any input device that can turn it on?

Originally Posted by kiltjim

You could try wake-on-ring, or wake-on-lan. Thats depends on your BIOS though. As for the hacking, its really not that difficult, as long as you know what you are doing with a soldering iron.

The reason I don't want to hack the laptop itself -- I don't mind mutilating a docking station -- is I want the ability to remove the laptop from the car to use as a... err.. laptop

So I guess WOL/WOR might be an idea and then have the profile set to hibernate the computer when power is removed (i.e. ignition off)... Hmmm.

Then do what I did, hack the laptop, and put in a connector that allows you to pull it out. I used a headphone jack, and the matching plug. Someone else used the existing modem jack (a much better idea) since they never used it.

Originally Posted by kiltjim

Then do what I did, hack the laptop, and put in a connector that allows you to pull it out. I used a headphone jack, and the matching plug. Someone else used the existing modem jack (a much better idea) since they never used it.

Is this preferably to a WOL/WOR system? (By the way, someone mentioned it doesn't work with XP: is this the case?). Any advantages/disadvantages to either?

Well, the WOR/WOL methods require that your laptop support it (mine doesn't). Also, you need to be able to send the right command, and I really didn't care to figure that out. With the external button method, it is identical electrically to pushing the button on the laptop. If done correctly, it works like a charm. You just gotta watch what you are doing, since you are soldering to the laptop.

theres also an option that consists of a mechanical device.... I done a panasonic toughbook & it had a right side slide back switch....I had a door lock actuator & had it pull a cable that went to the switch.....it worked fine... trunk/door popper solinoids can be used

on a push button if all else fails, you could use a small electric plunger to actuate the switch remotely.....

it's usually best to solder right to it, but if all else fails, or in certain situations this can be done easily enough...