Turn dead laptop into 15" LCD?

**bob bismal** · 09-02-2005, 07:30 PM

Has anyone ever or even heard of anyone turning a dead laptop into just a monitor? My laptop is dead (dead motherboard). Is there anyway to still use the LCD? I'd like to hook it up to a DVD player in my van.

**lostreception** · 09-02-2005, 07:34 PM

a bit OT here but id have to tell you 15 in is most likely too big for even a van depending on where your putting it if your looking to do an OEM type install then the 15 will be way to large. my dash can accomadate only 10x12 in with out loosing that oem look.
good luck

**lostreception** · 09-02-2005, 07:35 PM

if its just for a rear screen itll be fine tho didnt think of that

**bob bismal** · 09-02-2005, 08:37 PM

Yea, I already use the laptop to play movies in the van so I have a place to put it, just need some how to's.

**turbocad6** · 09-02-2005, 09:40 PM

you can't drive the laptop lcd from the laptop as a monitor....you can't use parts of the laptop to drive the lcd either.... the ONLY way to use the lcd would be to get a controller for it, which IF available will be well over $200....

you then would be left with the problem of average laptop 15" lcds are going to be in the 190 nit range..... kinda dim for car use.... realisticly your probably better off just buying a whole monitor for not much more.... or maybe even less...... there is no way around buying a controller to use that lcd....

**AWDNUT** · 09-02-2005, 10:31 PM

Yeah I have a 15" LCD that is all NCR and was designed as single interface/display combo before touch overlays were cheap and popular.. Originally this unit was well over $2000 with the special PS2 controller and some buttons built into the chassis it comes with. It had some problems with the buttons and ultimately we scrapped it to salvage the remaining good buttons. At this point it's just a 15" LCD with a wierd interface.

I wanted to use it in my car pc but where? I could put it on the ceiling as a flip down for rear passengers but it would be alot of fuss to do it cheap and ugly if I didn't pay a fair amount for mounting hardware and the rest of it. I could install it into my sub box for bling factor but that's all I can think of ATM?

EDIT: Hey that screen should be worth big bux to someone with the same laptop and a dead screen.. ?

**roadhog** · 09-02-2005, 11:09 PM

As Turbocad6 said, the problem is driving the LCD. If it's just for a dvd player using composite video there are plenty of car orientated video screens around, almost certainly cheaper than buying an LCD controller. Try seaching for "car lcd screen"...