Thread: simple MP3 car PC advice

Originally Posted by Phobos0001

1, what opperating system should i use, keeping in mind i need large disk support (80GB) and USB 2.0 for my LCD display

ideally: anything but windows (linux, etc.)
pragmatically: windows
windows is going to have a wider range of easily available drivers and more software. Most people use it on this board, so you'll be in good company

Originally Posted by Phobos0001

3, what is the best way to keep the dard drive safe, i was thinking of buying a HDD cooler with anti-shock then wrapping that in soft foam, with breather holes

I really haven't heard of any big problems with HD's. Most people don't run in to problems with shock absorbance or anything. Rarely, some will.. bbut I think that's more of a case-by-case basis as oposed to a universal problem.

Originally Posted by Phobos0001

4, any improvements or genral advice, pointers?

unless you have that motherboard laying around, I don't think you'de need something that heavy duty if you're using an character LCD. Same with the power. No need for 300 watts.
good luck !

I just did a quick google on your mobo and noticed that it said this in the specs -
" Socket A for AMD Athlon™/Athlon™ XP/Duron™ 200/266 MHz FSB processors
Supports AMD Athlon™ XP processor 2200+ and beyond. "

Just wanted to make sure that you processor would work as it is only a 2000+

As PimpJ said unless this board has no other purpose I would just get a smaller board with intergrated video and turn the shared video mem down all the way, you wont need anything special for the character lcd (unless you are planning upgadeing)

I unfortunately cannot help you with drivers, but if you can get it all to work with it, I'd reccomend a version of linux. Knoppix is great, but if you want small size, puppy linux and damn small linux are each less than a hundred megabytes(I think around 50 MB on both, PL may be closer to sixty.) and should have the programs you need. if not, you can shove them in. xmms is needed.

On the other hand, if I were you, I'd find an old version of windows, and NEVER connect this thing directly to the internet. isn't 98 free now or something?

I never knew Knoppix was actually used.

I'de seen people use it at school to get around the security, but never as an actual day-to-day OS

it's very usable as an OS. The standard knoppix disc comes with a web browser, an IRC program, an AIM program, image editing programs, mp3 playing and movie file/dvd playing programs...it's great! problem is it doesn't play nice with my laptop so i can't test it out very well.

thanks,

just to clarify, all theise parts are just what i have lying around, im trying to keep the cost to a minimum.....

just another quick question... do i actualy need a vid card to run the computer?, ive turned them on without anything on but theres no way to test....

all the parts i listed work, it is actualy an old LAN pc that was called "the *****" it whent to anyone without a computer lol,

i have never used linux before though, but im sure i can find some noob guides around, although i dont even know where to get linux

the LCD display came with a program called "LCDC" and can be
found here: http://www.lcdc.cc/

it has worked in the past, but only on windows XP.... however the boot time was pretty poor, quickest i made it was 27 seconds, using winamp 2.7x and LCDC with base drivers and every service i could find useless shut down

is there a noob tutorial on where to keep boot times to a minimum? or a place where i can get atleast a trial of linux, ill start googleing now too

btw, thanks for the input guys, i apriciate it

www.damnsmalllinux.org

www.knoppix.org

I forget the puppy linux link, but you can find it in the off site section of DSL's site.

Linux is free, always was free, always will be free. Burn it to a CD, shove the CD in, reboot, you have linux. like it? install. Don't? Throw away the disc, doesn't touch your data.

thanks, yalborap .... very quick response man,

im guessing koppix isnt in english?

also will this mean i will need to write\program anything for my USB powered LCD display? because i can not write anything.... im flat-out writing a program to add 2 numbers in VB6, lol