Laptop/Broken Screen - Still work?

2001Civic · 12-15-2007, 09:37 PM

Hey guys, just joined the forums because I'm about start working on my carpc. I'd like to have this done before May, in order for my to be able to use my GPS to head to the Dells car show in Wisconsin.

There seems like so many nice and helpful people on these forums, so this should be answered and solved in no time. I apologize if this is covered in some sort of FAQ, as I've looked for the past hour or so.

My question is, I've got a P.O.S Compaq laptop, which I plan on using to run the carPC. I'll upgrade the ram & the processor, but the screen on the laptop screen is broke. There is a way to run the video output to my 7" screen located in my dashboard correct? If not, that requires some more funds which will put this project on the back burner for a few more weeks.

Thanks again guys!
-2001civic.

pokki · 12-16-2007, 12:52 PM

Yes. Check to see if a vga port is present and working on your laptop.

FusionFanatic · 12-16-2007, 08:03 PM

so you already have a 7" screen in your dashboard? is it a VGA monitor or just composite (RCA)?

it should work fine with an external VGA monitor, it should switch to it by default as long as you connect it before turning the laptop on.

what are the specs on the laptop? upgrading RAM is easy, but the processors are usually soldered to the motherboard, making upgrades impossible (unless you have one of the few models that use a slot).

your specs may be fine the way they are... I use an old Dell Inspiron 8000 (392MB ram, 650MHz PentiumIII) and it runs music/video software, GPS software (iguidance4), and engine diagnostic software with no problem. once you tweak windows you'd be surprised how fast an "old&slow" computer can be

2001Civic · 12-16-2007, 09:15 PM

No, i just bought a lilliput 7" which I'm fabbing now.

Yeah, I'll upgrade the ram easily. I'm also pretty sure I'm going to need to update my motherboard than because last I remember - it was pretty damn slow.

Thanks again guys.

pokki · 12-16-2007, 09:28 PM

Can't realy upgrade motherboards in laptops either.

maximapwr · 12-16-2007, 09:34 PM

Have you connected your laptop to another monitor? Does it get a signal? You can change the video properties to send the default or only signal to an outside monitor. It's what Im doing now with my compaq laptop. Took the screen completely off so I can reach the power button.

2001Civic · 12-16-2007, 09:40 PM

Ahhh, okay. No, I haven't hooked it into another monitor.

This motherboard/processor thing is starting to worry me. I'd hate to do everything & than it come out like crap because the computer can't run it all. Grrr, I don't know. If need be, I'll hit up eBay or Craigslist.

kandyman676 · 12-16-2007, 11:24 PM

Try hooking it up to a external monitor. If it comes right up, no further configuration needed. Use to run a laptop with a broken screen in a dock under the driver's seat.

FusionFanatic · 12-18-2007, 08:57 PM

don't assume that your laptop isn't powerful enough just because it appears to run slow right now, it's probably just a bogged down OS. when was the last time your formatted/reinstalled windows? if the answer is never then that's your problem right there...

what are your laptop specs? (processor, RAM, etc). it's probably powerful enough the way it is. most carPC functions don't require a powerful system at all computers running windows get very slow over time, but it's not a hardware problem, it's the operating system bogged down by tons of unnecessary crap running, spyware/adware running in the background, fragmented files, etc, etc...

back up any important data on the laptop, use nLite to strip away some of the useless crap that comes with windows, then format your HDD and install your nLited version of windows onto your laptop. even an old laptop will fly after you do this, and best of all, it's free!

2001Civic · 12-19-2007, 07:47 PM

Really? Will have to do that.