I have searched. How do I start up this laptop.

Audamn · 12-20-2003, 06:34 PM

I have everything I need for my carputer.

I'm using a laptop and I had HOPED there was a port replicator made for it that would allow me to tap into its power button. There is not.

I need to be able to turn on my laptop from inside the car without having to press the power button. I can't open up the laptop to solder on the button points because the laptop isn't mine.

I've searched for a wake on lan option but couldn't really find a way to trigger a packet through a hardware device. The laptop does support this option though.

Am I completely out of luck?

I would love to be able to power on my inverter with a switch and have the latop sense A/C power and turn on.

The laptop is a Toshiba Satellite A15-S1292. The inverter is a 400W from Best Buy.

Please help me! I feel like I've hit a wall here and am very frustrated.

jol · 12-20-2003, 06:58 PM

look into comport-on, might be used for old modems, a bit less tech than wol I think...my best advice

bornagaincomput · 12-20-2003, 07:00 PM

Try using the hbernate mode funtion and start it up through a wireless mouse.

NightHunter · 12-20-2003, 07:01 PM

You probably cant get a port replicator but. I would keep looking in to the wake on lan thing. Most computers if when not shut down after use and the wake on lan is turned on, will come back on automatically when power is restored. Just dont shutdown your computer and cut the power to the inverter when done. There is no need to shut it down anyway, accept to save any unsaved data you may have or to save settings that may have been changed.

GOOD LUCK

Audamn · 12-20-2003, 07:10 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by jol

look into comport-on, might be used for old modems, a bit less tech than wol I think...my best advice

Look for it in bios? I have a wake on lan option but that's all. Even being able to touch the screen to power up would be awesome. Anything outside of opening my trunk every time I want to boot would be good.

Altimat · 12-20-2003, 07:51 PM

Just use standby and you can start it with the touchscreen.

Jackso · 12-21-2003, 12:24 AM

Open the case up and solder a pair of wires to the switch or where it attatches to the board. Connect the other end of the pair of wires to a momentary switch near your seat and you're golden. The wires can be very small since no current is really flowing through them, and if you put some form of quick disconnect on them, you will still be able to remove the computer from the truck and use it normally. It's not really as hard as you're making it.

Rob Withey · 12-21-2003, 04:57 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Jackso

Open the case up and solder a pair of wires to the switch or where it attatches to the board.

Quote: Originally Posted by Jackso

It's not really as hard as you're making it.

I don't think Audamn was saying that it was hard to do. I believe he was saying he couldn't do this because it was someone else's laptop.

Jackso · 12-22-2003, 02:32 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Rob Withey

I don't think Audamn was saying that it was hard to do. I believe he was saying he couldn't do this because it was someone else's laptop.

Ah, I missed that, I formally retract any statements previously made. However I add, that the vibration on the HDD probably isn't the best on a borrowed laptop.

greddy0 · 12-23-2003, 12:10 AM

I am also running a laptop for my carputer. My computer doesn't wake from standby with the mouse movement (touchscreen). Only route I see is to keep the pc on. I have a dc-dc for my laptop and run straight 12vdc to the LT. Any other suggestion for this? TIA

deadweasel · 12-23-2003, 01:04 AM

How old is the laptop, and what OS are you using? If it's running 98, you will want to upgrade it as far as possible (OS) without killing it. If it's 2k or XP, you may be dealing with a problem that requires updating your drivers or windows service packs.