Remote startup for laptop

[ptpeter]

Hi.

       I posted a similar question in the Juke forum, but it rarely gets much traffic, so I feel like I'll get a quicker answer here. I'm looking to use a laptop in a juke, but I would prefer to not have to take the laptop out each time to start it. Is there a way where I can remotely start it so I can keep it in the juke 24/7? Thanks in advance.

Peter

[SavannahLion]

You mean like a power switch?

I've got my plastic shell off my laptop right now and the power switch, despite being a SMT component, looks like it has some pretty easy solder points to tap into. On mine, it looks like (without taking the frame out) the switch is on a daughter board, so there's probably a tap point somewhere along the line.

Or are you looking for something else? Like a boot on power failure type of thing?

[ptpeter]

thanks for the info.

I'm kind looking to see if I can keep my laptop together and keep the cover closed but to have the ability to remotely turn on my laptop in the cabinet.

[DaveMMR]

You can always do something kind of low tech and rig up a button or something with a rod that's lined up with the laptop's power button. 

[ptpeter]

true, but if the cover is closed on the laptop its kinda hard to do that. In my Inspirions case.

[Kevin Mullins]

How is the rest of the cabinet components powered up?
(speakers, lights, anything else that might be a part of it)

Does the BIOS have a power up after AC restored option?

And I'm guessing that there is an option that allows it to remain on when closed?
(just to clarify for myself)

What kind of "remote" idea did you have in mind?

[SavannahLion]

true, but if the cover is closed on the laptop its kinda hard to do that. In my Inspirions case.

My laptop is an Inspiron E1705. My information might differ from your model. The plastic cover over the power switch is removable with a little care. With some very careful soldering, a bit of very thin wire, and careful placement through the keyboard spacing or out through the rear exhaust vents, I would bet you could very easily make a reversible tap. With a very small plug (the type found on motherboard fans for example), you could even tuck the adapter under the plastic cover if you should ever desire to pull the laptop and mobilize it again.

Note the Insprion gets really hot. Mine apparently has issues deciding just how hot is too hot. I downloaded I8KFan to make sure it remembers to switch on the fans once in a while.

[rdagger]

Most recent laptops and desktops can be turned on over a network using Wake on Lan (WOL).  It works with my Dell laptop.
You can use another computer to send the WOL packet or you could build a WOL circuit.   I just finished such a circuit and have the plans on my website.

[ptpeter]

Thanks for all the info.

My laptop does have the ability for WOL and i have a wireless card for it. So could i make it work?

[rdagger]

On my Dell laptop, the WIRED LAN card always has power when the laptop is plugged in (even when the laptop is turned off).  However, I doubt the WIFI LAN card gets any power unless the laptop is on.  I think you could only wake you laptop with a cable plugged into the network jack.  If you really wanted wireless you could patch the cable directly into a wireless gateway.

I like the idea of having the cab computer on  my local LAN.  This way I can remote in to make changes.

[SavannahLion]

Most recent laptops and desktops can be turned on over a network using Wake on Lan (WOL).  It works with my Dell laptop.
You can use another computer to send the WOL packet or you could build a WOL circuit.   I just finished such a circuit and have the plans on my website.

That's an interesting idea I've never considered before.

Something wrong with the site though? The link you have here links to a page that generates image paths such as

Code: [Select]

http://www.thegallaghergroup.com/arcade/images/
but the same page when navigating through your menu generates image paths that look like

Code: [Select]

http://www.thegallaghergroup.com/arcade/WOL/images/

[rdagger]

That's an interesting idea I've never considered before.
Something wrong with the site though? The link you have here links to a page that generates image paths such as

Code: [Select]

http://www.thegallaghergroup.com/arcade/images/but the same page when navigating through your menu generates image paths that look like

Code: [Select]

http://www.thegallaghergroup.com/arcade/WOL/images/

My host does not allow web server directory browsing such as the paths you specified above.  You can right click on any image and save it.
I tested the page on IE7 and everything works.  I can not vouch for other browsers.
Please use www.rototron.info for linking to my site because I frequently change hosts.
The permanent link to the WOL project is http://www.rototron.info/?page=WOL/WOL.aspx

[SavannahLion]

That's an interesting idea I've never considered before.
Something wrong with the site though? The link you have here links to a page that generates image paths such as

Code: [Select]

http://www.thegallaghergroup.com/arcade/images/but the same page when navigating through your menu generates image paths that look like

Code: [Select]

http://www.thegallaghergroup.com/arcade/WOL/images/

My host does not allow web server directory browsing such as the paths you specified above.  You can right click on any image and save it.
I tested the page on IE7 and everything works.  I can not vouch for other browsers.
Please use www.rototron.info for linking to my site because I frequently change hosts.
The permanent link to the WOL project is http://www.rototron.info/?page=WOL\WOL.aspx

Umm... this isn't about directory browsing, it's about an unfriendly page or configuration for non IE users (I'm a FF user). I discarded the file names in the paths because it affects all of the images.

[rdagger]

Firefox appears to be more sensitive to request query string syntax than IE.
I edited the links above and they now work with both browsers.