Bios replacement / Bootloader

hellfire

hellfire

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I have put this in the linux forum, although it could also go in hardware or even software.

I am re-purposing a very old laptop (Acer Travelmate 201T) to be a digital picture frame.

I have PuppyLinux bootable from a flash drive, and have scripted GQView to run (full screen) in screensaver mode at startup. It works great in theory, except that the laptop BIOS doesn't support booting from USB disk. My options are, as I see them:
  1. Burn a CD ROM bootloader that enables USB ports, and then boot the Puppy USB from there. I found PLop, which does this, but it needs manual intervention when the bootloader runs (I can't just set a boot order and let it do its thing automatically). This won't work for a digital picture frame (manual intervention each times it's turned on)
  2. Re-flash / overwrite the BIOS with one that does support booting from USB. I have found CoreBoot, which says v1 will work with my chipset, but it needs to be compiled in Linux and I have no idea how to do this, or even if it will work

The CDROM is far to slow to run Puppy as a LiveCD. I've tried. The flash disk is much better (and uses less power - pretty important for a picture frame).

I have reasonable software know-how, but am very Linux inexperienced. I also haven't played much at a PC firmware level.

Anyone know how I can solve for one of my two options? Or have a better idea how to get Puppy to boot from the flash drive without intervention?
 
Does that thing have a stiffy drive? The google pics shows one.

Sorry - lost track. How about just running it from the internal HD?
 
GreGorGy said:
Does that thing have a stiffy drive? The google pics shows one.

Sorry - lost track. How about just running it from the internal HD?
Click to expand...

It does have a stiffy disk drive (not sure if it works, or if I'll be able to find disks).

I don't want to run it from the internal HDD because running in RAM / flash disk will save power
 
That is what power management is for, to turn of the hard drive when it is not in use. To help with that, script it so that on boot, a memory drive/mountpoint is setup, copy the pics to this memory drive, and let the digital picture frame software use the memory folder. A while after bootup, the hard drive should go idle and spin down. Tada power saved and far simpler than trying to get coreboot on to that laptop, which imho is for far more experienced hackers. Even I, who find myself far more experienced than most, are hesitant to just slap on coreboot on to any motherboard that I value.
 
Tinuva said:
That is what power management is for, to turn of the hard drive when it is not in use. To help with that, script it so that on boot, a memory drive/mountpoint is setup, copy the pics to this memory drive, and let the digital picture frame software use the memory folder. A while after bootup, the hard drive should go idle and spin down. Tada power saved and far simpler than trying to get coreboot on to that laptop, which imho is for far more experienced hackers. Even I, who find myself far more experienced than most, are hesitant to just slap on coreboot on to any motherboard that I value.
Click to expand...

I was hoping not to use the HDD or CD ROM at all since I'm disassembling the laptop and remounting onto a masonite board. Minimising weight and space saving etc.

Why are you very hesitant to use coreboot?
 
Rickster said:
I think it would be better to buy a digital photo frame TBH, that battery must be so weak by now that it will only last a couple of hours.
Click to expand...




I thought a couple of hours was regarded as good for acers :D

That said I know how we feels. Any idiot can buy a frame but to build your own successfully gives a sense of accomplishment
 
Rickster said:
I think it would be better to buy a digital photo frame TBH, that battery must be so weak by now that it will only last a couple of hours.
Click to expand...

You don't easily get 13 inch frames. You also don't get to use up a useless old laptop.

GreGorGy said:
I thought a couple of hours was regarded as good for acers :D

That said I know how we feels. Any idiot can buy a frame but to build your own successfully gives a sense of accomplishment
Click to expand...

Exactly
 
GreGorGy said:
I thought a couple of hours was regarded as good for acers :D

That said I know how we feels. Any idiot can buy a frame but to build your own successfully gives a sense of accomplishment
Click to expand...

- Its over 8 years old
- Uses 24Bit colours
- 800X600 Resolution
- Takes over +-5 hours to charge
- Battery might last 45 Min.

Its just not worth it.
 
Rickster said:
- Its over 8 years old
- Uses 24Bit colours
- 800X600 Resolution
- Takes over +-5 hours to charge
- Battery might last 45 Min.

Its just not worth it.
Click to expand...

I can leave it plugged in, hide the cable somehow
 
eehellfire said:
I was hoping not to use the HDD or CD ROM at all since I'm disassembling the laptop and remounting onto a masonite board. Minimising weight and space saving etc.
Click to expand...

There's always the option of using compact flash via a adapter instead of a hdd.
 
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