A Guitar And Gear Support Forum

Spouse's beaten up laptop (she breaks stuff!) is barely usable as is, hinges busted, wifi weak, etc.

Goal: make it into a desktop.

- will video output without its display and lid work with just external monitor?
- Same with power switching-when-lid-down function

Possible cheap cheat: use a docking thing?

Right now system is doing a (long!) Windows 10 recovery, as I must have screwed something... but don't care as machine should be Linux eventually (her data was backed up, no damage there).

You might have problems just using the external video output, as it kinda depends on what Windows thinks. But your idea of using a docking station is the way to go, as that is interpreted by Windows as you wanting to use that laptop like a desktop. If its got a USB-C connector, use that for the dock, we've had great luck with that at work, other than the cable connector is flimsy.

at work I have a little dock that plugs into my Thunderbolt port, has a power button and outputs 2x HDMI and Display port.

I never have to open my laptop and have it tucked under my monitor lift

I am sure someone makes a cheaper option, but i doubt an older laptop without the Thunderbolt/USB-C will work properly in that type of setup.

bleys21 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 19, 2022 12:55 pm You might have problems just using the external video output, as it kinda depends on what Windows thinks. But your idea of using a docking station is the way to go, as that is interpreted by Windows as you wanting to use that laptop like a desktop.

It is an older lappy, circa 2015, so it only has "traditional" USB 2.0, HDMI, etc., no USB-C

As my target destination is Linux, I need to inquire in the proper forums for the closed-lid operation, as it is handled by the OS (?)
I can try with a USB live boot but the hinges are damaged so it is delicate. I was trying to mimic closed-lid mode with fridge magnets (laptops have a pair of magnets in lid, who knew!) but it screwed *something* I am now in Windows repair mode, which takes a Looong time...!

Update and closure:
I blew the sick Windows install, wrote Linux Mint XFCE over, made the appropriate choices in display options, closed the lid 7/8 of the way. It works as is, for today.
(there were some prior disk errors on this older HHD, so this is test before SSD install sorts)

Next is try with the full closed-lid engaged to see if proximity contact trigger any changes.
I may not even have to strip the machine (or use docking), just use it as a closed box that will stay put in a desk corner.

That works On most Linux versions, you can specify the "default" monitor, so if you can do that, it may just work while the lid is closed. Getting it to turn on would be the problem there, which is the one the docking stations typically fix with a dedicated on/off button that solves that...

Ghetto option...

Yes, like Tommy's except that I found a free 24" monitor!
It seems to work on the test setup - I wrote a Linux version on the original drive, which tests as "pre-fail", so, next is get a 500GB SSD and write the full intended install. The power button is on the side of the machine, but it too is getting tired, not an easy fix.

Only minor thing is, in closed lid mode, the OS takes a while to energize the external monitor, seemingly applying the wanted settings slowly. I need to refine the power options, for a smoother, proper exit from sleep.
That broken laptp has my fastest CPU, so it is precious! A black Friday new, cheap laptop?

Or look for one of those little NUC style computers. I found one on Amazon about 6 months ago with an AMD Ryzen 7, 16GB of Ram, and a 512GB SSD drive in it for around $350. If you don't need the higher CPU, they get down in the $200-$250 range. Basically a computer in a box the size of a hockey puck, roughly...