Hacking old laptops

I'm sure some already know this, but an old laptop can have the screen removed. Mine is 10" by 8", and about 3/8" thick, which would be handy for making glass cockpits. And the screen is actually transparent. You can use a projector lens to project it onto the wall. And the backscreen can be used for backlighting the flight panel. Especially the 10" long LED.

I'm experimenting with seeing if a HUD can be made.

And this thing is extremely fragile. It wouldn't hurt to take a night school course on open heart surgery first.

I don't know how to upload the photos. Could I maybe email them to someone. And I've spent over half an hour trying to type this, with the program fighting me all the way. I finally used wordpad, with cut and past. What is that all about?

Happy hacking!
Terry

If you get it figured out I would be interested in seeing some of the photos. I have an old laptop that I would be interested in using the screen from if it's not that complicated to get it working.

Shawn

Hi Shawn. I've been trying to find out how to send pictures, but no luck. I would suggest first trying to dismantle some old Monitors. I've been finding them for as cheap as $2. You will know it didn't work when you see white lines streaming across the screen. Take one completely apart, and you will find more useful stuff. I apply 5v to light up the 10" LCD

Hello Guys!
This idea (hacking old laptop) is very good, I think about this, but one of my friend has some word of advice: better to build from an old monitor, because an LCD monitor has all control circuits and panels, but in laptops these circuits are integrated on mainboard.....

BenkoG

I have just assumed that the screen on the laptop needed the video connector on the side of the keyboard. I have two dismantled ones in front of me. I will play around with one a bit

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Originally Posted by TRenner

I have just assumed that the screen on the laptop needed the video connector on the side of the keyboard. I have two dismantled ones in front of me. I will play around with one a bit

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Hello TRenner,

As I mentioned, the monitor have VGA input, but the notebook display only have video signal input. So if you want to use the notebook display, MUST to have to build a video controller, whose output connect your notebook display. Not an insurmountable task, but it's easier to use an exploded monitor (only dismantling the plastic cover).
I think to build glass cockpit too.

BenkoG

I found the same issue with the old laptop screen ... great idea until you get to the signal lines and then it's more of a challenge ....

I settled on some eBay 10" monitors myself in the end!

Another alternative [I am spitballing here now !] might be FSWide and use the old laptop in it's full state to display undocked G1000 windows ?....

maybe even working out how to 180 the display ?

Hi Guys, how are You? How are your projects?

BenkoG

A good place to check for used LCD monitors in the US is Goodwill or a Salvation Army Store. I've purchased 3 or 4 LCD's for as little as $5 a piece and at most $11. Keep in mind that you probably won't find any 16:9 LCD's and most of the LCD's will be 17" or smaller. That's been my experience, anyway.