Laptop Build Checklist

The evaluation should have been completed to reach Build. Work through each step as well as you can, and ask if you have questions. Try and learn the reason for each of the steps. This knowledge will come in handy later on when, inevitably, things aren't going as smoothly. Your instructor will be able to answer questions and check your work. Never overlook the help that the builder to your right or left might be able to lend. You can also find information on the Free Geek wiki at Laptops. Check with your instructor to find out what type of box to build, then work your way down this checklist. STEPS NOTES AND DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS Check For Broken or Damaged Parts Visually inspect laptop for broken screen, missing keys, weak hinges, cosmetic problems, etc. If in doubt, check with your instructor and make repairs as directed. Look at the Keeper Label Compare to the whiteboard to make sure nothing looks out of line: e.g. there's only 256 MB of RAM or the CD Drive is read only. On the Keeper label, mark the start box on the Build line. If something seems odd (i.e. 1.5 GB of RAM with a 1.8 GHz processor), just ask your instructor. Get a Power Supply Grab appropriate power supply from the labeled boxes (the box labels are color-coded by brand for easy locating). Install imaged hard drive Get a hard drive from your instructor, install the hard drive in the caddy (attach an adapter if necessary) and then install in the laptop. Install appropriate optical drive (if missing or CD read only). Check the whiteboard to see what kind of optical drive to install. Power Up Laptop Enter BIOS If you see an error message like "checksum error, defaults loaded" then your CMOS battery is dead. Ask your instructor what to do about it. Set boot order in BIOS Look for the boot order in BIOS. Of the available options, the preferred order is as follows : CD-ROM boots first; Hard drive boots somewhere between CD-ROM and Network; Network boots last. Get as close as possible, depending on the BIOS, but make sure the Network boot isn't before the hard drive. While in BIOS, check the RAM Is there at least 512 MB of RAM? If not, save and exit BIOS, add RAM sized to fill the available slots. If the laptop is High End, then it should have more than 512 MB of RAM (preferably 1 GB or more). Once the RAM is upgraded, verify the new amount in BIOS). Boot to Ubuntu Boot to the hard drive. Log in as "oem" (password: freegeek). Battery Check On the Ubuntu OS toolbar, a battery icon is visible when the battery is charging. Check the icon to see the percent of charge and make a note of it for use later on. If no icon is visible, the battery is fully charged, not seated correctly, or possibly deceased. Mark the charging start box on the Keeper label. Get wireless working. If there isn't already a wireless card installed, then install, configure and test a wifi card (to determine if wireless card is already present and working, try and access a website like Google). Internal (mini-PCI) is best, but PCMCIA is an acceptable second option. For wireless advice, try the Wireless Tips page. Run basiccheck Open the command line terminal and type 'basiccheck'. You will need to be connected to the network to test the networking step. If you encounter any errors, check with your instructor. Test optical drive - data, sound, and DVD. For each drive: Use a music disc to test sound. Test-read a data CD (if any data shows up in the file browser that opens, test passes). Test the DVD-ROM, if present. If a DVD icon appears on the desktop, the test passes. Do 'not install codecs. Test CD/DVD writing Open up Brasero Disc Burning (under Applications > Sound & Video) Select Data Project Select examples.desktop Click Burn on the lower righthand side. When a disk is done, verify that it contains the files you wrote to it by inserting the disc and checking out what pops up. If testing another function be sure to click > File > start a new project. Blank the CD Using Brasero Disc Burning, select Tools > Blank. Check battery charging percentage Is it almost charged or is it charging compared to last check? Make a note. Test all USB ports Using a USB mouse, make sure that the cursor moves and can interact with things. Do this on all the USB ports. If any of the ports don't work, check in with your instructor. Edit Power Management Go to System > Preferences > Power Management. Step 1. On Battery Power tab - set default to "Blank screen" when laptop lid is closed. Also, set default to "Shutdown" when battery power is critically low. (This is in preparation for Battery Test) Step 2. General tab - set default to "Always display an icon. Step 3. On AC Power tab - set default to "Blank screen" when laptop lid is closed. Click "Close" to save changes. Test setting by closing and reopening the screen lid, the desktop should reappear. Run printme from terminal This will give you a System ID number. If an ID number is shown, the laptop has been through the system previously. You must be on the wired network From a terminal, type printme NOTE: Always select Laptop for system type. Make a note of anything special or any problems you encountered that weren't corrected and should be disclosed. Reference the whiteboard for what to write in the "notes" section (All but battery check) Print a pdf to the Desktop. Call it something like "BUILD" or "BUILD PRINTME" Test the battery Step 1. Make sure battery is fully charged: Battery icon missing indicates full charge. If fully charged, then move to Step 2. If not fully charged, then move to Step 3. Step 2. Put a music CD in the optical drive to put a power draw on the laptop: Select "Repeat" Start playing the CD Open a terminal and run batterytest. If you have already run a battery test and need to restart one, you must first remove the file "bat_mon" by typing rm bat_mon Disconnect the power supply and place the laptop on the waiting rack. If it shuts down when unplugged, the battery is bad and you'll need to search for another battery (can't find one? check in with your instructor). Mark on the Keeper label that Build is complete, the Charging check has been completed and that you've started Bat Check. If you want to see for how many minutes bat check has run, open up another terminal and type watch wc bat_mon. Laptop Power & Batteries can provide additional information. Step 3. If the charge is not complete: Mark the keeper label Build started and completed Make sure the keeper label Charging started box is checked. Place the laptop on the waiting rack, plug it back in and let it complete Charging. Leave a note indicating charging is in progress. Clean up and check in with Laptops Instructor. Your instructor will direct you to your next task.