Laptop Evaluation

<graphvizr>

 digraph D {

1. size="7,10"

  start         [label="START HERE", fontsize="11", shape="box", style="bold"]
  usb           [label="Does it have USB?", fontsize="11"]
  apples        [label="Is it an Apple?", fontsize="11"]
  macpile       [label="Put it in the Mac pile.\nDo not mine.", fontsize="11", shape="box", style="bold"]
  hddrem        [label="Find and remove hard drive", fontsize="11", shape="box", style="bold"]
  powerable     [label="Does it have RAM\nand a power supply?", fontsize="11"]
  getpower      [label="Add RAM or power supply", fontsize="11"]
  poweron       [label="Does it power on?", fontsize="11"]
  screeny       [label="Working screen?", fontsize="11"]
  handwavy      [label="Consult Troubleshooting Guide", fontsize="11", shape="box", style="bold"]
  posty         [label="Does it post?", fontsize="11"]
  procclass     [label="Can you find\n the Processor Info?\n (try entering BIOS)" fontsize="11"]
  enoughproc    [label="Pentium II 266MHz\n or better?", fontsize="11"]
  seven         [label="Is the Processor speed\n less than 800MHz?", fontsize="11"]
  asis          [label="Refer to AS-IS Notes", fontsize="11", shape="box", style="bold"]
  memtest       [label="Run 2 passes of Memtest", fontsize="11"]
  keeper        [label="Put on Keeper shelf", fontsize="11", shape="box", style="bold"]
  whatzit       [label="Use EBMulti disk\n or Live CD\n to run Memtest" fontsize="11"]
  record        [label="Fill out keeper label\n (see note about keeper labels below)" fontsize="11"]
  recycle       [label="Pull the Hard Drive\n and Memory", fontsize="11"]
  incoming      [label="Put in Laptop Recycle Bin",fontsize="11", shape="box", style="bold"]
 

  start       -> usb
  usb         -> apples  [label="YES"]
  usb         -> recycle [label="NO"]
  apples      -> macpile [label="YES"]
  apples      -> hddrem [label="NO"]
  hddrem      -> powerable
  powerable   -> poweron [label="YES"]
  powerable   -> getpower [label="NO"]
  getpower    -> poweron 
  poweron     -> screeny [label="YES"]
  screeny     -> posty [label="YES"]
  screeny     -> handwavy [label="NO"]
  poweron     -> handwavy [label="NO"]
  posty       -> procclass [label="YES"]   
  posty       -> handwavy [label="NO"]
  procclass   -> enoughproc [label="YES"]
  procclass   -> whatzit [label="NO"]
  whatzit     -> enoughproc
  enoughproc  -> seven [label="YES"]
  enoughproc  -> recycle [label="NO"]
  seven       -> asis [label="YES"]
  seven       -> memtest[label="NO"]
  memtest     -> record
  record      -> keeper
  recycle     -> incoming

} </graphvizr>

As-Is Notes

These laptops are sold inexpensively in the Thrift Store with no guarantee other than they post

• Remove the Hard Drive
• Memory limit = 256MB (although 128MB is better)
• Cover all slots and bays
• Include appropriate power supply
• Check in with Instructor
• 266 - 400 mhz = bulk
• 450 - 700 mhz = as-is for store

What to Write on Keeper Labels

• Make
• Model
• Processor Type & Speed
• In the Notes section:

• which key to enter BIOS?
• which type of RAM?
• hard to find locations of parts (i.e. hard drive behind battery?)
• anything the laptop builder or eventual owner would need/like to know

Memtest Notes

Memtest is a useful tool found on many boot disks. Besides testing memory, it provides us a quick way to find processor and memory info. Memtest is available on ebmulti floppies, ubuntu (or other debian based) live cds, and our netboot server.