Converting a thinclient into a desktop computer

Ok, I've got really a lot of computers standing around here but from time to time I just miss another machine. As I don't want to spend money for an energy wasting high end machine, just to do some minor jobs, surf the web or read my mails I thought of an alternative. So I was very happy when I got a box with a bunch of thinclients from a liquidation.

First I wanted to run them with a terminal server, but as I had no free machine (....) I thought it would be great just to convert some of them to normal desktop machines.

Step 1 Materials, tools and software

Materials

- Thinclient, in my case an Igel (with a pretty lame Windows CE on it...)

Tools
- Screwdriver
- Sony Alpha 300 DSLR camera
- Card reader
- Linux PC (a Windows PC will be fine too...)

Software
- a copy of DamnSmallLinux (DSL), which you can get here for free: http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/
- Unetbootin, a great utility! You can get it here for free: http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/

Comments

[techboy411]

I know, a network sharing gateway and media center.

[Jack Doff]

Bunch of links. You can treat a CF card in a USB adapter as a USB stick for loading purposes for BOTH WinPE and Linux:

http://www.techagility.info/2008/08/easiest-bootable-winpe-on-a-usb-stick-10-mins-max-and-only-needs-120mb-or-so/

http://www.pendrivelinux.com/

http://4sysops.com/archives/build-a-bootable-windows-pe-3-0-usb-drive-with-rescue-tools-part-1/

Lighter than Ubuntu, nice distro:

http://antix.mepis.org/index.php?title=Main_Page

THE thin client spec reference. Great for checking possible deals:

http://www.parkytowers.me.uk/thin/

http://reboot.pro/forum/90/

http://www.911cd.net/forums/index.php?showforum=19

[Church1182]

Awesome idea! I actually scored 8 Neoware Thinclients recently and have been tinkering myself. Check this page out for some great ideas
http://www.parkytowers.me.uk/thin/NeoCA15/index.shtml
The bottom of the page shows what I just did with 2 of mine and David posted it to his page! I'm famous! That row of header pins just above the CF slot is a 2.5" laptop hard drive header. Oh the possibilities. And yes, I Void Warranties too. Love that shirt.
As to the problems with reformatting the installed CF cards, I had the same thing happen. Oddly, if I unmounted them in my disk editor, I was then able to format them without problem.

[bbear4]

I love that shirt too. I was immediately thinking of ways to put that phrase on bumper stickers, hats, and t-shirts. Can you say nerd litmus test?

Similarly, I always say this is how you know you're a nerd. You can be sure you're a nerd when you have a favorite screw driver you carry with you. Even worse when that screw driver is double sided and has a pocket clip. You may be approaching 'live with your mother'/'still a virgin' territory if your screw driver was sent to you as swag from a PCB fabricating company and their logo is printed upon it.

I am wondering how you scored 8 Neowares much like the author got a box with a bunch of them? My Wyse 3125se with Wyse's Windows CE cost me about $25 dollars including shipping. I love the little guy for being a little miniature computer, but I it is obviously pretty dated technology.

32mb flash, 64mb ram. The RAM is not upgradeable. But there is a 40 pin header for an IDE HDD. Off the top of my head, I don't know if it wants 2.5" or 3.5" HDD. It's little geode is a 266 MHz processor. I have it RDP'ing to a P3 450mhz 384mb Compaq desktop off in my closet without a monitor.

The Winterm is plugged into a VGA to analog converter and it is plugged into my TV. I use an Apple keyboard with an extended usb cord and 2 built in usb ports for plugging in a mouse. I can browse the web or play old video games from my couch. Definitely pretty neat, but I want to find out how to get some higher quality ones on the cheap before I do further experimenting with upgrading.

Nice soldering job on the CF card header. My hands are not steady enough for that. I want to be famous and get my stuff on that website too. I've been checking it out thinking about upgrades and its so cool to see that I'm not the only one.

[fabiobcm]

Do you know if there are any Thinclient that supports a XBMC SO? I want to build a audio station combined with a touch-screen monitor.

[movieman97]

Will this work with all thin clients? I'm curious about that because on ebay, there are quite a few different models.

[linux-dude]

As long as they support "boot from usb" or have an internal drive (compact flash, etc.) it should work. There has to be some device from which the thinclient boots its basic operating system. If you can manage to get access to this device, you can do whatever you want with it.

[zuner2012]

Great 'ible!

One thing that I do (when I'm using a college's thinclient) is run pendrive linux from my 8 gig flash drive. It has persistent support; is fairly simple to install, and boots easily.

[linux-dude]

Thx!

[zuner2012]

Another suggestion for the Ubuntu lovers is to boot via the ubuntu cd (any computer) and there is a USB bootable driver creator (something along those lines for a name) where they can also make a persistent install via usb drive. I know, I sound like a Linux advertisement, but I find it interesting.

[linux-dude]

I tried this on my thinclient, but the hardware (if you don't add more memory, a larger compact flash or external drive) doesn't provide the power Ubuntu needs if you want to have a smooth running working environment. The only Ubuntu version that fits (if you add a larger drive and more memory) is Xubuntu. Working with Gnome or KDE on this specific thinclient requires a lot of patience ,-) The work quite good on newer models.

[Lance Mt.]

No, thank you.