Computer Builds
Stage 1
Tear-down of recyclable computers to learn parts and how they go
together (1-2 times or until participant is comfortable with parts ID)
- refer to posted diagrams and ask staff if help is needed id'ing
parts
- list of parts? Put parts list in appendix?
- process
- unplug cables...
- list out suggested steps? Need diagrams?
Stage 2
Tear-down and reconstruction of a known-to-be-working computer with no
'issues' -- repeat Stage 1 and reverse process – plug it in – does it
work?
Stage 3
Construct a working computer from parts (available in garage)
- Collect necessary parts:
- “Stripped” computer (case, power supply, motherboard)
- “Clean” hard drive, >20 GB
- Appropriate RAM (see RAM identification chart...), at least 512
MB
- Optical drive(s) – at least CD-R, if possible, or DVD?
- IDE cable(s) for the above
- Floppy drive(s), if computer originally included
- If not included on motherboard:
- sound
- video
- network (Ethernet)
- Install parts
- seat RAM
- insert add-on cards (video, sound, etc.) if applicable
- install drives
- set hard drive to Master; install on first/primary “channel”
-- if motherboard has blue port use 80-pin (blue) IDE cable
- if one optical (CD or DVD) drive, set to Slave; install on
same channel as HD
- if 2+ optical drives, put on separate (secondary)
channel/cable from hard drive; set one to Master, one to slave
- floppy & floppy cable (the one with a “twist”)
- connect keyboard & mouse
- power
- Boot to BIOS
- When first turning on computer, hit indicated key (“press X
for setup”), Delete and/or do “F key dance” (e.g. press F1, F2, etc.)
- Make sure date/time are correct – if not, motherboard battery
may be bad, and errors may occur during installation
- Check to see if:
- drives are detected
- booting from optical disc (CD-ROM) is enabled
- exit BIOS, saving any changes
- insert Ubuntu CD-ROM (10.04.1?)
- run Memtest
- if prompted, hit F4 and choose “OEM installation” (if not,
install oem-config-gtk later
and run Prepare for End User
or oem-config-prepare)
- use entire disk
- username: oem
- password: freegeek
- reboot & verify that everything looks OK
- download & install available updates
- if install has issues, reboot to CD and run verify
Quality Assurance
Or: Making Sure Things Work
Before a machine is ready to go out the door (either to a volunteer, or for sale) it needs to be tested as follows:
- Plug in network, power, speakers; turn on machine
- Check date & time (either in BIOS or once logged in) -- incorrect date usually means a dead CMOS battery!
- Make sure it's running Ubuntu 10.04
- Log in as OEM, make sure you hear login sound
- Check for updates (tests networking)
- Insert CD-ROM, make sure it's detected & mounted
OEM-Config
The last step before sending a machine out is to clean up any files we may have left behind as the oem user -- to do this, run the oem-config-prepare script as follows:
- If "Prepare for shipping" link is already on desktop and/or in System -> Administration menu, simply run this
- If it's not installed (either not installed as OEM, or oem-config has already been run):
GUI method
- Click Applications -> Software Center
- Search for oem-config-gtk; click Install
- Click System -> Administration -> Prepare for end user
Command-line method
- Click Applications -> Accessories -> Terminal
- Type
sudo apt-get install oem-config-gtk, hit enter, and enter password
- When this completes, type
sudo oem-config-prepare and hit enter
Once oem-config has been run, just reboot -- oem account will be deleted, and user will be asked for username & password on next startup