need a suggestion for a laptop switch hack

Using Arduino General Electronics
1

Greetings All,

I have an older laptop here with a busted screen hinge and a bum battery that operates as a server here at the house. Does a bunch of things for me and has an arduino plugged in full time that monitors my heating system. Problem is I want it on all the time, and if the power goes out, that's fine, I can live w/o it for that time, but when the power comes back on I really don't want to have to go hit the power button on the laptop (yeah, I'm lazy). I can hack the switch easily enough but I'm looking for the easiest circuit possible just to momentarily close that switch when the power comes on. I guess the easiest is probably to just do it w/the arduino itself, but I'd rather have something separate from that if possible. Any creative, outside the litter box ideas?

Thanks.

2

Did you check the BIOS for the laptop? Usually there is a power setting on what to do after power failure.

3

Yeah...no such luck. I've rarely seen that option on a laptop, more on servers. I guess that's what I guess for using a laptop as a server :slight_smile: any other thoughts?

4

Can you update the BIOS to have such a feature?

5

Doubtful. The BIOS is from Pheonix and I already have the latest, which is years old. I checked out coreboot but my board isn't listed as supported and I don't want to brick the MB.