this is a collection of my summaries of the eeeuser forum, after reading and posting for about 2 months. 

(note 9/16/08 - this handbook applies to the original eeePC, 701, as the newer models weren't out when I collected these posts)

hopefully, this can be a starting point for new forum users.  there is a HUGE amount of experience here, so please use the search function so you don't ask questions that were already answered several times.

please excuse me if I didn't reference you and you were an earlier poster than december 2007, as I didn't routinely have to search that far back in the forum.

my 2 modded eee's are stock Xandros, one in advanced, one in basic mode.  TS's are fido-dido999.  one hub was swivel from target, mislabelled.  second hub was webcam kit from fido.  first mod used a usb plug to source and the wires run back inside the case through the modem port.  it has an on/off switch, but shows a dongle on the side.  2nd mod is all internal, with webcam plug-in kit.  on/off from menu bar with downloaded controller from wiki.

btw, I started a photo gallery at yahoo, if anyone else wants to post mods.  I thought it would be fun to have a visual collection of the mods in one place

http://tech.ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/eeePCmod/photos

WARNING:  opening up and modding your eeePC can be dangerous and voids your warranty.  proceed though the following at your own risk.  if you brick your PC, you may or may not be able to fix it.  (but you can find lots of sympathy and advice at the forum here)

take apart
    follow instructions on forum – ta2cba
    http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=6036

    be careful of the plastic around the headphone/mic area, pry it up and around
    use thumbnail to pop the tabs at the base of the touchscreen and around lid bezel
    use an SD card package to keep track of all the screws and bumpers
    cover the screen when the MOB is lying on top, so you don't get scratches

installing a touchscreen is well described by many, with ivc having excellent pictures at the wiki - http://beta.ivancover.com/wiki/index.ph … l_Upgrades

ivc's wiki also lists parts, vendors and how-to's for the many devices and switches that he installed

when re-assembling, take care that none of the wires are over the copper donuts
    where the screws will pass.  many a eee has been bricked when wires were pinched by screws on re-
        assembling.

pre-installation check -  it's a good idea to check that your hub and devices, drivers actually work on the bench, BEFORE you install all the parts.   this can save you hours of debugging, trying to figure out where the problem connection or device is located.

MOB tour by tnkgrl  http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=2355

power sources
    5 v off MOB transistor – http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=6036
    3 usb port sources, the safer route – http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php? … 68#p242568     
             post 15 shows left usb site
    off the cam port socket
        switchable for power saving -
        http://wiki.eeeuser.com/howto:controlca … t%20switch

ground sites
    screw to the wifi connector – screws that hold the wifi card in place also ground to chassis
    usb sites – http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php? … 68#p242568 post 15, the pin farthest
             from +5 is ground
    alternate sites on http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=6036

usb data sites D+/D-
    the spare pci-e:  http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=6036
    any of the 3 usb ports can be used, however, they aren't useful
        after that from the outside, unless you route back a usb port from the added
       internal hub.

wiring diagrams
    standard usb plug – http://pinouts.ru/Slots/USB_pinout.shtml
    eee motherboard usb plugs – accessible from the top of MOB, if you need an easier place to solder
    eee MOB cam socket – http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=26624    #12
    swivel hub – http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=15932   post #5

wires that can be used – 26-30 ga
    IDE cable – fine except for maybe power wires
    ethernet or usb cable wires – 26 or 28 ga
    30 ga may be too fine for extended current over 150 mA - see kajer link to brick below
    braided or solid are fine. I prefer solid as there are fewer little copper hairs to short

where to place the usb sockets
    the unused pci-e spot on the 4G has been very popular
    a spare SD card reader can sneak next to the RAM – see ivc's mods above

where to place the hubs
    around the RAM area
    on top of the SSD
    next to the reset switch
    in the spare pci-e area (if you're not modding an 8G)
    if very small, even in the lid – see metachuh's mod, below

ways to switch internal devices on/off
    external usb switch – http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=17193
    metachuh - juaquin switch – double DIP tucked into modem port; TV tuner/antenna            
        http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=12364
    multiple DIP switches under RAM cover – see ivc wiki, above
    bassam - software driven XP switching - http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=26564
    dip switches – http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=23362&p=3  post #56
    ta2cba – micro controller switch - http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=19317

increasing cooling
    copper heat sinks – some sheets, some pieces with artic silver for gap,
        be sure that any copper shim does not migrate and short the MOB
    extra fans – http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=26467
    new thermal pads – http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=20683

electrical insulation
    kapton tape – check ebay for rolls or sheets
    electrical tape

sticking things down to the MOB
    double stick sponge tape is good for hubs and bumpy items
    clear double stick is good for affixing the touchscreen - it's thin and transparent
    hot glue has been used to stick devices and hold wires down

soldering tips
    fallentine's tips – http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=7800
    use thin solder, no thicker than the wires
    use rosin flux, a great soldering helper – gets the solder to go where you want, with
        less heat
    if soldering small points, may use kapton to shield the areas you DON't want to solder

touchscreen bulge
    can cut off TS connectors to make things thinner, though a bit tricky to solder to the ribbon from TS
    can take the black padding out behind the LCD for more space
    can nibble off the plastic wire guides in the lid for more room
    kiddshop and others added washers to the lid screws for a bit more thickness and space for TS -
              http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=27979  JDTucson shows fiber washers from HD

source for parts
       touchscreen                pros                            cons

        fido-dido999        fast ship, cheaper,           not as clear?,                            
                                  good support                   hub assembly messy
                                  works in Xandros              plastic usb plug can short

        kiddshop            more transmittance?,          slow ship,                        
                                  extra parts                        no support       
       
    hubs – be sure to check any hub's ports before you take it apart.  many are poorly
    assembled and some even mislabelled on the PC board
        swivel hub -     Target, online, many versions.  beware the mislabelled board
        octopus hub - http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=20006   
        fido-dido999 and kiddshop on ebay

        some have used small hubs with the usb sockets attached to the board, but this
        makes for messy, time-consuming desoldering

    AC adapters
        warning:  do not plug an adapter that is not the correct voltage and current into           
        your eeePC.  most laptops use more power, so you could fry your little computer.

                most AC adapters are rated for a voltage and current based upon the device that they
                were designed to plug into.  if you check the open circuit voltage, it will be much higher.

                a voltage regulated adapter will put out the set voltage, no matter what current.  these cost
                more b/c there is a regulator chip inside.  these would hold the voltage, but max out at the
                rated current

        9V @ 1.5 amps just barely works (but blinks, annoyingly, between AC and battery mode). 
        the outside of the plug, the barrel, is negative, or ground

                12V @1.5 amps works.  just be sure it isn't voltage regulated, as a static 12v might be
                too hot for the eee.

must check before powering up
    use a continuity tester to look for shorts, in particular be sure there is NO connection
        between 5v power and ground
    check for shorts between adjacent wires

touchscreen software
    fido-dido installation in xandros – http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=18677
    ubunto- http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=8026
    XP - search, seems to be easy to do
    kiddshop in Xandros - http://wiki.eeeuser.com/howto:kiddshopt … derxandros

troubleshooting
    eee hangs on booting
        check for mistyped command in touchscreen files
        check the RAM module is well seated
    eee is dead
        unplug AC, pull out battery, hold power button for 20 seconds, replace battery
        short the CMOS   http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=24246  post #8
        unplug the internal battery
        try F9 restore if suspected software corruption
        check for burnt transistor -> vinnie's link, below
    eee has top row of keys shifted
        do the pull battery/ hold power button routine
    touchscreen module won't launch, wants root permissions
        >su
        >password
    touchscreen seems stuck in one place
        check that bezel is not pressing down hard in one corner
        check for shorts across the TS wires
        check for swapped TS wires
    touchpad doesn't work after reaasembly
        unlock and reseat the tab.  probably not making full contact, tab not pushed in

factoids
    screws are 2 mm, metric not SAE
    webcam covering is conductive, so careful not to reroute it and cause a short
    webcam plug is NOT protected from over current
    left usb is weaker than others
    the webcam receptacle has 5, not 4, pins.  take care aligning to push upward and leave the
        bottom pin open, if you use a 4 pin jst plug - http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=26641
    the ohm hub is mislabelled on the printed circuit board –         
        http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=15932
    some wireless mice do not work with the dongle under the RAM door, there seems to
        be too much shielding on the under side of the eee
    webcam draws > 250 mA
    bluetooth draws > 250 mA
    flash drives use ~ 100 mA
    touchscreen uses ~ 125 mA
    operating temp ~ 55 C
    the commonly burned transistor is part number Fairchild FDN306P
        http://www.fairchildsemi.com/ds/FD%2FFDN306P.pdf
    jst connectors for webcam -
        4 pin recepticle: http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSea … 55-2185-ND       
                4 pin header: http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSea … -1790-1-ND
fantastic mods
    jkkmobile – popularized the touchscreen mod -
        http://jkkmobile.blogspot.com/2007/12/a … creen.html
    ivc – extreme modder, who inspired the rest of us, and keeps adding more devices
        http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=21303
    johnx -  one of the first to put the usb plugs in the pci-e slot
        http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=3982
    metachuh – all in the lid - http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=24384
    wintercs – tricked out his eee and listed on ebay for $2800
        http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=26324
    juaquin switch – double DIP in modem port – unfortunately led to a bricked eee
    chewy – no soldering to the MOB, external usb plug for mod access                
            http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=17193
             - fido kit placed under MOB, 2 usb in RAM bay, TS, webcam from hub
                http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php? … 86#p293886
    jesselang - cool LEDs, slick mod - http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=20545
    roberteernat - slipped an SD reader in the lid, with external access slot
              http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=27062
    KingSquitter - multiple mods, including software controlled on/off, many others -
              http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=24827
    tie2 - amazing compact flash tied into the pci-e site - very small soldering -
              http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=19835
    johnsonx42 - solderless, and without removing the stickies -
              http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=26951

bricking stories
    chewy -  a close call after a stupid short on TS controller –
        http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=18547
    kajer - 30 ga burned though insulation, was sourcing a BT internal dongle -
        http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=17445
    vinnielee – shorted to ground, burned the usual transistor, but found a new one
        see this link for details – http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=21063
    g-funkster – may have shorted across stripped wires into jst connector -
         http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=13337
    lastsgal - shorted something under the MOB on assembling, nice fingerprint reader
            http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=20493
    anarethos – pinched a wire with a screw -
            http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=26766

that's it as of 5/3/08.  i'll try to update this as time permits.  thanks.

Last edited by chewy (2008-09-16 7:34:52 am)