Software Downloaded

As much as this was meant to be a guide for people to easily do this I have kinda failed and I had to get the help of someone else to install all the crazy-ass Linux stuff so to be honest I have no idea what to say I did. My only advice is to just get a damn hard drive instead of a USB stick and install Windows on it...

Software Problems.

Ok, Linux is impossible to understand so I tried to install Windows XP. It didn't work either so I'm going back to try XBMC Live. Which you also use UNetbootin but just use a diskimage thingy from the file. (you can get this on XBMCs website)

Installing programs and such.

Ok, I've cut around the plastic sheet as close to the motherboard as I can to allow hot air up from the lower section.

To download Linux I used UNetbootin which was really easy as you just select Ubuntu 11.04 Live and set the "space used preserve files across reboots" to 9999 (joys of large modern flash drives) I then downloaded a remote on my phone that allowed me to use it as the mouse/keyboard, may mod the NES controller at a later date (Pretty much this: http://www.instructables.com/id/Apple-NesRemote/) but it will do for now.

Oh, and before you boot from the usb you need to set it in the BIOS. For me I just had to spam the delete key when I turned the NES on and then went to the boot menu and changed the order to the usb first. (Make sure its plugged in when you do this, may sound silly but it was an issue I faced...)

Slight Issues.

I managed to get a basic version of Ubuntu running on the NES but it was running REALLY hot and I burnt myself touching the DVI port. So I'll need to sort that before running anything more ambitious then a desktop.

Putting in the Internals.

Right, due to the momentum of work I kinda forgot to take photos so the photos are of the finished thing.

So i measured out the interior of the case and cut/drilled out a plastic sheet to mount the motherboard to. (I thought painting it grey would make it look better... I was wrong) I ran into the problem of the screw pegs being in the way of the sheet so after trying a few methods (Thus the unnecessary holes) I decided to cut the pegs inside in the middle and then cut the corners off the plastic sheet so I could still screw the NES shut.

 (For some reason I cant get this photo landscape...)

After accidently dropping a calculator I came into position of small plastic calculator keys which I used as spacers for the hard drive slot due to it not being level/ in line with the NES case. so I glued a few of them underneath and it seemed to fit perfectly.

With the hard drive I wanted the ability to take it in and out for file transfer. So I needed to secure the mini usb cable which was accomplished by the use of plastic bits, green stuff (which I found along with the clippers in my old Warhammer stash) and A LOT of super glue. It doesn't look pretty but it holds and you don't see it anyway so Im not too bothered. I cut off a strip of that insulator padding that came with the motherboard and taped it to the end of the plastic sheet to stop too much dust etc getting in the gap between it and the motherboard.












I then hack-sawed off the ends of the controller ports and cut a hole for the hdmi/power cable and then assembled everything which fitted all nicely. All thats left now is software.

Motherboard Arrives.

After weeks of delays and inconvenience the motherboard FINALLY came. I hooked up the RAM, USB boot device and keyboard and tested XBMC on it with not quite success (No sound...) So I then set to measuring out what needed to be cut and what not.

The first thing i needed to do was sand down the pegs that were in the way of the motherboard, I could have cut them off but for structural integrity it was better to make the motherboard fit exact.

For the plastic 'T' I measured around the chunky heat sink and after many, many methods including Swiss-cheesing it with a drill and another attempt at melting it with a lighter. I managed to find a way to cut it out. Luckily I found some old Warhammer clippers from back when I was cool and a combination of them and pliers worked quite well. It was then sanded down so I don't cut myself later. I also secured the power switch in place by gluing it to a corner of plastic, and then that to the case. While it set I propped it up with the lighter so I now dont regret buying one for the project...

I then got to cutting the cartridge slot as there were a few protrusions which wasn't too difficult as I was a freakin' pro at the clipper method by then.

Constructing the Hard Drive.

Right. The Gamebit came in the post today so I decided to have a go at this. I opened up the cartridge and drilled out/sanded down the peg in the middle. 

I then proceeded to crack open the external hard drive which was no easy task due to the lack of screws. I was still able to pry it open with a screwdriver although there were a few markings on the case (which I didn't want in case I needed to use it for something else).












I then marked out where it stuck out at the bottom and cut the cartridge so that the Mini USB port came out the bottom. Then I cut some small strips of plastic and glued them in place around the hard drive to secure it in position and another one to go over the bottom with a hole for the Mini USB. I found that there were some foam pads in the original hard drive casing which I put in just to make sure it was protected. I then screwed it all together and stuck the new sticker on properly.

For anyone who wants to try out modding this is a pretty good mod on its own if you have any spare NES games kicking about.

Starting on the Component Enclosure.

In my eagerness to properly get started on this project I went out today and bought some plastic for the internal enclosure/framework of the computer. At first I was going to buy some sheets of plastic from Hobbycraft but they were like £3 for an A4 sheet which is a tad extortionate. So instead I managed to find a plastic case for screws and what-not which was a fraction of the price for 4 times as much sheet plastic. I also made some quick designs for the enclosure but as usual, until that damn motherboard arrives I cant do any cutting. Hobbycraft also for some reason had really cheap Mini Eggs so I got a few bags of them :D

Problems With the Hard Drive.

I decided to try and open up the NES cartridge but ran into the obstacle of the security screws in the back. I found a guide online on how to make a screwdriver bit out of a melted pen but that just resulted in a ruined pen... So I've decided to just buy one of Ebay for like £4. *Sigh*












I did however get a label (designed by @CraigLol who is an excellent Photoshopper.) to go over the 'Nintendo World Cup' label which suits the purpose of the design more appropriately.











 I may re-do the application on actual sticky backed glossy paper instead of just printing it out and taping it... (Its a start.) Also here is the original file for the design although I suggest you make your own; find your own damn Photoshop person...

(Ok I lied. Now I'm no longer doing the posts retrospectively; I just forgot about this...)

Pre-Prepping the Case.

Now I am up to date with my posting and no longer doing this retrospectively. Not being a modder I dont own a  Dremel or intend on sinking £50 into one that I will use the grand total of once. So I have spent plenty of time trying to get rid of the plastic pegs on the bottom of the case. First I tried a lighter and a knife which ended horribly. Then snapping them off with pliers but that cracked the case underneath so that was no good. Then a sander but that would have taken days to do. In the end I used an electric drill with a massive drill bit which worked very much to my satisfaction.

In fact I got a bit carried away and drilled out a few of the pegs I shouldn't have... The stumps illustrated in this picture below are all the ones you should leave as they are the ones that prop up the power switch.

I realise how poor the finish is on them and that the 'T' shape is still in the middle but again, I dont know for sure how to go around doing that until I get the components in the case and see what is visible/how well it fits.

Power Switch.

I have now ordered the components so while I wait I thought I would work on the power switch.

Since I have absolutely no skills in soldering I decided to go for the more mechanical approach. First I removed the blue plastic bit on the power switch. I yanked it off with my manly strength but I should have really taken the time to pull back the metal tabs as I spent a while gluing the blue plastic bit back together.

I then began to cut away at the back edge (around 2mm) so there was space enough for the power switch to be put in place. I then reattached the blue plastic bit, this time I pulled back the metal tabs with some pliers...

I then glued the power switch to the NES power button back so that when the button is pressed in it clicks the switch. I then bent back the LED on the circuit board and slotted in the LED from the power switch cable. I also glued some bits of plastic from a Haribo box to strengthen it.

I may take off the circuit board and the original wires later if I need more space but thats me done with this for now.

EDIT: I forgot to mention the metal tab in the blue bit of plastic. From other sources I have heard that it causes the button to stay pushed in which isn't really helpful for a momentary switch... So with the use of some pliers it came right out along with some small pin. Oh, also when I ripped off the blue plastic some metal bit came flying out and I have no idea where its meant to go but it works fine without it so just remove it if its still there to anyone who decides to take the civilized approach.

Disassembling the NES.

There are plenty of guides online to help you do this but its fairly straightforward process of just unscrewing every screw you can see.

Eventually you will be left with the controller ports which took me a while to figure out how to take out but all you have to to is jiggle them until they slip out. Also you will need to remove the tray from the slot loader as this is being used later; this can be done by pinching the sides and it should just come out.

      

Starting Out.

I have decided that over the coming summer months to build an HTPC out of an old NES console. Now, I have very little knowledge of modding or building computers so this is a bit of a learning process for me.

What you will need:

• NES console, (No shit) the circuit boards dont need to work so you can get a cheap one off Ebay. Just make sure the case is in a good condition.

• Motherboard, I personally went for the Zotac IONITX-T-B ION motherboard. It was really handy for me as it has a built in 1.8GHz dual core Intel Atom processor and a 90W power supply so I didn't have to worry about that. This was ordered from here: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/268793

• RAM, I wasn't sure if I would need 2 or 4GB but according to reliable resources, (@JamesC_) for watching movies/emulating old games I would only need the 2GB. (Which I got here http://www.ebuyer.com/product/233470)

• Power switch/LED, I scoured the internet looking for one of these but in the end I got mine from an old Dell case, but if you need to buy one I eventualy found one here http://tinyurl.com/3hfaf7b.

• USB flash drive, (At least 4GB) This is for installing the operating system on. 

• 2.5" external hard drive, for my build I'm putting an external hard drive in a NES cart and it will then slot into the usual game slot to allow transfer of files from my laptop to the NES.

• Nes cart (See above) Same as the NES, doesnt need to work, just make sure its in good condition.

• Tools needed:
• Superglue 
• Craft knife
• Power drill with 8mm and 2.5mm drill bits.
• Various sizes of sandpaper or an electric sander
• Warhammer clippers or equivalent
• Warhammer green stuff
• Pliers
• Some sort of work bench to secure the NES in place