repurposing Atom netbook system board as embedded server

One of the hard drive in one of my Atom netbooks died and I´d like to repurpose it as file server, without display or keyboard, inside a slimmer plastic box where it´d fit nicely (and hopefully boot Linux from a USB stick).

However, I´ve found two problems:

1. While the netbook powers up, (fully disassembled sans hard drive) I can see the cpu cooler kicking in (so boot process has started) but I get no output from the netbook´s display, which I reconnected to the "LVDS" port. I feel like whatever tells the PC that the lid is open, is in fact not telling it so. So, where is the trick in netbook displays that signals the computer if the lid is open or not? I see no visible latch or sensor or ´pin´ that is pressed (as my original 486sx laptop had, 20 years ago)

It is apparently not the hinges position either, as the hinges currently are 90 degrees from the "closed" position (even while the parts are spread ona table).

2. It still needs one to press the ´power button´ (a surface mounted switch) to power up. I´d like to rewire it so that it´s "always on" (ie powers up right after it receives power). Any idea of how to accomplish this? Do I need to edit the BIOS? (as far as I remember,Netbook BIOSes don´t feature a setting to do so or not, like many desktop mobos have). So, what to do? simulate a button press via some circuitry?

Thoughts? comments? Thanks in advance guys.

To paraphrase Groucho with a slight variation: "these are my problems, if you don´t like them, I have others... ".

FC

 

Probably not your problem:
On the AA1 it's a magnetic sensor somewhere near the lower left corner
of the palmrest, with a fairly strong magnet in the upper left corner
of the screen surround. My recent (and not so recent) Dell laptops
also used a magnet & sensor, so the technique is not new.

Jerry