Building an MP3 player from a Merit Megatouch Platinum Upright

Here's what I did to build mine:

Remove computer from bottom of cabinet. Take one compact P3/P4 system (with built-in VGA video, 1 serial port, and sound card) and pre-stage it with Windows XP and patches. Install the 3M touchscreen drivers and the DW Jukebox software. Set the BIOS to power up the computer upon power loss.

Configure DW Jukebox software to shut down the computer if the <ESC> key is pressed (RTFM!!!) and set the video display to 640x480 VGA monitor and 640x480 resolution with 16M colors. Put the DW Jukebox in the Startup folder. Turn off ALL Windows sounds.

Install the computer in the cabinet. Plug in the VGA monitor, touch screen controller (serial port!), and power.

Install an amplified speaker system. I used a Creative Labs 2 speaker + sub setup, but instead used 2 standard 4" shielded speakers in the pre-made cabinet locations as the desktop speakers were too small. I set the subwoofer on top of the shelf where the coin box is and screwed it in place through the side of the cabinet with a couple of long, pan head, sheet metal screws. Drill pilot holes first!. Connect the amplified subwoofer to power and wire the speakers to the amp. This can be done with some pre-made 1/4" audio plugs to bare wire cables.

Plug amplified speaker system into the computer.

Disassemble a PS/2 keyboard. Look at the mylar film traces and follow the paths for the <ESC> key back to the controller board. These two points are where you will wire a simple Arcade button to act as the <ESC> key. Install the button somewhere on the cabinet. I put mine on the top by the power switch... then plug the PS/2 keyboard into the computer.

Drill a hole on the front of the cab then use some small knives/chisels to make it square. Install a pair of USB ports behind the hole. This is for a USB keyboard and memory stick so you can add more music at any time. Plug the ports into the computer.

Power it up and run the 3M utility to calibrate the touch screen. Don't worry if the edges of the screen don't calibrate well as you'll use those only when running the computer OS.

The touchscreen acts as a mouse when running the OS. When running the DW Jukebox software it acts as a point-touch and will only require you to touch and hold on a jukebox button to activate - no need to drag fingers across the screen.

Power it up, adjust the volume control on the speakers to the max you want, and marvel at the DW Jukebox software. When done, press the arcade button you installed and DW Jukebox will shut down the computer. Power off the cab after the computer powers down.

Turn it back on, plug in the USB keyboard and memory stick full of music. Shut down DW Jukebox (NOT with the <ESC> key!) with Alt-F4 then copy your musinc to the location you told DWJ to use. Restart the jukebox software in Windows and it will index the music you added.

IF the DWJ software shuts down unexpectedly, remove some music files and try starting it again. It builds the index in memory and if you have more songs than it can process it will shut down. Add the music files in smaller chunks as you start/quit the software and it will add the songs to the index as you go.

Enjoy!