I've got a macbook pro-15 2.4ghz 'Santa Rosa' that had a cracked LCD. I took the lcd out to replace it, but didn't count on a replacement being so expensive...and me being very short on cash...So I don't figure on replacing the screen for a long while...I have an Cinema display that plugs right in the connector on the side. No prob.
But can I put it back together without the screen/bezel assembly and have it boot safely and use it with my external Display+a usb keyboard or whatever?
How much of the antennae/iSite/Graphics....whatever else is in the bezel? ...Do I need to get back together? I don't know if I'd leave any open loops, not hooking something up...?

This was a used computer so I took out the heat sink and cleaned up quite a bit of dust/dirt/lint from it and the bottom tray. The vanes on the heatsink were fairly clogged-up with dust/dirt. I also cleaned off the old crusty thermal paste and re-applied it to the heatsink-processor setup...the bottom tray is pretty much ready to go...I'm sure there's a few things I need to know to get it running without an LCD! Thanks for any info from anyone out there! I am gonna miss having a 20" display running off my 17" MBP....I've been spoiled with lots of screen real-estate lately.....ah well.

Thanks
Mike

The WiFi antenna and the iSight camera is mostly what will be affected in your setup. You should still be able to set it up in a way that'll work.