Mac HT question

Hi, I have recently purchased a new MacBook Pro, and therefore I was looking into making my old white MacBook into a home theater computer so I can watch all of my movies and TV shows stored on my external hard drives with Plex. This brings me to my two questions:
Is it possible to change the settings on my MacBook so It is able to run with the screen closed?
I would like to connect my laptop directly to my receiver. If I used an audio interface such as an M-Audio Fast Track Pro (I have one laying around), could I connect the S/PDIF output on the interface to the receiver, would it be 5.1?

Thanks,
Devon

Hope this helps .... I have a White MacBook and i am forever watching my EyeTV Elegato and movies with the screen down and closed away. I sit at home on-line through the day with my MacBook whilst watching the TV on my TV all run through the Mac. All i do is Detect other displays and turn off mirroring. Then when im shutting down for the night close the screen and the other monitor ( My TV) acts as the MacBook screen and i can use it as a computer.
Once its up i just use my Apple remote to do the Movie/TV functions.
Hope this make sense. Painkillers have kicked in and a little woosie ... lol

As for the other tech ?'s i cant help you

Cheers
Ohh and welcome to the forum. If i cant help you there will be someone that probably can. Such a invaluable place to be, and its not just anything goes in anything goes
Not just anything goes in anything goes