HD Install :: read only

Ok I have dsl configured the way I want it and have a drive that I will be saving all my data to along with a drive for the backup file. I want to make the root drive hda1 read only now that I have the system set up the way I need it. I also have a swap partition to make a total of 4 drives

hda1 has the root file system.
hda2 backup
hda3 drive to save files to mainly through ssh
hda4 linux swap
Is the only way to make the system read only and safe to turn off with a frugal install? I want to be able to run this with no mouse no keyboard. so I could not run fsck if the system is not shut down right.

Thanks for any help.

There has been a couple topics on this.

For the mounted base system, remove "frugal" bootcode or use "toram". To not use the swap, you can use "noswap"

original here.