$6k CF-30 Mark III UPGRADE in IRAQ. HELP

You're using Digital Photo Professional? I find the workflow quite clunky especially when you're dealing with production environments and once you get a high number of images it really starts bogging down. It's also a generally accepted notion that DPP, while can do your RAW conversions, isn't very stable. That might be your problem actually. I'd recommend you dig deeper and get more acquainted with Lightroom.

 

I'm not retarded .. it was the bios. I hit F2, went into bios and BAM that's what it said. I PROMISE that is an exact quote of the specs. It is what it is. This is the Mark III with the latest bios....so maybe....it's a bit different? I will try to take a screen pic, but with downloading stuff on govt computers it can be difficult. Stand by.

 

I have been using Irfanview to open the raw photo's when I'm not in Lightroom.

 

Mn....thoughts on this from Tomcat? I think what you're saying Tomcat goes against several things I've been reading on this thread. According to what I've read Windows 7 will be an experiment with the 64 bit option and what ram is put into use after installation.

 

Each post does have new updated info
The latest info from your bios screen leads me to believe that you will not see the full amount of installed ram in a 64 bit O/S

You are a pioneer here in you quest as none of us have 8GB ram installed so I encourage you to test

Alex

 

Well...

With all you guys posting similar results to what Bono said...

I have to say, it does NOT look promising. There is a slim chance that the built-in Northbridge drivers in Win7 will work and make the rest of that RAM available, but just that... a chance. If I HAD THE MACHINE... the first thing I'd do is load Win7 64-bit on it using a spare HD just to SEE WHAT I CAN SEE.

However... it does appear that NOW WE KNOW WHY PANASONIC IS NOT OFFERING 64-BIT SUPPORT ON THESE MACHINES. UGGH.

I guess at this point... you have to make a choice. You can go with Win7 32-bit, which is proven and is supported by Panasonic on your machine; you will NOT have access to all of your RAM, but you CAN try ReadyBoost & see if that will work for you.

You can also try other apps as Canuck has suggested; they may very well have better memory management than the Usually-Piece-of-Cr@p-Software that most camera manufacturers ship with their cameras.


mnem
Uggh.

 

Wow Bono! You have started a great thread. This will be very educating for many people to follow.

You remind me of myself when I 1st came on here. Listen to these guys and you will benefit ten fold, not even speaking of the time you will save.

I bought my CF-30 from Buytough as well here in Atlanta. I do get up there from time to time and will ask them about this. If they misled you in anyway I will be very dissapointed to say the least. They have ALWAYS been very straight, honest with me over the years. Except for one time, but that's not an issue here.

I wanted to install W7 64 Bit over the summer on my MK3. My computer says it will handle 64Bit, every test I did on it said the same. However when I went to install it I ran into problems. I was pretty miffed to say the least. I ended up talking to a pretty high level Supervisor at Panasonic. Long story short; he told me that NO current Toughbook models will run 64Bit. The new models that will be coming out next WILL be 64 Bit capable. My sail was deflated like yours. He said that they build these machines on mostly what there customers desire. He went on to say that if he had to guess, that 95% of the Toughbook owners are deploying Windows XP Pro, 32 Bit as it is pretty much bullet proof for how the Toughbook is used. Rememeber this was in the early to mid summer.

If I was looking to buy a Toughbook these days I would wait till the new machines come out. However, that does not help us out very much does it?

I use a Panasonic SDHC card in my CF30MK3. It works perfect. There is even a web page on Panny's site telling you how to set it up properly. I will try and find it for you.

With all that being said. You CAN install W7 64Bit on your 30. The only problem with that is you will NOT be able to use and take advantage of any of the Toughbooks programs, software, etc. They are all made for 32 Bit like stated above.

I would do what Mnen said to do. Install 64Bit on an external drive and see what happens. Just remember one thing though; you will not be able to use a SATA port, you would have to use it Vvi USB. That will hinder the performance. Is that correct guys?

If you would like to try a SSD out, let me know. I have a 32Gb Intel SSD-E that I do not use. It is the Lexus of SSD drives.

Sorry for ramble!

 

Ok....I got dibs on the SSD-E drive from you. I'll arrive in the states on the 19th of January and then we can talk about the change of ownership if you like?

I will have to find someone locally in Madison Wisconsin that can set my machine up to run Win7 64bit externally.....If I did it, I'm sure I would FRY my brain and my machine.

Do you have any way of finding out from Panasonic if there have been any futher developments with the drivers or using 64bit on the Mark III? I can't call from here.

 

They are not going to do 64Bit for the MK3. They might, big might, work when the new models come out that do. We might have to hack a little to make them work, but we like doing that!

 

Toyo -

If you can spare the time, be a nice chap and do the partition alignment on that SSD for Bono BEFORE you turn it over to him; since you have the same HDD Controller, your config should be identical.

Bono - Be appropriately thankful (and generous if money is changing hands) - partition alignment is a process not unlike root canal...

BTW - both of you - I meant I would just grab any old 2.5" SATA HDD I had lying around & swap the one that was installed out JUST TO TEST Win7/64 & see If I could get all the drivers to load in compatibility mode. I'm not sure whether you can actually get Win7 to INSTALL to a drive ON A USB PORT... I can hear the MicroSuck Anti-Piracy people howling in rage at the mere MENTION of that idea!

mnem
Have you tried Mrs. Butterworth's?

 

mnementh, I have no problems doing that on my SSD for him at all, good idea.

I have a spare HDD I can put in a spare caddy and see what happens. Maybe, just maybe, something is a little different with the new drivers out now from Panny. Knowing them they somehow made them workable

 

There ya go...

Experiment under way.

I'll go get Beaker... and my lead-lined jockstrap.

mnem
We're gonna need a new TIMMY!!!