BIOS upgrade problems on CF-28

I recently purchased a CF-28. Windows XP is freezing on "Installing Devices" (even with everything disabled in the BIOS. I noticed a BIOS on tcc.panasonic.com that looked like it would fix Windows XP issues. I see several BIOS options (3 to be exact) but the firmware all appear to be the same file / same file size. I tried one and the BIOS loader said "only for CF-28 MK4" and refused to load the BIOS.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks

 

Djacid can probably help you but he is in the UK and is sawing logs now. He can email it to me in the morning and I can post it/them.

 

I think I was downloading the wrong BIOS before....

The BIOS reports version V3.00L12C

My model number is CF-28S3JGZKM. I found a BIOS on tcc.toughbook.com that lists '512kb dimm support'...but this version is V300L11A

Interesting?

 

do you mean when you are installing windows it keeps hanging????
caus it could be a cold boot issue with winxp!!!!
to sort that out you'll need to do a EC update,

but first go into ur bios load default values and try it again and let us know how far you got????

 

I was having serious problems with Windows XP freezing on "installing devices".

That has somehow gone away and I installed Windows XP.


However when I try to boot the system I get a black screen and nothing happens on the screen. If I boot in Safe Mode I get into Windows XP. I've installed the VGA drivers and also the Intel INF chipsets. I tried booting in VGA mode and the system still goes to a black screen and never goes any farther

I'm out of ideas...

Oh, and the keyboard mapping is also apparently screwed up (in Safe Mode atleast). key m is 0 and so on...very frustrating

 

Azop... I don't think your keyboard is screwed up... Look in the bios and see if your numlock is enabled. If it is... disable it. That's the number pad on the keyboard.

 

Hahaha...oops

Well, that was only a small problem. Now if only I can fix the Windows XP issues. My BIOS appears to have a more current BIOS then whats available by Panasonic? Does that make sense?

 

yes it does the last bios panasonic made for the toughbooks werent release also what copy of windows are you using, is it a copy???
original disk????

 

can I get a walkthrough on how to flash the bios...I have a file downloaded with a couple exec and the bios bin.

 

all you do is get a floppy disk, inset it into ur pc then in my computer right click on floppy drive and click format when the menu comes up click on creat ms-dos start up disk, once done the file you have download right click and extract too floppy A, if it asks you to overwrite any thing just click yes too all............
once done put into ur toughbook drive restart press ESC click floppy as ur boot option and it will load and then it'll let you know if it is needed or not!!!!

 

I downloaded a copy of TinyXP with the hope that it would work. The point being a 1ghz w/ 256mb of ram is kinda slow for Windows XP pro and anything I could try to speed it up would be great. I'll try a full version of Windows XP to see what happens

 

most tinyxp versions are made just for desktop pc so stuff like battery driver support and other laptop related support have been taken out main reason why it will give you errors/hang or wont install full stop and if it does wont be any faster......

 

TinyXP ended up working just fine. Turned out that the battery was the problem. I removed it and Windows XP installed without any further problems. It was hanging and taking ~3 hours to get past Installing Devices. Once I popped out the battery it finished in 30 seconds

 

so did you reinstall battery support for it,
hows everything in device manage all sorted..........

 

I did this and got a disc error...


???

 

which version were you installing???????

 

No...battery support and everything was included

Everything works great

 

Azop... Can you email me the battery support driver/app? I'm sure it's small enought ot go via email.

Acid.... I installed the one you emailed me to post... So the one in the driver & Apps thread.

 

are there any update for this Bois V2.00L13?

 

Azop... Just keep trying to do the install. Stop and start over from scratch... Mine did the same thing for 5-6 install tries. Also... If you only have 256mb RAM... Borrow another stick of RAM for the install. I think the RAM has something to do with it. Just keep trying to do it... It WILL work! Can you email me the battery support app/driver? I don't have that one.

Action... No updates for that one... I have the same one and have been told that you can't update it...

 

Thanks for that Toughbook. now just to find out if this has the update for the 512mb ram...

 

I think djacid was lucky on that one.... Though he is a very skilled hacker/modder! I went ahead and ordered a stick of 256 and put in mine.

I took all the pics needed for a "how-to" on swapping the CD for a DVD. Now I just need the time to put it all together!

 

Djacid has a different make than we do. I believe he has a 1gighz mk-3. while we just bought the older mk-2's.

I tried 3 different brands of 512 ram at my buddies PC outlet and none of them would stay running. I also tried 3 different bios that I found on the web.
I too am now settling for a 256 stick from crucial.

 

I bought a stick of Infineon ram... I read a very good review about it and it's working VERY well. I think I like the Hitachi Hard drive MUcH better than the Seagate. It runs A LOT cooler! Very important to us Toughbookers!

 

guys,
from all the rams you tried, were any of them micron ram,
only reason am asking is caus micron is the one i bought and it worked straight away without any problems,
even though some company rebrand rams and sell them under there company name you can never be sure which one will work that way or what brand there are sending,
i tried my 512mb in my mates toughbook afew days after it worked in mine and it worked in his with out any problems,
also after comparing kingston is also know to work,
BUT rather then me buying that one for my mate i just ordered another micron for him and he aint had no problems what so ever with it.....

 

oh another thing,
when i take my 512 ram out and go onto crucial website and run the test there inform me that the maxium my toughbook can take it only 512mb in total so can only add 256mb,
but as you guys know 512mb ram does work, but test is on the orca memory site,
download the free little software similar to everest and it tells you extacly what ur motherboard will TAKE " 512mb"

 

djacid is your toughbook an mk-3 model?
yes my crucial was Micron ram. as is my 256 stick that is in now.

and toughbook I agree on the Hitatchi my 100gb drive is running smooth as ever.

 

Yes... I like the Hitachi better than Seagate. It runs much cooler too!

Hmmm... Dj... You have me thinking about buying a stick of 512. I downloaded the PC2007 software... I'll have to try it.

 

toughboook........let me know about the results you get from trying the software!!!!!
if it says 512mb then it should work!!!!!