CF-18 Mk1 to Mk5 upgrade HDD, OS problems, installation

Hello all..

Well, I have a CF18 Mk1 in which the hard drive died..

..so as I intended to replace the hdd, I thought to search for the latest model CF18 I could find while I was at it for a modest processor and touchscreen, etc..upgrade. (The CF 19 a little out of budget yet..)

So, I found a nearly pristine Mk5, CF18PHH....

The v5 Bios has options for things I have never seen before such as bit execute-disable capability (which apparently protects against buffer overflow attacks somehow) and TPM, which is some sort of encrypted drive, or rather chip, on the motherboard..

Upon being asked twice in big red letters are you sure you want to activate it, I thought Id hold off and research it more before doing so...apparently this gives ability to encrypt files and folders on your hdd..

Furthermore, Boot options of hdd, USBkey, USBhdd, USBcdd, are listed as well as others I have no idea what they are..

USB FDD
USBLS120

...PCI LAN also given..


Anyway, I used a portable cd rom to install windows on the MK1 without issue, yet this MK5 did not recognize the CD rom...

So, I search and I search what it could be, try all of the bios options, none work..

This MK5 was apparently a Government machine ... and although I have no experience with Linux, it feels it may have been what was used, and everything done via LAN as wifi card not installed (although I have purchased one to install)..

At any rate, I got the bright idea to install XP on my new harddrive while using the Mk1...it all went fine..

then I remove the HD assembly/caddy and install it in the Mk5 and after the panasonic screen I immediately get the blue screen of death flashing briefly before auto reboot ....

...some 00000007B error...

Yet to research what it could be, but it simply doesnt make sense..

The machine is like new, 3500 hrs on it..

I genuinely hope someone here can help me and offer guidance.

Love the machine, intend to install new wifi card and be good to go with a new hdd and set to be trouble free for a long time...

...but I feel there are problems on the horizon here already and too many obstacles.

The ole Mk1 is working FINE ...f@£king hell...

Not experienced at all with Linux, but willing perhaps to give it a try...I like the principle of it all from the little i know and am experienced with all of this yet forgotten much as it has been a long time.

I just want to use the d@mn thing for simple things..not interested in becoming a computer programmer ...

I am a fine art painter after all!!


Kind regards and I look forward to replies...
THANK YOU VERY MUCH...


PS: A possible clue to the history of this Mk5 and its use in the past (?) ... I select <1> within the bios boot order priority and it sets it to original defaults.

1st becomes USB FDD (I have no idea what that is)
2nd becomes HDD
3rd USB CDD
4th PCI LAN


govt machine, I dont know...made to run off of LAN only and linux?
...But this model and sticker on the palmrest reflects that XP was the originally intended OS.

 

usb cdd will be your priority on the bios for boot menu and you'll set to install a fresh copy of OS.

BSOD happen when there is a mismatch with the hardware Like from Mk1 to MK5


ohlip

 

Thank you for that..


Late night zombie...not thinking. Lying in bed I thought about that!

My portable cd rom drive was not being read by the Mk5 but was read by the Mk1, as stated..

the 0000007b error is usually a hardware/driver incompatibility it seems...so that made sense upon researching the error online.

So, this morning I eliminated all of the other items from the boot menu within the Mk5 Bios except USB CDD and it now reads the cdrom drive and XP disk!?

It must have been due to fact the hard drive was new and not formatted at all?

I don't know how I would have done this otherwise without the Mk1 install/formatting of hard drive beforehand??

 

The hardware had a big change in chipsets between the two. Mk1 to Mk3 are ok. And between Mk4 to Mk5 are ok to swap hard drives like that.

The TPM isn't really needed. The only difference between the Mk4 and Mk5 is the TPM chip. TPM is banned in some countries. (AKA they can't hack it, lol)

What is the full model number of the Mk5 so we can see if it's a federal model or not, but that shouldn't make a difference on the boot order.

 

Hello there

CF18PHHZXBM

As a note, I am up and running just fine on the Mk5 now. And I have quickly educated myself on those bios boot options.

Nice to have.

However, I am still perplexed why using the same Windows XP OS disk the Mk1 saw my portable cd rom drive and the Mk5 did not.....

With the installation of the OS using the Mk1 and formatting the newly installed HDD for the first time, it seemed to give some sort of foundation for the Mk5 to go to.

I had selected all various boot options last night on the Mk5 to see which would recognize the cdrom drive, but none did.

Today, selecting USB CDD and disabling all others allowed me to "boot from CD" ..

Perhaps i was just too tired last night and burned out and did something stupid, not thinking straight, etc..

Final thought, Linux sounds like an interesting option for an OS .. trouble free, direct, and no nonsense .. although I have absolutely no experience and am no programmer (and dont wish to be). Something I'd like to look into though..

Kind regards

PS: A nice difference in feel, speed, etc using the mk5 ! woohoo! The thing is like new too...

New Hdd, new wifi card, new cmos battery....I should be set for a LONG time when this is done. (smile)

 

Linux takes some time to learn but is a very nice option. I personally choose to dual boot. Thus giving me two options, and if windows crashes and I can't use it I am still good to go. The newer ubuntu can be installed inside of windows for the dual boot and uninstalled just like a program. It just leaves the grub menu if you uninstall it. If it wasn't for the 19's I now have I would of stuck with the 18's for a small, portable unit.

 

You can use your MK1 XP on MK5 after this small utility
Fix HDC
Fix the Hard Drive Controller when replacing your motherboard on an XP system.
1) Make Hirens CD or USB flash.
2) Boot from this media
3) run Fix HDC, delete controller data from registry (it's almost automatic)
4) shutdown and use this caddy in MK5

System will work, but you'll have to install some drivers.

 

Good tip, I haven't seen that one.

 

Awesome...thanks for that.

I did actually just come across that and bookmarked it for future reference and research..

THAT is very useful.

I have been researching and searching all i can on these things, and I have yet to find that info posted anywhere as HDD replacement is a very common thing and although not specific to the Toughbook, well, the Toughbook already has many specialized features and hard to find solid info on...especially as the machines get older.

Perhaps a post it should be made of that info or added to the FAQ?

 

Yes, it really seems like an OS I would like. The simplicity and directness really appeals right to me...not bloated junkware we the masses are forced to use, no virus crap and nonsense..etc.

We'll see...i just havent time now to learn all of that now.

Thanks again.

 

And you can make it look like ANYTHING. If you think you want to try something different on windows look for shell replacement. The right one can free up some resources and make it run faster. Also check out "black viper" windows tweaks.

 

Oh brother, here we go again...

That sounds really great, and exactly something I would enjoy and appreciate..

I wish I could upload all of this stuff into my little brain as they did within that movie the Matrix..sigh..

Thanks.

 

First things first, how deep do you want to go?

 

Hah..tell me about it..

If you only know me better...laugh.