CF-18 post it note

After going back 9 pages and one solid page of googling (18 install OS panasonic toughbook site: http://forum.notebookreview.com), I got tired.

SO, I decided to splice together all the notes that I have glommed together here. This is NOT canonical, feel free to correct or expound on anything you see here. I take zero credit.


PANASONIC TOUGHBOOK CF-18

Five iterations: Mk(pronounced Mark).1;Mk.2;Mk.3;Mk.4; & Mk.5.
Replaced or superceded by the CF-19, and looks very similar.


Which one did you just become the lucky owner of?

Mk.1 - (first generation) 18B
Mk.2 - 18D/E
Mk.3 - 18F/G/H
Mk.4 - 18K/L
Mk.5 - (last release) 18N/P


So, there's one for sale. ASSUMING no one has tinkered with it, what's under the hood? There is a HUGE swing between a barebones 18 and one completely tricked out from the factory. The answer is all in the extended model number, usually found on a sticker under the unit, or can be found in the BIOS if you can get it to spin up.


Here is an example extended model number: CF-18DDAZAMM

CF - dunno
18 - series 18

First Character is the CPU & presence of a builtin wifi card:

B - Pentium 900Mhz (Centrino) / 802.11b+g
C - Pentium 900Mhz Ultra Low Voltage / No wireless
D - Pentium 1.1Ghz ULV (centrino) with builtin B&G wifi
E - Pentium 1.1Ghz ULV / No wifi (Federal Only)
F - Pentium M 733 1.1Ghz (centrino) / 802.11a/b/g
G - Pentium M 733 1.1Ghz /no wifi (Federal Only)
H - Pentium M 733 1.1Ghz (centrino) / 802.11b/g
K - Pentium M 753 1.2Ghz (Centrino) / 802.11a/b/g
L - Pentium M 753 1.2Ghz / no wifi (Federal Only)
N - Pentium M 753 1.2Ghz (Centrino) / 802.11a/b/g + TPM 1.2
P - Pentium M 753 1.2Ghz / no wifi /(Federal Only) / +TPM 1.2


Second Character is the screen options:

C - 10.4 XGA high Bright Digitizer / backlit keyboard
D - 10.4 XGA High Bright Digitizer
E - 10.4 XGA digitizer + black cabinet
F - 10.4 XGA tablet (hazardous locations)
H - 10.4 XGA High Bright Touchscreen
J - 10.4 XGA High Bright Touchscreen / backlit keyboard
K - 10.4 XGA High Bright (Hazardous Locations)
T - 10.4 XGA Transflective

Third Character is HDD/RAM options

A - 40GB HDD / 256RAM / dual ant conn
B - 40GB / 256 / dual ant conn
C - 40 / 768
D - 60 / 256 / dual ant conn
H - 60 / 512 / dual ant conn
K - 40 / 256
L - 40 / 512
N - 40 / 256 / dual ant conn / smartcard
Q - 60GB / 512 / dual ant conn / smartcard
1 - 40 / 256 / dual ant conn / haz loc
2 - 60 / 512 / dual ant conn / haz loc

Fourth Character is WWAN (Builtin Broadband) options:

F - GPRS (Cingular)
G - Edge (Cingular) (AT&T GPRS prior to Pent M733)
H - GPRS (T-Mobile)
J - CDMA 1xRTT Verizon (no voice)
K - EVDO (Sprint) (1xRTT prior to Pent M733)
L - GPRS (Cingular)
M - EVDO (Verizon) (1xRTT prior to Pent M733)
Z - none
3 - special order

Fifth Character is extra goodies options:

A - 802.11 + GPS
B - 802.11 + Bluetooth
C - 802.11 +GPS + Bluetooth
X - base model
Z - none
1 - secured HDD Door

Sixth Character is Factory OS Options:

B - XP Pro SP2
D - Win 2k
K - XP Pro
M - XP Pro Tablet PC
R - XP Tablet MUI
V - XP Tablet 2005
X - XP
Z - no license

Seventh and final Character is origin of release:

M - N America
E - not N America
F - "
G - "
P - "
S - "
T - "



This is a SEMI rugged toughbook. That means it will take the occasional splash, dirt and temperature excursions. I would NOT suggest pouring your bottle of water on the keyboard to impress a girl.

There is NO serial port, so too bad for your legacy device. Or a parallel port. There is an external monitor jack, mic / spkr jack, 2 USB ports, LAN, modem, 2 PCMCIA (NOT the new style), and power.

The power switch is a momentary on the far left of the front lip of the unit. If you have builtin WWAN, there will be a panel next to the power switch. The tablet (rotate screen, enter, lock, and keyboard) and brightness buttons are on the right side.


All 18's are either touchscreen or digitizer. Some say the digitizer (which only works with the correct stylus) is more accurate than the touch screen.


The touchscreen can use XP or XP Pro. The Digitizer needs XP Tablet, a mutant version of XP. There were two versions, 2002, and 2005. There is no Vista Tablet. Putting Tablet on a touchscreen unit is a waste of time. Tablet is good for Tablet because apparently there are a bunch of productivity tools you can still download from Microsoft that helps you to get the most out of your stylus.


Repair manuals are around. Do not ask here; the owners are skittish about incurring the wrath of Panasonic.

Cracking the case is stupid simple, you basically remove the peripheral screws and wedge it loose (don't use a wedger, there is a gasketed machined groove you may grr up)

Adding memory can be done by removing the four peripheral screws around the speaker, carefully popping it up, and the socket is directly below it. No clue what kinda memory goes in there.

Parts can be had from www.heartlandsi.com.

Restore disks may be available from heartland. Do not ask here, again.

Normal XP can sometimes be bought from MS for 149 if you have been the victim of counterfeit software. Tablet 2005

apparently exists, but I have no idea where (the don't ask clause again).

Drivers (which do NOT exist in XP) can be had from: http://pc-dl.panasonic.co.jp/cgi-bin/itn/toughbook/dl01.cgi


Here are the drivers I have been able to find. These are all the Tablet version, NOT the touchscreen.

PANASONIC TOUGHBOOK
CF-18D (Mk.2)
DRIVERS LIST

ALL FROM PANASONIC SITE / ALL FOR XP TABLET

Decoding:
|app name|_|CF version (18)|_|Mk (2)|_|revision|


meitbman_18_2_d030326.exe Tablet Button Manager Application
meitbtn_18_2_d030421.exe Tablet Buttons Driver
mouse_18_2_d030230.exe Touch Pad Driver
bluesw_18_2_d040292.exe Bluetooth Switch Application
smartc_18_2_d040284.exe Smart Card Driver
-other-pr_lan_18_x_d040686.exe CF-VEB181 LAN Driver
lan_18_2_d040122.exe LAN Driver
hkeyset_18_2_d040706.exe Hotkey Settings Application
modem_18_2_d031087.exe Modem Driver
cpupower_18_2_d030520.exe CPU Idle Setting Application
hotkey_18_2_d030422.exe Hotkey Driver
hkeyapp_18_2_d040626.exe Hotkey Appendix Application
pcinfo_18_2_d040233.exe PC Information Viewer Application
ienlarge_18_2_d040234.exe Icon Enlarger Application
gps_18_2_d030336.exe GPS Registry Patch Application
dmi_18_2_d030557.exe DMI Viewer Application
brecal_18_2_d040282.exe Battery Recalibration Application
intelinf_18_2_d030876.exe OS INF File Driver


H-2004-0261.pdf factory install instructions


The drivers HAVE to go in a certain order, or else your buttons or other things may not work.

here is the order that the people here seem to agree works best:

"Install xp
If your disk is just xp or xpsp-1 upgrade to sp-2
Now a list of drivers in order
Wifi driver only from intel And have device manager unknown network device search in the folder you downloaded
Listed on the intel download site as English: 12.2.0.0_X_Drivers.zip Download
Ver:12.2.0.0 Date:1/5/2009 Size:7133 (KB)



OS INF File driver , unextract to c: and install and reboot
Video driver unextract to C: util and install and reboot
Sound driver unextract to C: util and install and reboot
Modem driver unextract to C: util and install and reboot
Now you can do the backwords hotkey stuff...
Hotkey plus driver download extract and go into device manager under the second unknown device direct to the plus driver and reboot
Now the same thing with the hotkey driver as above , note there is only one uknown device in the device manager
then
touchpad driver/touchscreen driver install through device manager upgrade the mouse driver conitunue to reboot after each addition
hotkey settings
hotkey plus manager
hotkey apendex
software key board
display rotation tool

By this time you will have the keys working and you can go into the panasonic program list and modify the rotation and front key settings
Add any other drivers now that I missed"



That's all that I know.

-Shawn

 

I should add that those drivers are for my mk.2, and you will need to go to the panasonic link to download the appropriate Mk. AND language.


-Shawn

 

Sorry to clog my own thread, and I am sure it is in here somewhere already, but it would be helpful if someone could explain step by step how to format and reload an O/S onto this particular unit, seeing how it is absent a CD/DVD, and doesn't seem to like using a thumb drive to boot from...

-Shawn

 

Shawn
I would suggest that you purchase a usb cd rom drive
They are not that expensive (about $80 for a generic model)

Did you try both usb ports to boot, as sometimes it favours one over the other
Did you enable booting to the usb device in the bois?

Alex

 

I'm pretty sure the CF-18 is a fully rugged Toughbook. I haven't poured a bottle of water over mine - I've run it under the tap! (not to impress a girl, mind you)

The digitizer models don't but the Touchscreen models do.

 

Alex -

Yup, enabled in the BIOS, and *just* tried the other port. No joy..

Matt -

Thanks for the additions. I didn't know that the TS had a port. I thought there was some kind of O/S glitch that made it unworkable.

You sure its' fully rugged? Because I absolutely would get it dirty and wash it off just to freak my sensitive friends out... That's not a rubberized keyboard, at least not like the typical ones I have used.

 

yes its a full rugged unit, if your seals are all good then have fun ... you should see the abuse mine and my daughters gets

 

I have an mk1 digitizer model, so I'll post a few specific notes related to that--

Wireless - 802.11B only (Intel PRO/Wireless 2100 LAN 3B MiniPCI); Bluetooth, WAN, and GPS were optional.

RAM - In addition to the built-in RAM, the expansion slot supports an additional 1GB PC2700 module. Panasonic lists max mk1 compatibility at 512MB, but some RAM manufacturers have noted compatibility at to 1GB. I corresponded with CanadaRAM.com, and they told me while they couldn't fully guarantee that the 1GB module would be compatible with a mk1 model because of Panasonic's documentation, I could try it. So, I did, and the 1GB module worked! (CanadaRAM also help me max out the RAM in my CF-07, after a few unsuccessful attempts with other suppliers.)

Durability - Per Panasonic literature and product guides I have, the CF-18 is a fully rugged model designed to MIL-STD-810F standards (48, 50, 73, T2 and W2 were listed as the "semi-rugged" models at the time).

Digitizer/Pens - This CF-18 uses the same type of digitizer that WalkAbout used on their Hammerhead 233 B&W and Hammerhead XRT models, so the digitizer pens can be shared across those models.

Internal Antennas
- Black Wire: Main 802.11
- White Wire: Auxiliary 802.11
- Blue Wire: Unused
- Gray Wire: Unused

Booting - This CF-18 is able to boot from both USB floppy drives and USB CD-ROM drives. If you can find one, the Sony MPF88E-UA or similar 2x FDD USB floppy drives are not only reliable, they are twice the speed of a standard floppy drive. Using the GRUB4DOS bootloader, this CF-18 has even been able to boot a Linux distro installed to a USB flash drive (e.g. GRUB4DOS installed on the HD/floppy/CD is in turn able to find and boot from an attached USB flash drive). Perhaps the simplest way to install GRUB4DOS as a bootloader is to bootstrap it off NTLDR. This CF-18 can boot Windows, Linux, and even a network-enabled DOS.

"Legacy" Hardware - As the digitizer model was designed to run Windows XP Tablet PC Edition, that meant that those CF-18's would be subject to the Tablet-specific hardware features ( http://support.microsoft.com/kb/327160 ) and requirements ( http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms819487.aspx ). In particular, one of those hardware requirements was "legacy-free," and as defined by the PC 2001 System Design Guide ( http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/archive/pcguides.mspx ), that mean, among other things, no PS/2, serial, or parallel ports (Section 2, Chapter 3, p. 49). Panasonic adhered to this requirement more closely than other hardware manufacturers, though I would have liked to have serial COM capabilities. (Internal COM communication, such as what is used by the Wacom digitizer, was described as allowable because it was integrated and not designed to be hot connected/disconnected by end-users.)

I have been informed elsewhere that there may even be a few variations within the mk1 series. If there are indeed variations, this CF-18 would be an "early" mk1. (This would potentially explain, for example, the difference noted in the "18B" wireless configuration.)


Thanks,
Matthew

 

Just to clarify the CF-18 digitizer unit does not have a serial port but the touchscreen version does have the serial port.

When the CF-18 was released the Windows XP Tablet OS did not support serial (legecy) operation but later this was figured out and they started adding the serial port to the cf-19 even on the digitizer model



-James

 

As I said buy a usb optical drive
Even the genaric models will work to boot

Alex

 

Quick note to all,
There were upgrades to Tablet 2005. They are bundled with XP SP2 and SP3, not stand alone. Doing the XP upgrades to your Tablet will install these upgrades. Vista has the tablet functions included so no more Tablet OS under Vista if you care.
CAP

 

The CF-18s with touchscreens DO have serial ports on the back... It is the digitizer models that don't have the serial port on the back. And yes... They are fully rugged models.

You can also check out specs on ANY Toughbook HERE!

 

My mk2 cf18 appears to have a serial port at the back-left corner, next to the HD15 external video port. I don't think I have seen anything later than a mk2 cf-18 here in Oz yet. Saw a mk3 (1 ghz) cf28 for the first time the other day. Not for sale though.

Craig.

 

One quick question, under driver installation, what does this refer to:-

""OS INF File driver , unextract to c: and install and reboot""

I have looked diligently through the entire drivers I have downloaded, and see nothing that matches this.

Does anyone know the exact file this refers to please?

 

Intel(r) Chipset drivers.
Install these drivers and the latest Service Pack before installing other drivers.

Post your full model number if you don't understand and I or someone will give you a link

Alex

 

Hi guys! I have CF-18 (CF-18FDAZXVM). What Windows version should I install to make this note working properly? I've installed Windows XP Tablet 2005, but if I try to install any driver, it says "This machine is NOT support"... I downloading drivers for CF-18 mk3...

 

Try this download link and report back
Its for your m/b chipset
Let me know if it unextracts fine

http://pc-dl.panasonic.co.jp/public/soft_first/cf-18h/intelinf_18_3_d030876.exe

Alex

 

So I guess the Intel chipset drivers would be intelinf_18_1_d030128 in my case??? My model is a CF-18BHAZXDM, so it's a Mark 1 machine.

By the way, I tried downloading the drivers from the link provided in the first message on this stickie, but the download speed was terrible(even when it did download at all). So, I ended up downloading the set from here:
http://www.toughbookdrivers.com/drivers/cf-18/
When I cross-checked the files, they all seemed to have exactly the same names as the files I would have got from the suggested link, so I guess they are OK to use.
There are 3 files that I am quite unsure of their use, and when to apply them:
18m1b13a
18m2bl10
Checknet-2.11L10D-2kxp-nonlogo_m-web
What the dickens are they?
Thanks for your help.

 

I have found instances of incorrect drivers on that site
Can’t give you an example, as I don’t remember the files
Anyways the 2 files that you link to are I believe bios files
Not sure on the last

Alex

 

So, when attempting to get a full set of drivers for my Mk1 CF-18, (Touchscreen, not Digitizer)from the recommended location:-
http://pc-dl.panasonic.co.jp/cgi-bin/itn/toughbook/dl01.cgi

I fail to see the Touchscreen driver, and the Touchpad driver.
Is it me, are they not listed, or are they simply called something else (that I am unaware of) ??

I also did several full searches here for the Touchscreen/Touchpad driver(s):-
http://www.panasonic.com/ which is also a recommended download site.......couldn't find them.

However, those drivers are for download for a Mk2 CF-18. What would happen if I were to use them instead? Or does anyone have the correct Mk1 drivers for me??

Many thanks.

 

Link

http://www.panasonic.ca/PDP/Drivers/mouse_18_1_d030328.exe

Then read the comments in this thread on how to install touchpad drivers
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=356620

Alex