The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    CF-19 Bios Update Issues

    Discussion in 'Panasonic' started by ToughbookCF-19, Nov 7, 2016.

  1. ToughbookCF-19

    ToughbookCF-19 Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    1
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Hello all, I am new to this forum and new to the world of Toughbooks i have got a bios update issue and if this was not designed to so tough, it would have gone through the window by now.

    My current setup:

    Model: CF-19CHB23BE
    Bios: V1.00L13 M14
    EMB Cont: V1.00L11 M10
    Windows Xp - Not Panasonic's copy.

    I want to update to Windows 7, i have seen a few guides on here on how to do it, however i am getting no where with the BIOS update, i just keep getting a message that it will not run on this computer. I have tried running the same program in Windows Vista and still get the same message.
    The files i have been running are bios_19_1_r070207 and bios_19_1_r080013

    One listed on this site and one from Panasonic themselves.

    Can someone please help? i am loosing the will to live.
     
    ToughbookCF-19, Nov 7, 2016
    #1
  2. Shawn

    Shawn Crackpot Search Ninja and Options Whore

    Reputations:
    1,541
    Messages:
    8,306
    Likes Received:
    2,050
    Trophy Points:
    331
    Bios: V1.00L13 M14

    The M14 indicates the problem. That is a custom BIOS Panasonic put on for a specific buyer.
    Those custom BIOS's are generally impossible to upgrade. I have tried using a SPI programmer with the BIOS chip removed from the motherboard and I could not get it to accept the flash and work.

    Here is some reading material

    https://www.google.com/search?q=CF-...QAhUB0oMKHfaNA0cQrQIIKCgEMAA&biw=1280&bih=646
     
    Shawn, Nov 7, 2016
    #2
  3. CWB32

    CWB32 Need parts for my flying saucer.

    Reputations:
    179
    Messages:
    1,563
    Likes Received:
    412
    Trophy Points:
    101
    yeah ...
    some of those chips have a final link that is "burnt" in order to block any attempts at modification .
    the *easiest* solution is to buy a bios chip ... if you can find one ... and replace the old one .
     
    CWB32, Nov 8, 2016
    #3
  4. Shawn

    Shawn Crackpot Search Ninja and Options Whore

    Reputations:
    1,541
    Messages:
    8,306
    Likes Received:
    2,050
    Trophy Points:
    331
    HA!
    Panasonic made it impossible to do that.
    I worked on a CF19 mk6 with a custom BIOS. I had a donor mk6 with standard BIOS. The motherboards had a different part number and the machine would not boot with the swapped BIOS chip installed.
    They also had 2 different brand BIOS chips, but they were equivalent.
     
    Shawn, Nov 8, 2016
    #4
  5. CWB32

    CWB32 Need parts for my flying saucer.

    Reputations:
    179
    Messages:
    1,563
    Likes Received:
    412
    Trophy Points:
    101
    well ... aint that just peachy ... they want to really lock up their stuff so that you have to send it to them for repair/mods .
    why don't they just embed the MB in potting compound or dip it in black epoxy ?
     
    CWB32, Nov 9, 2016
    #5
  6. ADOR

    ADOR Evil Mad Scientist

    Reputations:
    520
    Messages:
    1,941
    Likes Received:
    208
    Trophy Points:
    81
    Quit giving them ideas.
     
    ADOR, Nov 11, 2016
    #6
    Shawn likes this.
  7. CWB32

    CWB32 Need parts for my flying saucer.

    Reputations:
    179
    Messages:
    1,563
    Likes Received:
    412
    Trophy Points:
    101
    heh heh heh ...

    the first "black epoxy dip" i ran into was on a general instruments satellite receiver ... back in the heyday of the TVRO w/10-12 foot dishes .
     
    CWB32, Nov 11, 2016
    #7