CF-19 Guide F.A.Q.

Could not get the SD card reader to work, found that I could no longet boot to BIOS as well so have gone back to Win.7. Pity in some ways as 10 worked better when the computer was used in tablet mode.

 

Give W10 a year or so and they might fix all the bugs in it but I dough it since M$ think everyone should go out and buy a new laptop so we can run there junk OS. Yes I do hate W10 but they do need to wake up and understand not everone has $500.00 + to go out and buy a new laptop every couple years just to stay up to date. They have no clue...

 

What??

It's just an OS )

 

The SD card reader bug has apparently been about since Win.8 so it should have been fixed by now, and A new Toughbook is rather more than $500 and as they are built to last I do not see why I should get a new one because Microsoft thinks so. Pity linux cant run on toughbooks without one being a programmer, which I am most certainly not.

 

It seems that it quite often locks people out of booting to bios on laptops.

 

It's impossible for OS to lock BIOS. There is an option in BIOS like fast boot mode, where you have to press F2 key before power key. But in normal boot mode I can assure you it's a problem of user. He is just too slow for CF-19 and Win10 )

Better screen, CPU etc. )

I think it's off topic for this FAQ.

 

Talk to Sadlmkr. He has a fleet of Toughbooks all running Linux. Yes a fleet of over a dozen with all flavors of Linux. Including CF19's

Join in over here.
http://www.toughbooktalk.com/viewforum.php?f=39

 

I confirm Linux works well
My home router/server is Centos 6.7 on CF-T5. And another one has Xubuntu installed. I'm not a programmer, I'm "ordinary housewife" )

 

It seems that Windows 10 has a fast boot mode built in. and to get to BIOS you have to go to settings, update and security, advanced start up which takes you to a special start up screen, just read this today but as I no longer have 10 installed. There is also something to do with the fast shut down option which windows goes to by default this in reality puts the computer into a deep sleep so you never actually boot from scratch, hate to think how long Win. 10 takes to boot and shut down with this switched off as it takes longer than Win.7 anyway.

 

I have specs for green tab battery.
CF-VZSU50 5.7Ah Typ 5.4Ah Min 58Wh 10.65V

Seems to work just fine in a normal CF-19.

 

I've created a detailed writeup on OpenBSD 5.9 on CF19 mk6 and mk3 over at TBT.
http://toughbooktalk.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2991

The TBT link gets updated from time to time.
An earlier version has been attached for redundancy purposes.

 

In case anyone is still having issues with the windows 10 upgrade for their CF-19 I wanted to post and say I got it working on a refurbished mk4 i just purchased. If you do a straight custom install of windows 10 from the USB installer it will load. After that I ran driver booster to make sure I had the latest drivers for everything it could find from the manufacturers themselves not from Panasonic. Between windows and driver booster I was able to discover everything but the tablet buttons. After working on these for a while I found if you use the Panasonic download manager you can get the HID driver for the MK8 to download and extract. If you use the windows 8 version for these drivers and manually load them to the unknown device in device manager it loads the tablet buttons and you can set them via the tablet pc menu in the control panel.

 

Well glad you got it up and running. The way you did it we do not recommended but if it worked for you.....ok . You must remember Toughbook drivers are custom made for your notebook. Not all the time will other drivers work and have at times really messed up things. Programs that check and locate drivers for you i never trust. If you start getting pop-ups or anything strange going on think very hard about reformatting hdd.
I learned a $9200.00 lesson 4-5 years ago. I used one of them driver program too and also i do online banking. It was found that the program also installed a virus that took my online info and my money. I did get all the money back but it cost me almost 20% of it. I am not saying this program is no good just be careful if you are going to use it.

 

BIOS Question: I have recently acquired a CF-19 MkIII and was looking to see if there was an updated bios on this site:

http://business.panasonic.com/support-computerstablets-downloads

I noticed that there were no BIOS updates for a MKII or a MKIII CF-19. Is there a reason for this omission?

 

No reason at all. Panasonic doesn't update there BIOS very often. Why is a good question.

 

thanks

 

What is your current BIOS version?

 

CF-19KJRAG2M

BIOS: V3.00L15
EC: V300L16

 

......................

 

I have a Panasonic CF-19 MK3 CF-19KDRAHCE can anyone tell me where the BIOS chip is in the motherboard ?
Thanks.

 

Hi can anyone help I have a CF-19 MK2,there is a black box stuck to the side (see picture) can anyone tell me what it is ? also does anyone know where I can get the drivers for the sim card that is in it ?
Thanks Nick.

 

black box is a cover for the gps antenna

 

Thanks for your reply,how can I get this to work ?

 

First you will need to go to bios and see if it's enabled. If it's already enabled and your mouse isn't jumping around you will need testing or mapping software to use it.

 

Hello All,

Been here awhile, but first time posting. I hope I am in the right forum for this post. I searched the other forums but didn't find anything resembling my issue. So here it goes.

I bought a CF-19 about a year age. It has been working fine until recently. It blue screened on me. I was able to reboot a couple of time, but now it's permant and is asking for system repair disc.

I contacted heartland and procured the Cf-19 recovery disc according to the model and serial number of my unit. However, it will not load and is not recognized on start up.

Here is what I am supposed to have Panasonic Toughbook MK5 CF-19 • GPS • 480GB SSD • 8GB • Backlit kb.

But I think it is an MK4. Model number is CF-19RHRAX1M everything else is right and heartland sent an MK 4 recovery disc.
My OS is Win7 Pro, 64 Bit, with a COA number. I have a usb optical drive I used to load the recovery disc but the computer will not recognize it.

Shows me and error code and says the drive cannot be accessed. Any help or pointing me to the right forum would be greatly appreciated.

If you need to email me, I can be reached at [email protected]

Thank you in advance for any and all help......

 

CF-19RHRAX1M is a mk4.
The problem is probably the usb drive itself. Toughbooks are very picky about recognizing usb drives.

I know this will work for sure as I used to own one.
Panasonic CF VDRRT3

This is supposed to be the same drive and has been reported to work.
Toshiba PA3438U

 

Install Win7 Pro using your serial number, install Panasonic drivers bundle. That's all, you don't need that recovery CD.

 

Shawn, thanks for the reply and info. I'll look into getting one.

BaRRmaley, thanks for the reply and info. I've never heard on installing from my serial number. I didn't receive a Win 7 Pro cd nor did I receive a back up cd for my unit. I know where to get the driver bundle. Could you elaborate on the Win 7 install.
Thank you.....

 

Is CF-19RHRAX1M on the sticker on the back of your machine? If so double check the bios to make sure it's the same. Also the CPU will be at 1.2 speed for a Mk4, 2.5 for Mk5.

 

ADOR,

Yes the sticker and BIOS match. Processor is 1.2. 480 gb Sata ahci
Intel (R) Core (TM) i5 cpu u 540 @ 1.2 GHz

Thanks

 

Model Number: CF-19RHRAX1M
Status: DISCONTINUED
MSRP: $3,629 Description: Win7, Intel Core i5-540UM 1.20GHz, vPro, 10.4" XGA Touch, 160GB, 2GB, Intel WiFi a/b/g/n, TPM, Bluetooth, Dual Pass (Upper:WWAN/Lower:WLAN), No Drive, Toughbook Preferred,

 

Shawn, thanks for the info. I found the Panasonic optical drive you suggested. Just waiting for it to arrive..

We'll see if that helps. If I run into road blocks I'll be back for more.

Thanks everyone for the replies, comments, and help....

 

I think info is already in this FAQ, but I usually use the closed thread to remember dip positions and can't edit that
So dip switches for UNDP-1 (Gobi 1000) in MK3 looks like this
1,2 ON
3,4 OFF
WWAN1

 

You have Novatel EU870D WWAN card.

DL drivers and Mobilink connection manager from here:

http://www.nvtl.com/support/mobile-broadband-support/support-host-platform/windows-notes/

 

Guide to Qubes 3.2 on Toughbook 19 mk6
http://www.toughbooktalk.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=3176

 

Can't find a topic about "rotated" touchscreen, where somebody had a problem with mirrored touchscreen behavior.
Today I've repaired one of CF-19's toushcreens (physical problem) and reinstalled drivers. After this operation touchscreen was ok in laptop mode and mirrored in tablet mode.
How to fix that:
1) Disable rotation in Intel graphics settings
2) Enable rotation in Intel graphics settings
That's all, folks )

 

I just scored a CF19 mk6 for cheap..VERY CHEAP...BIOS password and all.
I hope everything is enabled..mainly WIFI and USB 3.0

So fairly soon I will be trying Zorin 12.1 on a mk6. Dual touch
Then I can swap all my goodies over from the mk4. Actually a motherboard swap would be better as the mk6 case is a tad ROUGH.

 

You are cool, but wrong topic )

 

I was leading into how well Zorin(Linux) 12.1 works on a CF19 mk6 dual touch.
What works and what doesn't. Sort of fits here.

 

Coolio. I just ordered a MK6 to play with while in Delaware this summer.

 

Hi everyone, I'm a new user but I've read these forums for several years.

I have a local fire department who has brought me CF-19FHGAXAM MK2 Toughbook with Windows Vista installed. They've complained about slow speeds so I've upgraded it to a solid state and increased the memory from 1 to 3GB of RAM.

Here's my issue. Through research I know that Panasonic doesn't officially support Windows 7 on the mk2s, but I see bits and pieces of people saying they made it work; I just can't find anyone actually listing the drivers used or instructions on how it was done (for the mk2). I already tried Windows 7 64-Bit and I got all but the brightness buttons and the touch screen calibration to work. I'm hoping someone on here can point to me a driver list and procedure doc for the mk2 and Windows 7. I would prefer 64-Bit but can live with 32-Bit. I see that ADOR mentioned that he has the drivers for a mk2, but I see no link.

Can anyone help?

 

Go with 32 bit.
64 bit REQUIRES 6gb of ram to be as fast as 32 bit. Anything less than 6gb and 64 bit will be SLOW.

Win7 32 bit drivers for CF19 mk2
ftp://ftp.panasonic.com/computer/software/19fgh-mk2-7x86.exe

 

It was a 64 bit driver pack I got off the fpt server years ago. It was there one day then gone the next. I usually get a mix of drivers to complete a mod like this. Newer make cf19's had 7 from the factory so on the misc and common drivers you can use the newer driver.

 

Toughbook 19 mk2, Windows 7 64 bit driver bundle is still there, but you really don't need 64 bit for 3GB RAM.
Though I can't agree with Shawn about 6GB minimum

 

Base screws are M2 x 6mm
GPS screws are M2 x 8mm
Antennae cover screws are M2.5 x 5mm
Lid screws are M2 x 4mm
Hinge screws are M3 x 8mm
Hinge cover screws are M2 x 4mm
Hand strap screws M3 x 8mm
Keyboard holder screws are M2 x 4mm
Door hinge screws are M2.5 x 3 mm

 

fyi a cf19mk5 has about the same performance as a cf20mk1 ...
4,5 years of development to stay in the same place...
so wait till like cf20mk3 if you actually want to upgrade your computer ... instead of downgrading it ...
http://cpuboss.com/cpus/Intel-Core-i5-2520M-vs-Intel-Core-M5-6Y57

 

Performance of M5-6Y57 is enough for CF-19/20 series users.
But it's TDU is only 4,5 W vs 2520M's 35W
So less heat, more battery time. I like it.

 

yeah, very mixed feelings about this. i really wanted to like it due to hdmi.
lets look at a typical usecase: "upgrading from 19mk5-8 to 20mk1":

pro
1- way more pixels and hdmi
2- 2 or 14 hours more battery life in tablet / laptop mode
3- 30% thinner and lighter
4- backlight keyboard for free ... was only available as expensive addon for 19series

contra
1- prosumer style instead of recognizeable tank optic
2- 30+% less drop rating in laptop mode (180->120cm)
3- 30+% less bright (1200->800)
5- 30+% slower specs than mk6-8 (mk5 is on par)
4- less physical screen size due to 4:3 -> 3:2 height loss (dimension. not pixels)
6- needs handle to function as a laptop
7- "can't" swap out hdd / no more caddies
8- many addons limit usage as tablet with attached keyboard
9- less addons than before ... can't have 3g/lte and ublox
10- incompatible eco system ... docks, batteries, pcmcia cards, caddies
11- actually spend money in order to exchange toughness, performance, flexibility for "coolness"? why did you look at cf19/20 in the first place? toughpad and letsnote can probably do that.
12- every upgrade reduces the possibility space out of which any cf19 (re)continuations might grow

 

I was always hoping the they would do a ATI version of the 19, even if it was a lower end card. Can never have too much go. I got a Mk5 but it looks like I will try to get a Mk7-8 later on just for the improved graphics.

 

I thought I saw some posts regarding compatible external DVD burners for the cf-19 stating that only Pansonic models would work, but I can not recall where I saw that. Can somebody confirm if that is indeed the case? or are there other options?