CF-19 Hard Drive/Boot Issues

Hey all,

I am having some issues with two of my CF-19 Toughbooks. I will try to provide as much information about the problem and the solutions I've tried already. Thanks so much in advance for any advice!

Narrative:

I recently purchased three refurbished CF-19 Toughbooks (CF-19 CH) to use as spares for my users. When I started setting them up with our software packages, two of the CF-19s started acting a little funny. By funny I mean they weren't properly installing windows updates, they would not shut down or restart when I tried, etc. I made the decision to reimage them with the MK1 CD I have. (I've already verified with Panasonic support that the MK1 is the correct disk to use.) As far as I can tell, the reimage process worked and completed just fine. However, when I try to boot the units now they go into a 'blue screen' > 'windows failed to boot properly' > 'reboot' cycle. The blue screen flashes too quickly for me to glean any information from it. Again, this is happening on two different CF-19s that were reimaged from the same disk. The disk has been used to successfully reimage other CF-19s both before and after these two, so I've ruled the disk media out as the culprit.

Solutions Attempted:
-I pulled a HDD out of a functioning CF-19 and tried it in both non-functioning units. Same blue screen to windows error cycle.
-I pulled the HDD out of the malfunctioning CF-19 and put it in a functioning CF-19 chassis. Windows booted normally and all my software/updates installed correctly. I then tried to put it back in the malfunctioning unit, and again I get the blue screen to windows error cycle.
-I removed the added RAM to the malfunctioning CF-19s, no help.
-Both chassis pass the system diagnostic (ctrl+F7) with flying colors.
-Today I booted a malfunctioning CF-19 with a live Ubuntu USB system, and everything works fine so far.

If I can think of anything else I've tried, I'll add it later.

I'm beginning to think that maybe the HDD connector is bad? Some sort of ribbon cable going from the HDD to the main board? I don't know. Clearly the HDD is fine, the software is not causing the issue, the disk media is OK, and the chassis boots with no HDD and a Linux Live USB.

Sort of frustrating. Thoughts anyone? Something I should try that I've missed?

 

What are the full model numbers for all the cf-19's involved? In you putting down CF-19CH are you meaning using CF-19C and CF-19H? If so the processers are different between the MK1 and MK2, Core Duo vs Core 2 Duo. Windows will blue screen on boot if too much has changed hardware wise.

 

ADOR,

Thanks for the reply. The model numbers for both machines is CF-19CHBAXBM.

edit

And the functioning spares are both CF-19CHGAXBM. The HDD from the bad unit worked correctly in the functioning spares.

 

The computer sees the hdd? -----[F2] main page bios? Also set bios to defaults.

A very careful inspection of hdd connector on mobo. Bent pin?

As you describe it a Linux program won't boot from the hdd either right?

Good luck.

Jeff

You don't have an SD card plugged in do you?

 

Panasonic CF-19 Mk1 Toughbook
Model Number: CF-19CHBAXBM
Status: DISCONTINUED
MSRP: $3,599
Description: Windows XP Pro, Intel Core Duo U2400 1.06GHz (Centrino), 10.4" XGA Touch Screen, 80GB HDD, 512MB RAM, Intel 802.11a/b/g WLAN, Dual High-Gain Antenna Pass Through Connectors, TPM1.2 Security Chip, Bluetooth, No Optical Drive

Make sure you're using the Touch Screen Recovery Disk , and not the Digitizer one.

 

Jeff,

Thanks for the response.

(VERY) much to my surprise, when I installed the Ubuntu OS to the HDD from the USB stick, the unit booted up into Ubuntu fine.

I then took your first piece of advice and reset the bios settings to default, and now both units seem to be working correctly (!!!).

Thank you so much for the help! I was definitely not looking forward to prying off the bottom cover of these things to make sure there wasn't a bent pin in the HDD connection.

Hopefully I can come back here sometime soon and return the favor.

Thanks all!