CF-19 Mk2- RS232 serial port not working

Hi all, and apologies for this long first post
I wanted to use an automotive diagnostic function that had been installed on an HDD with on XP operating system, so had to substitute the XP HDD for the original Vista o/s HDD on my CF-19 Mk2 ToughBook.
Unfortunately that resulted in my T.B. no longer having internet connectivity, and its RS-232 serial port becoming non-operational
Re the internet connectivity issue, I saw on 'Device Manager' > 'Network Adapters' that the original Vista o/s had a Marvell Yukon Ethernet controller and Intel WiFi Link 4965AG installed, so I downloaded them from the internet onto another computer and installed them onto the T.B. with XP o/s via USB flash drive and so got Internet connectivity
Re the the RS232 port issue, I first checked the serial port settings in BIOS- they are on 'auto'.
I checked 'Ports' in Device Manager, firstly in the Vista o/s (where it comes below Network Adapters, and 'PCMCIA Adapters', and above 'Processors'). Its full title is "Ports (COM & LPT)". When expanded, it reported both ports as being in good working order, and I doubt whether they are anything to do with the RS-232 serial port.
On the Vista o/s Device Manager, 'Network Adapters' is folowed by 'PCMCIA adapters', and then 'Ports', and then 'processors'. However in Device Manager on the XP o/s, there is an additional item between 'Network adapters' and 'PCMCIA adapters', called “Other Devices” which has a yellow ?sign attached. It expands to show 8 sub-items (each with its own yellow?sign) called (1)+(2) “Data interface”, (3) “Ethernet controller”, (4) “Network controller”, (5) “PCI data acquisition and Signal processing controller”, (5) “UGNZA”, (6) +(7) +(8) “Unknown device”, but after the ethernet controller had been installed, the sub-item (3) “Ethernet controller” had moved and now came under “Network Adapters”.
I presume that maybe one of these 'other devices' such as the 'data interfaces' or 'unknown devices' may need to set up properly for the RS232 port to become functional again, and any help or advice would be extremely welcome

 

go here and download the official drivers
http://business.panasonic.com/support-computerstablets-downloads-searchdownloads
Or buy a XP recovery dvd for a CF19 mk2

 

Don't forget to set to defaults. (bios) F2F9F10. Let the bios try to sort the new (to it) devices.
And what Shawn said.

 

Thanks for being so helpful, but with apologies for being dense, may I ask exactly where in the bios to insert that code...

 

Thanks for taking the trouble to suggest that - I reckon I'll set about trying to get hold of one . Should maybe have been my first port of call

 

It's a top secret combination. You have to press F2 key (on your kb) to enter BIOS, F9 key to load defaults, F10 to save and exit.
P.S. You have to stay alone in the room.

Also I don't think it's a drivers problem. I'm sure you just use incorrect COM port speed settings in your software.

 

Gee thanks...dense is right I'll do that next time I'm by the T.B. and keep fingers crossed

I had a look in the Port Properties, and under the port settings tab, the Bits per second rate is 9600 in both the original (Vista) o/s and the substituted XP o/s Anywhere else I should be checking?

 

I just did the top secret code F2F9F10, and then it came up with a password request I just bought this T.B. on ebay about a couple of months ago, and was not aware that I'd need a password Is there any way I can get around this? (Hope this isn't forbidden territory...)
Sorry- Ignore what I have written about password- I have just re-read the post right above mine..." There will be ZERO TOLERANCE for anyone asking for anything having to do with how to bypass/reset passwords, copying of Panasonic Toughbook Recovery Disks or anything else in the piracy or copyright infringement realm. ZERO TOLERANCE! If you have ANY doubt please PM me first."
Apologies to all

 

Yes, check your software (automotive diagnostic) COM port settings. If it's 9600 bps too and doesn't work - try to change that speed both in device manager and your software (same speed, of course).

 

Thanks again, Buddy. Sadly however I've just gone and bricked my T.B.- see my last post After trying to set default in bios, I had to enter a password that I don't have I'll need to try and ask the previous owner of the TB for it, but I'm not holding my breath...

 

Toughbook parts..for recovery dvd's..
http://www.heartlandsi.com/
Did it go to the bios at all when you hit F2?
You must do that when it's booting at the Blue Panasonic screen..

 

Ok, just don't enter BIOS )

 

Well- panic over ... just called the guy who I got the B.T. from, and to my happy surprise he had the password right there for me , so all sorted on that front
To answer your last post above, Shawn, Yes, I got into the bios and reset to the default settings. (It was after that the password had to be entered, and as i say I have now been able to do that
I'll have another go with the diagnostic set-up later, and report how it goes- fingers crossed

 

Wasn't that simple though I shut the TB down manually and restarted it, but the only thing that happened then was that the password demand was still the only thing on the screen- that's why I thought I was dead in the water
All OK now though , and thanks for coming to help

 

thanks for the follow up..

 

Just make sure you have that password wrote down in a safe place. I have seen others come back later because they have lost it.

 

Sure will, Buddy- have done actually You can put your bottom dollar on that bit of vital info being securely tucked away now

 

Just had a thought......Mainly because as I get older I can forget WHERE I put the paper with the password on it...
For a non critical PW like a BIOS. write it on the inside of the memory access door with a sharpie..

 

Or just disable

 

.. just disable
Now that's an even surer way of avoiding future panics There'll be provision somewhere in the bios menu to disable the need for p/w...

 

Yes there is...go to Bios, 4th tab over under "Security". Myself I see no need for the average Toughbook user to have a Bios password. Big company's like where I work I can see it . All our 19's have none but they also do not leave the plant. They stay on the forklifts or locked up in the office.

 

That's helpful & appreciated, Blair

 

Still can't get my T.B. (via serial port RS232) to communicate with the multiplexer, and can't play with the settings at the multiplexer as I don't know how to get to its port settings
I'm the polar opposite of a computer geek- came to this kinda stuff too late I guess

 

What is the software and hardware your trying to use? I also come from the automotive feild and use my Toughbooks for various automotive related things.

 

I have an elderly (15 years +) Mercedes Benz that I bought when I retired. I reckoned I would have plenty of time, and would enjoy looking after it myself, and I had noticed adverts for inexpensive Benz diagnosis software from China.
I duly bought a set- it consists of a hard drive for the CF-19, a "multiplexer" device, and of course the necessary connecting cables.
When I connected it to the car and tried to use it, a message appeared on the TB screen that "initialization" of the diagnosis multiplexer had failed . I could not get much help from the sellers- the "language barrier" saw to that I tried using Google to translate messages, but came to the rapid conclusion that automatic translation software has a way to go yet
So I did a bit of research and discovered that the com ports settings the on computer and device must be mutually compatible
Problem is, I don't know how to find out the device's com port settings . Of course, that may not be the root of the problem, but worth a try.
Incidentally my initial thought was that the multiplexer unit itself might be faulty so had it tested, but it is fine, so it is all rather frustrating, particularly as the old car is now misbehaving itself and I'd like to try the new toy out, rather than go down the old route to find where the wiring fault has occurred.
I certainly would be most grateful for any advice

 

Others have had automotive multiplexer issues....Same story of buying a hard drive to install...Here is a link to a multiplexer search that gives you a lot of reading.....

http://forum.notebookreview.com/search/1554111/?q=multiplexer&o=relevance&c[node]=1012

 

Thanks for pointing me in that direction Shawn- interesting read indeed My hopes rose when I tried the suggestion about changing the Com Port 2 setting to 115200 and I crossed my fingers and had another go
...didn't work for me tho'
Guess I'd better get back to it and work m'way thru' more of the stuff in that link

 

I do a lot of my computer diagnosis lol more like visualization with a Linux LiveCD. Just saying.
Meanwhile when you have time this is interesting: http://ask.slashdot.org/story/10/02/27/208213/will-the-serial-console-ever-die

Two things to look at:
1. Serial - hyperterminal. http://www.instructables.com/id/The-serial-port---software-setup/step4/Set-connection-parameters/ .....A sample with too many ads.
2. Try manual settings in your bios.

Finally in Linux I would load "cutecom" for a quick checker of different baud rates and ports. It does the same as hyperterminal but easier.


Sample Linux Speak:

Code:

$ dmesg | grep tty
[  0.000000] console [tty0] enabled
[  0.769773] 00:08: ttyS0 at I/O 0x3f8 (irq = 4, base_baud = 115200) is a 16550A