CF-28 Debian 6.0 Boots to a Black Screen

Hello!

I tried searching the forum for a solution, and Google, but to no avail. Here is the run down:

Got a CF-28, installed Debian 6.0 from the NetInstall CD, and all went well. Re-started the laptop, and all booted up fine (got the code lines). When the login screen should appear, all I get is a black screen.

I apologize for my noobness , but I am uber new to Linux. Any ideas on how to resolve this issue? I thank you all in advance for any support!

 

You have come to the right place. I'll go find the information you need and will be right back. Meanwhile post your full model # and the Linux version. I'm using Ubuntu 10.10 Linux 2.6.35 Generic. Not only that I know zip about Debian. But you have still come to the right place.

Jeff
0351

O.K. I'm back. First of all here is Klonsdale http://forum.notebookreview.com/6863423-post72.html

Then here is your search tool many thanks to my friend Azrial: TEST site:forum.notebookreview.com/panasonic - Google Search
Type CF-28 black screen in the place of the word test. THEN drag and drop the tool to your tool bar.
And welcome to the forum.
In these pages are Mint8, Ubuntu 9 and 10.10. Touchscreen issues are covered in all three threads. Do not mix and match. When you have enough posts PM me if you are still having problems or better yet keep us advised here of your progress. No lurk, loot and run allowed.
This is a great forum.

 

Thanks for the quick reply! I heard Ubuntu was the one to get, but no matter what install version I tried, I couldnt get it to do anything after popping in the CD and restarting... Just a blank screen. Alas, I went with Debian because it was the next best according to the infos I found on the nets.

Here is what is on the bottom of the TB:

CF-28PRJ22DM

Other than that, I have no clue whats inside other than a 40G HD, Ethernet Port and a touch screen. I do know it does not have a wireless adapter. I dont even know what type of processor it has, but from Googling, it looks like a PIII, 800 MHZ.

Debian GNU/Linux (6.0) - I got it from here: Debian NetInst CD i386 version.

OOHRAH

 

Good, your here...check the edit I just did.

 

Word.

I will get to work on this and keep you guys updated as to the progress. Thanks again for the quick reply!

 

You sure about that 22? Maybe Z2?

From PRJ22DM

 

Tried the i915.modset=0 trick, and no difference -- provided I was entering the command in the proper place!

When the computer starts, I get an option to load:

Debian GNU/Linux, with Linux 2.6.32-5-686

or

Debian GNU......... (recovery mode)

So with the first option selected, I hit 'e' to edit, and a screen loads with some code in it, and at the end I added the code, then hit Ctrl-X to boot...

The searching resulting in several other tricks, all to no avail. I am going to keep digging through the results and knock them off the list one at a time.

 

22 is correct

 

O.K. got distracted there.

I think you want the Ubuntu 10.10 thread with that kernel. Sorry for all the new words but hey I've been doing this for a year now almost. (watch the sense of humor)

You are booting from C.D.?

 

Not booting from a CD. Another friend of mine just suggested I download Ubuntu 10 and give it a shot now that the ehternet port suddenly worked (what he means is during the installation of Debian)...

 

And you read this:
Ubuntu 10.04 "Lucid" Blank Screen at Startup : Workaround | Ubuntu Tutorials

Above is the important part. In place of quiet and splash insert the i(ida)915.modeset=0

I always go down a line (down arrow) to make sure it took. Watch your capitalization.

Then ctrl x.

This may not be exactly what you are seeing if this is a fresh install. On Ubuntu:

You get the page with the funny guy at the bottom. I hit space.
Then Language
Then ???? just watch for the Grub menu and edit as above. Later on you may have to write a file. We'll get to that. I'l send this and continue next page.

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/panasonic/529779-download-usb-cf-29-mark2e-yes.html#post6846306

Ubuntu 10.10 plays pretty well with a USB. The 10.10 site gives good instructions.

But.....the CF 28 supposedly won't boot from USB.

If you use the Plop Linux Utility that issue can be overcome. See the above link and also if you wish, use Azrial's search engine to find excerpts in the Ubuntu threads.

Here's the deal. Ubuntu won't boot from USB and is too big for a CDROM for instance. You boot with the little Plop boot loader in the CDROM, and it automatically almost writes a small menu on the screen. Your 10.10 Live USB is in the port so select USB and away it goes. They have (Plop Linux) a nice web site. With the info from Ubuntu web site, like how to create USB Live, even I could figure it out.

That doesn't mean you won't have questions with Linux being new to you and all. Ask away.

 

Tell me if I am completely FOS, but have you opened up the bios (>F2 at the Panasonic splash screen), you haven't mentioned that you have. I don't have any more CF-28s to check, but you might have a "boot from lan" option.
@Gork Would that help?
CAP

 

Novel idea about lan booting... I will give that a shot after the weekend! It's back to work for me for a while, and in the off time I have family in from out of town.

I tried the modset, and read the infos. Still, no avail. However, on my CF-29 I just wiped XP and installed Ubuntu 10. So far, this is awesome! Only one issue - trying to install my printer software (lexmark has a linux version), it keeps asking for the Administrative password (root I am guessing) but no matter what I enter, it says it is incorrect. Oh well... Thats another thread I suppose.

I will keep you guys updated. If I get a slow rift at work Ill bust out the 28 and give the new stuff a jab. Hopefully I wont get any hot calls

 

When you installed it did it ask you to create a password? That would be it.

Since you have the iso file why not put it on a stick. Instructions in 10.10 download page. Read the bit about Plop and use that. Or if you use it I would be extremely interested in the lan download.

On the psmouse conf you will have to reboot to make it take effect. Again you will need your user name and password in the terminal. It's not Windows but it will come to you.

Good show.

Thanks CAP I have a 28 somewhere here I'll drag it out tomorrow and see what it says. If memory serves lan is an option. Anybody ever done it that way?

Jeff............

 

When I installed U10 on my 29 all it asked for was a user and password for that user, nothing for root...

Thanks for the psmouse stuff, worked like a charm!

I am going to try the lan boot on the 28 tomorrow, will let you know how that works out

 

I am and have been using 10.10 on my 29 for a while now (thanks again Gork) but a side project I had was a 28 I sold to a friend. ( 800 mhz MK2) He got it for his son to learn and play on. I had loaded windows xp on it with the factory restore disk. He later on decided he wanted Linux on it. I tried several times to put Edubuntu 10.10 (educational version of Ubuntu) regular 10.10, alternate install 10.10. I finally tried 10.04 and it installed with out a hitch. Got it updated and a few more programs put on it for him.

 

The only time you will see a network boot option in the CF-28 is if you have the internal dial up modem card installed. BTW Linux Mint Debian works very well on my CF-27.

 

I've been around here too long. I just assume that all CF-28s have some sort of WiFi card and the 3-Com combo card installed.
CAP

 

Cap, some of them came with a lan card only when supplied with the dual wifi antenna system. I purchased a non-wifi CF-28S with Lan and dial up. When I removed the dial up to transfer the dual antenna system from my older CF-28P the boot from network option disappeared from the bios screen.

 

Did I miss something? The only wifi CF-28 of which I am aware had the card in the secret pcmcia slot. I'm referring to one of our earliest hacks where we took out the modem and lan cards, replaced them with one 3Com lan/modem card and installed a wifi, usually atheros, card in the now open slot. What is this "dual antenna" of which you speak Grasshopper?
CAP

 

Cap, some CF-28s had the pull out wifi antenna in the lid and a second antenna in the side piece where you plug in the lan and dial up jacks on a non wifi CF28, the antenna is in the side piece surrounding the lan jack so there is no room for a dialup jack connection since the antenna surrounds the lan jack. Both of the antennas plugged into the PCMCIA wifi card in the secret slot.

 

Hi Klonsdale,
I was loading forevermore Ubuntu 10.10 a while ago on a CF-28MCFGADM. Got tired of waiting. Did I say I was using a USB stick launched with PloP Linux 4.0.1 Linux Version. Tried the PloP Windows version 5 but no joy.
Now I have Mint 8 booting from CD. Wish I had it on a stick. This 256 ram is slooooow. Maybe the 600 has something to do with it.
This the third time I started Mint and it seems to get a little farther each time. I may have to go read my notes. This is the fourth time.

 

Ok, now I remember. I never actually saw one with the "bump out" antenna on the side but there was a picture posted here back in the dark ages.
CAP

 

Gork, I have not had much luck with the usb stick method for loading Linux on a CF-28 using Pen Drive Linux CD method. I have not tried the Plop method yet. I did load Linux Mint 10 and Linux Mint Debian onto my CF-27 with 328 Mb of ram by booting from the CD. Linux Mint Debian runs much faster and is quite usable. Have not gotten around to dual booting this on my CF-28 as I am using it for work and school right now.

 

Ok, first off, I want to apologize to everyone for such a lengthy absence... Deployments are not really discussed in public.

Second, thanks again for the support, I am going to get this project going again and see what the deal is. First, I need to figure out why the screen is not centered.. It's down 3-4 inches, and shifted to the right 3-4 inches as well. Dont know what happened while I was gone!

 

Welcome to the forum,

Debian is not nearly as user friendly as Unbuntu or Linux Mint. There is nothing wrong with Debian, but until you have mastered the command line for linux you are better off using another distro. Search through the threads on the subject and download and burn to a cd/dvd of the distro and load it that way, I tried a net install once and I was not successful. Don't give up and have fun.

 

Indeed! I have been using Ubuntu for about a year now - love it!

Well, firing it up today, I heard an awful noise from the laptop... Come to find out the HD died on me finally. So, until I get a replacement its back on hold. Cant win for loosing sometimes!

 

Spartan,
I was attempting to load Ubuntu on a CF-28 and was amazed at what adding 256 ram did to the procedure. Do you want the Ubuntu 16 Gb hd from my 28? Or the whole mocheen? Cheep!
Glad you're back.

Jeff
0351(circa 1969)

 

Awesome, I am going to have to try that . I wish I could afford it all, but I am strapped for cash. Starting a business just kills ya!

 

Oh, and thanks for your service! 0311, circa 1999-2008

 

I cannot seem to find ANY information on the model I have (CF-28PRJ22DM). Heck, even the Panasonic website doesnt have it, nor can I download any drivers for mine! They all give me a wrong model error upon install.

 

Did you try this link Configure Rugged Laptops - Official Panasonic Toughbook Rugged Computers

It came right up for me.
Model Number: CF-28PRJ22DM
Status: DISCONTINUED
MSRP:$4,975
Description: PIII 800MHz, 256, 30GB, 12.1"TF, FDD, LAN (NO 56K), SYMBOL WIRELESS LAN, PALM ANTENNA, FILM, WIN 2000

If you can't get the drivers to extract try UNIVERSAL EXTRACTER it can take a exe file apart to it's bare parts and it then can be manually installed thought DEVICE MANAGER.

 

I can find the info as far as the description goes, but even using the universal extracter and doing a manual install in the device manager is a no-go. Hopefully when I get a new HD for it that will help. I had that issue with a previous 28 I had. The HD was causing problems and would corrupt installs of things from drivers to 3rd party software.

 

I just tried looked up drivers for the MK2 and the MK3 was the only cf-28 listed. Try the drivers here. Toughbook CF-28 Drivers
They are showing all three MK's listed.

 

Fantastic! I will get that going as soon as I can get XP to quit being a jackwagon and install (its locking up on the GUI phase at 34 minutes... means something hardware-ish is causing an issue). Got a new (to me) HD just a few minutes ago lol

 

Got XP installed, will tackle the Linux side later. Thanks for all the tips and support guys!

 

Get the driver problem sorted out?

 

Sorry for the delay in getting back to the thread, I was called away on orders and just got back.

Anyhow, the deal with that 28 was worse than I had thought - turns out the hardware was failing on it, and eventually gave out on me totally. Alas, it was sold while I was on deployment unbeknownst to me.

 

Welcome back to the forum anyhoo. Thanks for the update. So...do ya need a CF-29 yet?
You name the price. I'll make it work.

I have a 28 also but you have to put the mobo in it. (cost me $9.95) 600Mhz. Some turkey broke the KB connector.


Jeff a.k.a.turkey
0351 circa 1970

 

Just got me 2 CF-29s!

I am interested in getting a third, but that wont be for a while as the wallet is bone dry.

 

Great to see so much going on for working out Linux on the Toughbook! Thanks for sharing your experiences guys.

 

This site has been awesome, lots of great info on here. In one of the fella's signature is an awesome search link, give it a shot with any linux term (ubuntu, mint, etc) and you will get some good stuff!

 

Like this one...

http://www.google.com/search?btnG=1&...w=1280&bih=603

Let me teach you to easily search this site! Replace the word "TEST" for your search! ​

 

YEP! That's the one!

 

I have it in my tool-bar so can drag and drop like this:
TEST site:forum.notebookreview.com/panasonic - Google Search

Keep me in mind when you decide to buy a MK3, 4 or 5.

If you figured out any shortcuts be sure to post to one of the Linux threads. They could stand a bump and a bit of modernization.

Jeff