CF-29 LTQ47BA configuration oddities.

Ok well my CF-29 LTQ47BA system arrived during the week. I've been doing some setup with it tonight and the very first thing I noticed is that even though the keyboard is mapped like a normal querty keyboard, a lot of the alphabet character keys are not in the proper querty positions. Is there a particular CF-29 config where the default kbd is not a querty type? Can the backlit rubberised kbd from a CF-28 be fitted to a CF-29? If so I'll get another one and fit it to the CF-29.

The seller claims to have installed Xp pro but it's not showing up as Xp pro - gotta double-check that tomorrow.

The unit is an ex-Telstra system and still has an EV-DO modem, a Telstra 3G modem, and an Intel 2915 wi-fi card (which will talk happily to my home wi-fi network). The machine doesn't have ProSet though so I tried to get it. Internet Explorer returns a 'cannot display this page' message and Firefox just gives a completely blank page which I click on:

http://support.intel.com/support/wireless/wlan/sb/CS-010623.htm

which is the link to download ProSet available on this page:

http://www.intel.com/network/connectivity/products/wireless/proset/proset_software.htm

from the 'tools and software' tab. I just tried it on this machine (CF-28) and confirmed exactly the same behaviour in Firefox and IE, so the new machine isn't causing that to happen.

The standard Windows wireless network utility says it's not able to manage the card so there must be some other software on the machine that's managing it, but it's not ProSet as far as I can tell.

Craig.

 

Yes

Enable and Disable Automatic Wireless Network Configuration
To enable automatic configuration, ensure the "Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings" checkbox is checked on the Wireless Networks tab of the Wireless Network Connection properties window. Automatic wireless Internet / Wi-Fi network configuration will be disabled if this checkbox is unchecked. You must be logged on with Windows XP administrative privileges to enable / disable this feature.
Credit http://compnetworking.about.com/od/windowsxpnetworking/a/automaticwifixp.htm


Alex

 

Managed to get ProSet a different way, but the version I found has limitations in how WEP keys are configured so I dumped it and have gone back to the standard Windows config method.

All good except I can't remember what I set the WEP key to when I set up my D-Link DSL to wi-fi router a couple of months ago. Didn't write it down (to make it more secure!).

The EV-DO modem apparently works (the software can initialise it) but there's no signal here. I'll probably remove it as it's no use to me. I might also pull the 3G modem out since it's a Telstra-specific one that won't work with my non-Telstra wireless broadband service that I use when I'm not at home.

Craig.

 

I prefer the window ,managing the network

Reset the router on the back then and go into the router setting's and start fresh


Alex

 

Here is a pic of the keyboard so you can see the wacky layout:



flickr page

Craig.

 

I wonder if a bios update is needed for a keyboard exchange from azerty to qwerty
Could you list the bios version's from the bios info screen


Alex

 

This looks like a Spanish keyboard layout. Have you tried loading the drivers for the Euro/Spanish keyboard. Looking through the Panny configuration guide there are models listed as Euro/Spanish. Someone may have replaced the keyboard for "Spanish" character requirements.

 

Craig, I can't imagine writing a report on that... the keys are in the 'wrong places'!

Not sure if I remembered correctly but wasnt there a keyboard remapping utility built into windoze?

Ron in SG

 

It is French.

 

French is qwerty. AZERTY on any keyboard = european. had a blackberry that had an azerty layout, was made in hungary.

 

It is French.

 

Azrial is (always ?) right, it's FRENCH.
Believe me, I'm french and use this layout.
Most probably, your BIOS default layout is US, if it's not, it would be japanese ;-))
So, in Windows: regional settings ,inputs, etc... and you'r french now. How do you feel ?

 

No it isn't.

This is actually a Belgian keyboard.

If you look closely you will see that some of the keys (such as @, +, !) are in a different position to the standard French layout.

 

GREAT SPECIALIST !
Belgian (French) layout WHAOOOOOOO Rep +

 

you are right, it is Belgian

 

Absolutely bizarre since the system is an original Australia-only Telstra spec machine. The kbd definitely maps to the QWERTY layout though.. I'm planning on replacing it with a backlit rubberised kbd however new ones sell for around US$300 each. Might just go with the flow and get one anyway since I'd prefer a new kbd rather than used.

Craig.

 

The layout printed on the keyboard is just there for the convenience of the operator.

All the computer "knows" is that a key at a certain position has been pressed. It is actually the operating system that looks up the value of that keyboard position and returns the corresponding glyph. If you tell the operating system that you have a standard ANSI keyboard with US layout, you'll get the familiar QWERTY responses that you are used to.

Why is it on a Telstra configured laptop? I have no idea, but I suspect that somebody has bought a cheap keyboard from EBay to repair a damaged Toughbook.

I'd think twice about replacing the keyboard on a CF-29. If you're going to spend an additional $300 on a backlit keyboard, you might as well save up for a CF-30.

 

La France est-il en Europe, n'est-il pas ?

 

Thats freakin weird! I've never heard of this man! Cool... What happens when you do a fresh load of XP with standard English? If you hit the "Q" key would the "A" type??

Sell it on ebay for $.01 and get a new one? or live with it lol... I don't need to look at my keys anyways...

~Rob - Loves his normal shiny keys emissive backlit keyboard~

 

Igen! És a magyaroknak QWERTZ billentyűzetek.

Amerikaiak!

 

Not exactly.

The keyboard itself is exactly the same as every other Toughbook keyboard. It just has different glyphs printed on the keys.

You would also need to configure XP so that it knows you want to use a keyboard with a different language layout. You can do this through the Languages tab on the "Regional and Language Options" tool in the control panel (just click Details and you can add additional keyboard mappings).



Edit - I forgot to mention you can use this to play practical jokes on your office mates. If they leave their computer unattended, change the keyboard mapping to another language and watch them struggle with it. For best results, change the keyboard to a mapping that is very similar to the standard US ANSI mapping. It will drive them mad!

 

That's what the seller did that I bought this machine from. It's got a brand new fresh load of Xp Pro. All the keys that should map to normal QWERTY layout keycodes do, so I can use the kbd just like any other computer since I can type pretty much without looking at the keyboard.

I'm not selling the machine since it's a touchscreen model and has a new 320 GB disk in it and 1.5 GB Of RAM. I'm going to see if I can get the RAM up to 2 or 2.5 GB.

Replacement standard 'chiclet' style kbds with the right layout are low cost - would prefer a backlit rubberised one though at the prices places like Rugged Depot are asking, it's something I need to think whether I really do need it right away.

Craig.

 

Craig
If you are really set on the rubber type I have one left used in great condition here
I used this type for a while but prefer the hard backlite type as you can type faster
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=431527


Alex

 

Rats, I was wrong! One whole semester of French shot down the toilet!

Well if it was close enough to fool a native speaker, I do not feel terrible.

¡Pero estaba seguro que no era español!

 

Roightio now I have received a nice brand new standard kbd (the fancy backlit ones are ludicrously priced!) to replace this shonky, apparently Belgian-layout, kbd on my CF-29 so I'll be doing that later today.

The kbd is very lightweight and quite a different design to the kbd's out of CF-28's that I've replaced prior to getting hold of the CF-29.

Craig.

 

I've done the kbd replacement - no drama.

I took a few pics as it progressed and have uploaded them into Flickr since the setup is a little different than on a CF-28 (the cover plate is much better designed!) yet the concept is the same.

Craig.