CF-29 M model.. WiFi not hardware not detected with XP but IS detected with othe OS's..

Hi all,

What am I missing here? I did a completely clean reinstall of the master discs on this unit (CF-29 M version) and everything EXCEPT the WiFi hardware was detected.. Intel Proset is installed. I tried installing different drivers I downloaded from Panasonic manually...

This model does NOT have a BIOS setting to turn on or off Wifi. Nor is there any manual switch or keyboard switch I can find to do that either.

Finally, after much frustration, I formatted and installed Windows 7 to see what would happen... and WiFi is detected and works perfectly..

So what am I missing here? Why will the master OEM discs not find and install Wifi properly OR what can I do to try and get it to do so?

* BTW, not sticking with the Win 7 install due to lack of drivers for everything... Otherwise I would just do that...

Malakie

 

Welcome to the Panasonic Toughbook Forum

First we need your full model number, it gives us a better idea what you have. When you say "master OEM discs" do you mean the Panasonic restore disk or a windows disk

 

CF-29M is a Federal model, with no wifi card installed from the factory. I'm guessing someone put in a wifi card that XP doesn't recognize but Win7 does.

If so, you may need to swap in a compatible wifi card, or try manually installing the right driver in XP if the OS can see it at all.

 

Fascinating that win7 sees it in a federal model, but win xp doesn't......hmmm

 

Model is the CF-29 MTWGZBM

When I started using it the WiFi WAS working with the Intel ProSet drivers that were installed.... It reported Maxwell/Yukon as the wifi card but under win7 it reports realtek....

I am at a complete loss on this one... We have four of these units and I do not want to reset any of the other three until I figure out what the heck is going on...

** install discs I was referring to are the actual Panasonic installation disc's x 3.. And yes I am using Mk4 versions for the M model.

 

As mentioned in my post, I DID try manual installs of a number of drivers... Additional information... XP reports the wifi card as Maxwell/Yukon but Win7 reports it as realtek...

 

Then why is there there a problem? Not clear what you are asking us for help about.

Maybe you should remove the bottom and take a look at the wifi card.

 

umm..I am at loss to! Maxwell/Yukon is an Ethernet controller not a Wi-Fi card as far as I know. And the Realtek is an Audio device driver.

Go to device manager and look under network adapter. There must have atleast two to three device listed if the Wi-Fi card is present. Usually it is next to Maxwell/Yukon or the first listed and it will be identified as "Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 2915ABG Network Connection" If it has the OEM Wi-Fi card. But as Paul said, its a federal issue unit. No wireless system from the factory unless someone installed it with different card.

PS.. On the bios page under advanced. It must be listed there" Wireless Lan" If so, make sure its Enable. If nothing listed it means no card present or may have different card installed.

ohlip

 

Not sure why you are confused by what I am asking..... We had to RESET (as I mentioned earlier) these laptops plus add larger hard drives...(which I did not mention).

Regardless of WHY, the point is we did one so far... The problem is all the drivers install EXCEPT the wireless drivers install and activate fine. The Intel ProSet software reports a hardware problem and states the drivers were not installed...

Now, the HARDWARE being reported for the Wireless board is for Intel PROset Wireless as I mentioned before as well.. Although under Windows 7 for some reason it is reporting via software that it is a REALTEK board instead... probably because it is using some generic driver in that case.

Anyhow, the board IS the Intel board and although the system reports the drivers installed properly when I do it manually, nothing works..

The system hardware manager shows "ethernet controller" and that is it... The hard line network card is installed and working fine and is the Marvell Yukon board.

And so this is why I am asking for help... something is not making sense here.... especially since it works fine under Windows 7...

 

Realtek DOES make a mini pci wifi card.....The cards Panasonic puts in are INTEL. The restore disk DOES NOT have Realtek drivers on it. Nor does the Panasonic web site. Win7 includes Realtek drivers. Someone put a Realtek card in the cf29. Win7 correctly identifies the card and installs the proper Realtek driver. WinXP from the restore disk or retail install is not that smart. It doesn't have Realtek drivers on it. Download Realtek drivers for your XP units and all will be good.
Intel Proset is just the client package. It will install and work with other brand cards provided you have the correct driver installed.

If you don't believe me, Uninstall the Intel Proset package and let Windows 7 manage the wifi connections. The Realtek driver will stay and the card will work in Win7.
A Realtek card will NOT show in the bios. Only the original Intel card will show.
I've done all of this on my own units many times.

Realtek

 

Hmm Now that makes sense... I will give that a shot... Thanks for the suggestion... it is what I was looking for.

 

Here is the info when it left the factory

Model Number : CF-29MTWGZBM
Status : DISCONTINUED
MSRP : $4,714

Description: ***FEDERAL ONLY***,Intel Pentium M 778 1.6GHzLV (Centrino),13.3" Touch XGA,512MB,80GB, NON-WIRELESS, Win XP SP2, SmartCard, No Drive

 

OR you can take 10 minutes to pull off the bottom and take a look. Then you would know exactly what you're dealing with . . . .

 

A linux Live CD will tell you pretty quick too.

Run it, open terminal and:

Code:

lspci

Yields all the pci devices found by the Linux OS.

Sample from LTQGZBM (portion)
[QUOTE
02:00.0 Ethernet controller: Marvell Technology Group Ltd. 88E8053 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller (rev 19)
06:01.0 CardBus bridge: Ricoh Co Ltd RL5c476 II (rev 8b)
06:01.1 SD Host controller: Ricoh Co Ltd R5C822 SD/SDIO/MMC/MS/MSPro Host Adapter (rev 11)
06:02.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation PRO/Wireless 2915ABG [Calexico2] Network Connection (rev 05)
][/QUOTE]

 

Ok it is a Realtek 8185 network card confirmed... Drivers do install and the system now sees the card.. HOWEVER the system will still not connect to a network. It tries to connect but never asks for the security phrase, it just aborts and gives an error that says the network may no longer be in range.... (router is about 10 feet away).

There have been NO changes to the network, all other systems are using it just fine. As mentioned this unit and the 3 others we are trying to configure are the ones giving us headaches.

About the only thing I can think of now is that the networking install drivers are corrupted which means basically another clean windows install.... any other ideas before I waste time doing that again?

 

Did a quick search re: Realtek. Of course the comments are never made by those with working products. I see lots of problems.

I would put a Intel 2915 in one of the units and check results. There are other better Wireless cards but this test would cost +- $10.

The good part about this is you can smoosh the cpu thermal pads while you're in their and have a general look around. Remember to un-plug the speaker wire before lifting the bottom off.

Good luck.

Jeff

 

LOL, after reading your post I realize I FORGOT to plug the dam speaker wire back in! ARGH!

Anyhow, it is strange... If I install any other OS, it works perfectly. I have the right driver for the wireless board and it installs just fine... Hardware tests show it etc.. but when I select the network I want to connect to... that is when it just errors and says it cannot connect.... it never asks for the pass code...

This is so freaking frustrating....

 

We had an issue with lack of SP3 ......that was with bluetooth though I believe. Have you tried SP 3. ROFL been there done that w/the speaker.

 

Is it asking for the password in 7? or not asking in both 7 and XP?

 

In Win 7 it does get to the password prompt and when input connects and works fine... In XP it never gets to the prompt to even enter the password...

 

What bios and ec are we looking at here? Just a thought. XP likes 20/17. Floundering for a clue.

Another thought...[device manager] [realtek] [properties] un-check "allow system to disable to save power"

 

Semi related...I ran into a goofy situation with a video card a while back. Ebay..new card...would only work with the driver that the vendor supplied..Official drivers from the manuf would not work...I found this out when i reloaded the OS..Turns out the card was a fake..The doctored drivers were all that would work.

DON"T reload the BIOS........The new bios will disable the wifi card because it's not the original Intel 2915. You won't be able to enable it again unless you have a 2915 to put in the unit. I wonder if Win 7 bypasses the bios lockout????? I just remembered that Jeff had a sound issue with a Cf29 that a official recovery disk fixed. The recovery disk reset something in the bios.
I must agree that your best bet is to trash the Realteks and put in the original Intel 2915. I'll see if i have any in my parts bins...

 

I have an Intel 2100 and an Intel 2200. No 2915's. Ebay has them for $5.00 each.
PM me your address and I'll ship you these to try. They should show up in bios.

 

Thanks... I am not an Ebay fan nor user so your help is appreciated...


I keep asking myself why Panasonic had to make each model so much different than the next both in configuration AND in compatibility of parts... i.e. memory upgrades for example.... and now this issue...

How much do you need for them should they work? I can send you check, cashiers check or what ever works best...

 

DON'T use 2100 wifi cards, they can be very troublesome. 2200 is more stable, but 2915 is better for sure. Or go with the EnGenius 8602+S and get a max range wifi setup for only $20 brand new . . .

 

I got the address saved ,,you should delete it from the thread.

The Engeniuos 8602 is a better card, BUT it won't be seen in bios either. The Intel is a good choice to at very least troubleshoot with.

 

Keep in mind only Panasonic branded Intel wifi cards will show up in the BIOS. I got several 2915's that were claimed to be from Toughbooks but were not, and even doing the pin 20 mod didn't get them working in a CF-29.

 

I personally pulled them from a cf50 and a cf73.

 

All done...........

 

Shawn has way way more time spent with wireless cards.

My thinking on the bios was I have seen a strange number or two related to Federal only. Shawn is right the up and downgrades we have available to us are specifically designated Vista upgrade and re-downgrade.....more related to touchscreens and as I think about it, the number I quoted was for a CF-30MK1...excuse me while I pound my head on the wall. My apologies.

I have at least one 3945 card. Shawn, would that work here? Also I will take a look in the daylight for a 2915.

Hang in there.

Jeff...nice machines otherwise heh?

 

Yes overall great machines although I so glad I did not pay the $4k new price! ;-)

 

Jeff, you were correct on it being a 2915. I am almost certain the bios will recognize a 2100 or a 2200 also.
CF29 mk1 used a 2100..Mk2,mk3 used a 2200 mk4 and mk5 used a 2915...I think I remember that correctly......
The 3945 is the newer style small card..Won't work without a welder..........

Can we get a video of the Charlie Brown imitation? I'm lacking entertainment...

 

I have a welder. Thanks friend. I KNEW you would know. Had the number in my head but not the dimensions. 'preciate it.

I'm typing on a 90 hour MK4 (my favorite 29 ...the MK5 has TPM) and I got sidetracked looking at the converters techtuff makes. I would really like to put a ssd in this pristine beastie.

My CF-30 MK3 is booting MINT 15 in 9 seconds.:hi2:

 

My personal unit is a CF-30 K (that is a mark 3 right?) and it is a nice unit as well.. I just looked at putting an SSD in mine.. but then realized it would not install because of the SATA connectors... Do they even make a decent SSD that is not SATA? I am still looking but have not found one yet..

BTW is the CF-30 upgradable to Win7? I.E. Drivers?

 

My CF-30Mk3 has an SATA interface and your does also. You can instal any 2.5" SATA (the most common type, compared to PATA [IDE]) ssd into your CF-30Mk3. You need to disassemble the caddy, pull out the hdd that is in there, install an ssd into the caddy, assemble the caddy and put it into the laptop.

Yes the CF-30 can be upgraded to W7. Mine came with it from the factory. The earlier Mks can run W7. See here for Mk1:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/panasonic/476149-how-load-windows-7-cf-30-mk1-model.html

And here for Mk2:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/panasonic/704219-windows-7-cf-30mk2.html

Have fun.

Morgan

 

I have a cf30 mk2..upgraded to win7 and ssd.. Also SR71 wifi card and external Reverse SMA antenna jack.......Runs great...

Dropped the cards in the mail today...
..I bet you have a few stories that you can't talk about...

 

Well I will be... did not realize the CF-30 has that... I have been so busy with these CF-29 units I never realized how different they were.. thanks for the info...

 

Thanks again... I am going to update my personal unit to Win7 then since vista sucks big time...

As for the stories... I can tell you all about them.... thing is, I prefer NOT to get locked up so I ain't gonna! LOL

 

Don't worry..We'll keep a light on for you....





Those photos are from a closed WV state prison I toured on vacation this summer. Eye opening to say the least..

 

Heh... Leavenworth would be my worry... Federal/Military level stuff...

 

No worries Malakie, it's all good. You are welcome. As I said, have fun.