CF-29 Touch Screen woos

Hi everyone! I generally sell a lot of laptops and various tech on ebay and have come across about 8 CF-29 models that were loaded with windows 7, not genuine, touch screens didn't work but are generally in good shape after I scrub all the Velcro goo! I've messed with various Toughbook models and when they are loaded and ready to go they are nice to have around but having to load them can be a nightmare!

So I loaded a clean install of xp in one while I downloaded all the drivers on a flash drive after maxing the ram out in a few because it didn't boot with a 2gb. After drivers touch screen was working but not on the left side of the about 1/2 inch which I've had happen to me on similar models before so I tried the calibration and it actually worked! Right away I started up on second one while the first one keeps updating, did the same process, installed the same drivers and the TS has no response, not in the apps either. I loaded two more, same thing, no ts! I've got them all updating hoping one will fix the ts but am confident it probably will not. They are all CF-29N with at the end and I loaded them identical, I also noticed on the first one windows picked up the wifi and didn't on the others. Any insight into this as i'd like to resell these for as much as possible and TS is going to hurt!

 

full model number please

 

Mk5's so the TS problem is not unusual. But full model number as Shawn said so we can decipher what you have.

 

If I recall correctly, the 29 Mk5's with 1 GB soldered to the motherboard did not have a touchscreen. I built several "maxed out" 29's putting 1GB ram in the slot for 2GB total, and swapping the top half with another 29 that did have touchscreen. However, 29's had a chronic problem with touchscreen failures that Sheepman (Jeff) knows how to repair.

 

As do I. I'm curious if any are non touch units or 29P units minus WiFi.

 

They are all CF-29NAQGZBM and every one of them says touch screen in the bios and they are enabled. I'm also wondering if there is any easy was to tell if they have gps or should I just check if its in the bios as well? These all came from a police unit and were mounted on docks & swivel stand in police cars and are supposed to be identical, whoever installed windows 7 on them had no idea what they were doing as they installed none of the drivers. I actually thought 1.5gb was the max ram in these but I guess it needs to be taken apart to access the other stick so I wont bother with changing it but I will include a stick of ram with the sale when I get rid of them.

 

They all have wifi, backlit keyboards, modems & floppy drives as well. I've come across lots of various Toughbook models and its likely I will in the future, I wouldn't consider myself a troll I just like to sell my equipment as accurate as possible and not "well its touch screen and it might or might not work". I'm up to 3 with no touch screen response at all and the one that I first loaded which is working fine. I'm proceeding loading the rest to see the results.

 

All 29's except the non-touch model have 512 MB soldered to the mobo, and 1 GB is the largest stick a 29 will recognize, and they only have 1 memory socket, so max memory is 1.5 GB. Probably they all have failed touchscreens.

 

Well that helps clarify things a lot! These all have one ram slot under the cover on the back and only recognized 1gb sticks in the slot. Odd that the touch screen would fail in a way that it exhibits zero response in any area of the screen instead of dead zones but it is what it is. I will list them off as dead touch screen models when I get ready to sell them so that my listings can be accurate, maybe I'll have better luck with the last 2! You all have been more than helpful as these things have taken up a lot of time already =-)

 

#4 With no touchscreen response, geez these must of been junk screens on this model. I've been through several earlier CF-29 models and the touch screen did work on those, must of been a better screen in the earlier MK versions.

 

The Mk4 and Mk5 have a problem with the screens as do the CF30Mk1. Its fairly easy to fix if you know how and want to take it apart.

Question.. What did you pay for them,I expect they are high hours and with floppy drive and no dvd that's going to be a hard sell.

Problem 2. No recovery discs so restoring them is a lot of work. No GPS on that model.

 

You said you had a few with working touchscreen. Take the HDD caddy out of the one that works and try it in one of the non working touchscreen ones and see what happens. It's worked in the past for me. I have a driver issue.

 

Good idea about pulling the caddy out and trying it another! At the moment I've got touch screen working on one, the very first one I loaded. The next 4 are not working and I got 2 more to test.

Personally I've got no money in these and my partner likely has very little, I just noticed the cheapest they are on eBay is $300 (functional & loaded) with a DVD drive but have a battery that is only assured it will charge, not hold so I figured I could get something decent out of them like I have in the past. I'll let you all know what happens when I try that drive bay in another one!

 

You should try searching again because I can find lots of CF-29 MK5's for well under $150.00 and some with GPS. The 29's have dropped in price a lot the last few years. For under $300.00 you can get a really nice CF-30 or a low end CF-31.

Most seller's list their laptop batteries that way. It more or less covers the sellers rear end

 

The mk5's are consistent over $200 if they boot windows, with the touch screen anyway and the current trending price is $299. Nearly everyone under $200 only boots to bios, I could format these drives and sell them that way but I have a conscious. Either way, its no sweat off my back but obviously I'd like to make the most possible lol. Checking sold listings there are countless just sold for $300 range that are complete with dvd, chargers and batteries.

edit :

Hours vary greatly on the devices, some are 33k hours and others are under 10k

Swapped the drive of the working touch screen into one of the others and it still didn't work so the touch screens are in fact all dead.

 

I'm sorry but $300 for a CF-29 is dreaming, they may be listed for that but you will never get that. I personally sold over $120,000 in Toughbooks on eBay.

Good luck with that. I literally can buy a CF-31 for that, don't go by what's listed.

 

I bought my 31Mk3 full load (i5-3320M GPS MC7700 DVDRW 8GB SmartCard camera,etc /420hrs and a deck dock w/keys) for $300. Can't see paying the same for a 29 regardless of mk or load. But others may.

 

I wouldn't pay $75 myself though I have no use for one. Searching ebay sold listings reveals countless cf-29's in the 300$ range (im including shipping of course) Not real sure what i'll ask for these but I always list buy it now (searching sold listings shows how much you lose on auctions) and generally I take most any offer that comes my way. I'm sure someone is going to get some good deals off these and I'm cool with that.

Theres also an annoying little update that needs to be hidden or it forever tries to install it

 

^^^ You probably don't realize how ridiculous your ideas about prices seem to the experienced guys on this forum. As a newbie, try listening to the guys who made this forum great, not jump in ignorantly telling us how wrong you think we are.

<end rant>
<ignore dontliketoughbook>

 

I'm not trying to argue about the price and I know I wont be getting much out these, like I said I just review the sold listings and trending prices . I did find a dvd drive in one which was nice and put it in the one with touch screen working so it can be listed, it cleaned up well. These screen shots show 2 listing selling 20 and 30 each of the cf 29's for near $300 so somebody must be willing to pay it, of course there is countless going for 100-200 in the mix as well but the mk5's or any with touch screens seem to do well. I've had much better luck the with cf-31 models though, I think they had the pen which I liked if I recall. Of course I know IM not getting near 300 for these (I didn't even plan on buying chargers) but Whatever they sell for I get half and I just put some time in, perhaps I'll list some with the docks & mounts to see how they do but regardless I'll be content and know they are loaded up properly on clean installs.

edit :
I primarily only sell laptops on ebay for the last few years until lately, only get the tough books here and there. If you ever seen listings that have 2 laptops each that was me. I appreciate all the help from everyone, hope nobody's taking anything the wrong way.

 

You live in the USA but checking prices for them "overseas" ??

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Panasonic-...826160?hash=item5474bd74f0:g:c0EAAOSwljJdYY6T

 

Thanks to the Ebay Global Shipping I dont pay anything extra to ship out of country and these are an ideal electronic to ship. There are some sales mixed in with lower ones Domestic as well, this guy out of Texas sold 13 for $299 each and they didn't have dvd drives. Prices tend to fluctuate, I agree its an absurd amount but it seems to happen. Granted he was possibly shipping international as well.

 

Yes over the last 2+ years, I checked his feedback. When someone see's 13 sold it doesn't mean recent it means when he started the auction which could be 2-3 years ago. I know because I sold on eBay for 15+ years, since 1998. When you have a store the auction never ends untill you end it. On my 29/30 port cover auctions it showed sold over 100 but it took me almost 3years to get that far. The big question for you is do you want a quick sale or do you want to sit on them like that seller is.

The first picture you posted was for overseas.

 

Sigh. I dont have working touchscreens, didn't order chargers and never said I'd personally get $300 out of one just that they go in upwards of it the price. I already said I have nothing invested in these and my partner as little to none, only said I'd like to get as much as possible which is why I'm testing these to begin with. Just formatting and selling untested would bring very little, Like this I make a little more (with more potential had they been working) and dont have to deal with "hey the touch screen dont work even though its untested". I'll be more than happy to get a few hundred for all 7 combined, they will go on eBay and every few days they dont sell I will knock 5-10$ of the price. I've got a lot of other stuff I'd like to mess with it, these aren't worth squat with dead screens lol

In the end one had a good screen and six with dead screens along with a total of 5 good batteries and two bad. Only had one dvd drive between them all though.

 

Well, that's the official story, but not entirely accurate. I have a MK5 sitting here that is a CF-29N3 - non touch model. It has 256 MB on the motherboard, and it will absolutely take a 2GB DDR2 SODIMM PC2-6400 module. Total RAM on this CF-29 is 2048 MB - it ignores anything over 2 GB. Attached is a picture of BIOS from my MK5 CF-29. It seems that only MK4 & MK5 models with 256 MB on the motherboard will work. MK1-MK3 used DDR SODIMMS and 1 GB was the max.

 

$300??? That's insane! I just bought a CF-31J MK2 for $232 in great condition. The only thing it lacked was the charger and OS on the drive. Even came with a 500 GB HD and 4GB DDR3 RAM. I would expect to pay no more than $75 for a CF-29 in great shape (I paid $55 for my MK5 and $40 for my MK2), unless it came with uber accessories like a dozen drive caddys, Lind auto power supply, or something crazy. There are folks on ebay trying to sell them for more $, but they are not selling, at least not in the USA.

Oh, and just last week I bought a mint condition CF-52 MK2 with power supply and Crucial 128 GB SSD - plus it has the wide XGA Screen - For the totally amazing price of - $125... You don't have to pay an arm and a leg for a toughbook, especially the older ones...

 

My (brain's) memory was faulty, now recall exactly what you said, the 256 soldered to the board was ignored when a 2GB stick was in the slot.