CF-30 restore disk compatibility question

There were 2 iterations of CF-30 MK3s made: the first iteration came with Vista/XP and had model numbers of the form "CF-30K...2M" or "CF-30K...AM", then there was a second iteration which came from the factory with Windows 7/XP and had model numbers of the form "CF-30K...2B". Does anyone know if a "2B" disk could be used on an early "2M" CF-30 MK3? If this were possible, it would provide the easiest possible upgrade path to W7 for people who have CF-30 MK3 (and a similar approach would work for owners of CF-19 MK3 models too)

 

I have yet to try it since I did the upgrade from the vista to Win 7. This was before Panasonic offered Win 7. But I have the OEM Win 7 restore disc from Panasonic that I got on ebay. all it does is looks at the bios to make sure it is an MK3 model. I am almost certain it will install. I just have not done it cuz I am lazy and got a perfectly fine installation with all my programs right now. I think you could probably mod the flag for MK3 to MK1 or MK2 if you make an ISO and burn it back to dvd and it would work in the MK1 and 2 models. I also could be talking out my . I would would try it but I only have two caddies one for XP which i need for some programs and my upgraded Vista>>Win 7 installation.

 

I'm pretty sure the recovery disk checks for CF-30MK? You will find a word doc or file (check version) on the recovery disc that look like this.

CF-30MK1
MXS
V9.11L13
M01

I just got a hold of a win 7 recovery disc for a CF-30 MK3. In the past ALL Toughbook XP recovery disc I used never required activation. It appears WIN 7 DOES require activation. OH and BTW after I did a recovery I checked to see if it would boot in CF-30 MK1 and 2 and it will with a couple of driver did not load errors.

 

Your saying it requires activation on a MK3 model. That would be strange wonder why they did that. That would be the first oem install disc that requires activation that I have seen.

 

I'm going to use the MK3 W7 restore disk this weekend for my second hard drive. Maybe I'll stick the caddy in the MK1 first and see if it works, can't hurt anything. The new MK3 came with a W7 COA attached, "W7 downgraded to XP".
CAP

 

Yes! This seems to be the case. It was nice the way the recovery disc worked before this. They never asked to be activated or asked for activation do to hardware changes. See pics…

 

http://directedge.us/files/abr/ABRbeta.exe

This is a tool I use to backup W7 installations when I reload them on the same computer
Using this tool if the original installation is activated,you do not need to enter windows key or reactivate

You run the tool on the original computer,save to usb memory stick,and then run the activation restore on the computer after you reload

 

Alex, I tried dumping to a resized partition from .gho image. Same PC/laptop. No effect on W7 activation. Works a treat so far.

 

Yes if I clone when upgrading hard drives there are no issues
When the tool I linked works is on a fresh load
I have a W7 32bit installation disk that you select the version when installing

 

so on this are you suposed to enter a win 7 key?

 

You are supposed to enter a license key only when a fresh load is used with oem or retail w7 dvd
Bypass the enter key step when loading using my link,It puts a key in later

You do not ever load a key on panasonic restore media as its just an image of the hard drive,complete with most drivers loaded

 

my question is the W7 from panasonic restore media or just a rebranded window 7 disc. Like the dell OEM Win 7 disc that came with my desktop. It is windows 7 OEM or you can burn the restore disc that is an image of how it shipped from the factory. That is why i figured it was restore media. Just a big ol Wim file with all the drivers installed. because if it is just Windows 7. I have that already guess I wasted money on the Panasonic disc. I was hoping it was restore so i would not have to install drivers and such.

 

Mine is:
"DFQM8568MA CF-30 Series Product Recovery DVD-ROM Windows 7 Professional"
"The software included...was preinstalled on your hard drive...used for backup and recovery of your Panasonic computer system."
"MK3-7PM32"
I'll be messing with it tomorrow, but a dollar to a donut says this is an image of the factory load, including drivers and all.
CAP

 

Cap did you ever get a chance to try out the disc?

 

I just did. Straight restore on the MK3, 27 minutes start to finish, everything working right, no activation required. Don't know if I like 7 yet, that will probably take some time. This machine did ship W7 downgraded to XP, I have no idea if that has any bearing. These are definitely not rebranded disks, I have a "Panasonic Theme" for a desktop, or rather I did. If I can figure out how to get a Control Panel that looks like one I'll take a look at the drivers. Seems to me I can copy and paste them to the appropriate folders on the other CF-30. I'm going to stick the caddy in the MK1 later and see what happens.

Edit: Stuck the caddy in the MK1, booted right up to 7 with a couple of "Driver not loaded" messages. I caught a Windows Media and a Panasonic Misc message and may have missed 1 more. It offered to find the drivers, but I'm not going to mess with it now. It also asked for a WLAN driver. So.... if you have a MK3 and the W7 restore disk you probably have an easy upgrade path for any earlier CF-30s you might have laying around.
CAP

 

Ha Ha
Panasonic should pay you commissions
We always say around here you can't have enough Toughbooks