CF-31, or CF-19? AKA, Let's try ANOTHER (?!) way to break windows!!!

Okay finally, I sorted out the Windows 7 install and musical drives in my CF-19 MK6. I swapped the larger 240gb drive out for a smaller 90gb one. Not for the faint of heart kiddies...

I am wondering what I can get away with though... I have a CF-31 in need of a HDD, or I could grab a CF-19 MK8 with the proceeds from selling my friend the MK6.

I prefer W7, and for a tuning only laptop with limited use, that will be fine until I can't get image files, or W7 finally breaks. I don't use windows often enough to want, or bother, switching. The CF-31 pushes me a little further in the direction of change, if it becomes a daily use machine. S this next part is about saving and using W7.

I have the 240 gb drive from the CF-19. It "should" have a Panasonic OEM W7 image on it. I am pretty sure that is how I broke the cloned copy, by using the regular W7 eng iso since the OEM iso was broken. I mention this as it seems easier to change OEM product keys safely.

How badly will I break windows popping this drive into either a MK8 CF-19, or the (MK4?) CF-31? Obviously it is going to break SOMETHING. At minimum, I need to do a full driver one-click package install, and then change the product key/reactivate windows. Is there anything I need to worry about?

I am tempted to try this tonight. I don't have the caddy for the CF-31 yet, but I suspect the ribbon cable from the CF-19 could be fiddled into place. As long as I don't break the CF-19 MK6 instillation, it is a much easier drive to clone up into the 240. SO if I break the 240, not a horribly big problem.

I am going to give that a shot and see what happens here shortly I guess...

Anyways I know it can be done, but W7 doesn't like it. Seems W10 is more forgiving. I found a good (super basic) article here: How to Move Your Windows Drive to a New PC From past experience with ToughBooks, I know that for us the norm, isn't. Not sure if that will work for or against me in this scenario...

Also big question, if I use the activated W7 install in the CF-19, and put W10 or W11 on it, then swap to the CF-31, doable? And will this break the other activated W7 drive when I pop it back into the CF-19? I know kinda that grey area I am possibly encroaching on. What they gonna do ban me for the last 11 days???

 

Sidetrack dug out of the first post, and thinking about how I use my Toughbooks.... I don't really NEED a CF-19, I can tune with the CF-31 alone. But I have just always really liked the compact size of the CF-19 when sitting in the passenger seat.

A couple weeks ago I simply wanted to "reboot" and upgrade the MK1. The MK1 is almost a pointless dinosaur though. As I started looking, I got the bug again to get a much nicer/faster machine. I had the MK6, it was more than good enough for a tuning laptop, but, it is NEVER going to be a daily use computer. It is simply too small to type on, and the smaller screen isn't fun to sit in front of for hours... So why bother upgrading even further to the MK8? It is already more than I actually need.

My buddy was like "Just use the funds to upgrade the new CF-31, if you don't HAVE to buy a replacement." But as I went through my watchlist, I realized I could do both. Buy donor or barebones CF-19 and make a good machine from that and the MK1, and also tune up the CF-31. I found basket case MK5 and put in an offer. Got it! It will be some work. Either I am painting the MK5 and stealing parts from the MK1, or case swapping. Once I have it in hand I can see how bad it is and move forward accordingly.

The CF-31 has a real chance of becoming a daily use machine. I will behave and not discuss hackintoshing a Toughbook... I think that would be hilarious. Always wanted to try it, but the CF-19 isn't a good choice.

So the questions above still apply. I suspect going backwards slightly to the MK5 won't be a big issue for hot popping the drive. And I am debating between bed, and trying out the CF-19 drive in the CF-31.

 

Yes the connectors are physically the same and a CF-19 drive connector can be plugged into the CF-31. But apparently they are not pinned the same and it pops the power supply board reset. So I won't tell, ...well sure why not...

If somebody wanted to plug in a CF-31 connector into the CF-31 (don't use the CF-19 though unless you want to PROVE that the power supply shuts off, or you can just trust me hahah) you create a simple reverse tweezers out of a coat hanger with the ends tweaked slightly to hold onto the cable end holes. If you need a better picture drawn, ya probably shouldn't be doing something like this...

I was actually concerned for about an hour.