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    CF-51 Issues!

    Discussion in 'Panasonic' started by MrRe, Aug 24, 2012.

  1. MrRe

    MrRe Notebook Consultant

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    Seem to have accquired another MK3LL! Plan was to make something usable out of all the bits laying around.
    I was warned about the condition of this one so can't really complain.
    First impressions was that it had been left in a desert for years. As usual anything really useful HD caddy, DVD drive and Ram had been removed. The people who do this also seem to never replace the Ram cover either. One screw of work! On the other hand it seemed to have a battery and the cover was still attached!
    Stuck a stick of Ram in slot 1, plugged in the power - nothing. Even though the power lights were on. Put the Ram into slot 2, this time something was happening but no display! Put it on the external monitor and stuck a HD in there. Caution! This could be a big mistake if the computer has a HD lock on it so its better to check first. Fortunately for me it didn't have the HD lock enabled. Using the PC info viewer it did have some things disabled such as the SD card and the Wireless. It also showed the dreaded M30 Bios and a Supervisor password! The operating hours are 26000 odd. This is the first one I have had that actually looks like somebody used it.
    I can see a faint display. The screen flashes briefly during start up but then goes dark.
    So basically I need some opinions on:
    Is it common for one Ram slot to die or might that be something solvable.
    Is the screen issue likely to be an inverter or bulb issue.
    Lastly, how sucessful have people been in removing the screen bezels on these. I have tried once without sucess. The little tabs seems to tear. Perhaps its my technique!
    Thanks!
     
  2. Shawn

    Shawn Crackpot Search Ninja and Options Whore

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  3. toughasnails

    toughasnails Toughbook Moderator Moderator

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    It could be one or the other. Should try a known good one . My Bezels come off great now since I bought these 2x Metal Spudger Open Tools Stick for iPhone 4 4S iPad iPod Nano Video Touch | eBay .

    Shawn...like the ones in the first link better
     
  4. onirakkiss

    onirakkiss Notebook Deity

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    I think only one RAM-slot (1) is for shared graphic memory. Had u tried an 512MB or 1GB? Could be different.
     
  5. MrRe

    MrRe Notebook Consultant

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    Thanks for the heads up on the tools. Despite having a multitude of Mobile phone shops, none had any tools! Looks like eBay then! At least I should be better informed as to where the tabs are! Think a slight tweak in the right direction wouldn't go amiss either. Like the battery cover, the temptation is to try and pull it straight off and we know what happens then! Strangely despite having 28110 hours, the battery has only 7 cycles on it!
    Strangely adding another stick of Ram into slot 1 also stops the computer from booting. So either 1 stick in Slot 1 or occuping both slots causes inoperation. Only in Slot 2 does it boot up!
     
  6. MrRe

    MrRe Notebook Consultant

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    Managed to source some of those tools linked to by Blair. Lost one tab but didn't break the bezel so thats a big improvement!
    Having one LCD with a cracked screen but working bulb and another with a intact LCD but suspect bulb, I thought I would attempt to make a good one out of the two. Unfortunately both were cracked in the L/H bottom corner. Despite my best attempts I only managed to somehow get the bulb shining outside the screen rather than in it!
    Did however manage to get the battery cover off without breaking the teeth in the cover. Basically I pressed as hard as I dared on the arrow with a little bit of downward pressure. So its got a nice low cycle yellow tab battery!
    Bit of a shame that its cosemetically challenged. The top cover has lots of sticky residue which doesent seem to want to come off. Could have used that to tidy up another CF-51 with no teeth. Likewise with the bezel!
    So basically am debating whether its worth totally dismantling and puting the MB in a much better (cosmetically wise) case, although thats without any teeth for the battery cover, or just leaving it be! Had it not had the ram slot problem. I think I would have!
     
  7. Shawn

    Shawn Crackpot Search Ninja and Options Whore

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  8. unclemack

    unclemack Notebook Evangelist

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    Also sold as wax carving tools I think.
     
  9. toughasnails

    toughasnails Toughbook Moderator Moderator

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    Not sure why...this started a few days ago. Guess I will look into this .