CF-51 MK3 - Sources For Upgrade Parts

Purchased a CF-51 MK3 from ebay and have it running with 1.5GB RAM and a slow 60 GB
hard drive that I had on hand. It claimed not to include the caddy but it was there and the
high capacity battery is good! Only issue is that the display bezel is cracked and the ?
key is missing - I see keys for $7 each on ebay. The crack in the bezel seems to not be
an issue.

Also won a T7200 processor at a decent price so I'll be doing that upgrade soon.

I know the usual sources for parts, ebay, Newegg, etc. and I was wondering if there are any
reliable sellers here or if anyone has suggestions for quality at a good price, looking for:
2 X 2GB ram PC2 5300 200pin SODIMM CL5 ebay seems to be around 30 to $40 and
I can get Crucial new from Newegg for about $52, seems like a lot considering current DDR3
prices. Gskill is about $10 cheaper and I'd think that it would work fine, are there threads
discussing what works reliably in the CF-51? Wouldn't mind getting PC6400 speed if it has
been tested and is known to work well.
I might just get the Crucial CT25664AC667 that is known to work in later CF-29s since I'm
getting the itch to buy one and then it would work in that also.

Charger: Purchased the IBM with the 12V auto option but it is only 4.5A, MK3 calls for 8A,
I wouldn't mind the 7.5A IBM and will probably look on ebay.

Media bay Caddy with IDE to SATA; There are ones from China on ebay, and I'll probably go
with this unless there are better options:
New SATA 2nd HDD Hard Drive Disk Caddy for 12 7mm PATA IDE Universal CD DVD ROM | eBay

Best price for a Win7 Pro 32bit install and COA or upgrade of the XP Pro that is on the system?
I'm aware of the OEM builders pack from Newegg that goes for about $89 on sale and the student
offers but I don't want to bother any of the students in our family. I heard somewhere that this $39
offer for Win8 can be downgraded to 7 - lol, but I don't see that option here:
Buy Windows - Microsoft Windows

I have a Win7 Home Ultimate 64 Bit that I might try on it, but then I'd need a COA to activate it.

I'm really enjoying even the MK2, the Pentium M seems faster than it should be and the 1200X1600
display is amazing!

Thanks for any help,
Pete

 

I'd sell a keyboard for a little more than $7. That way you would have a few keys to practice on.
Look for a post by some yahoo (not the web site) in this forum using:
TEST site:forum.notebookreview.com/panasonic - Google Search
replace TEST with your query. Here I'll try it.... http://forum.notebookreview.com/pan...ony-mp-03103usd8141-chiclet.html#post6495132. there is a page two. I used "replace key" in place of TEST.
I have several parts and better units available. Two 51A and a 51L and maybe a spare MK3 LL.
I had three LL but dropped one in the dark yesterday and now I need a screen. Still works, quit flickering, the crack is somewhat visible. The screen was flickering during warm-up before.



As for units for sale.....there are folks here and on Toughbooktalk.com that have parts and pieces scattered around. Shop here first.:hi2:

 

Hi Pete

I ordered one of these it wll not work. Toughbooks need a master / slave jumper setting for this to work which it does not have.

The IBM adapter 16v 4.5a has been talked about here many times. It should be fine. Or at least it has been for all the Toughbooks I used it on...CF-50 MK5. CF30 MK1,2,3, CF-51 MK1,2,3.

-Nick

 

You can always solder pin 40( i think) to force master. Isolate it to force slave.

 

I wonder who that is??

 

The PC6400 speed works fine but if I am right will run at the lower speed. I would also go with the 32bit since your max memory is 4GB...64bit needs more memory to run and then there is the drivers . Someone on here a while ago explained what you need for 64bit on other toughbooks.

 

Hi Shawn

Using the OEM CF-30 CD/DVD caddy interface the PC does not see it. Jumping pin 46 and 47 the PC locks up. I would like a source for these with a master /slave jumper setting.

 

You are using the cf30 caddy in the cf51, correct? In the caddy, you have an 2nd hard drive adapter ide caddy with sata drive? Or ide caddy to ide drive?
If it's an ide to sata, it will hang for almost a full minute before passing post. Otherwise try not inserting the drive until windows has fully booted. If it doesn't show then go to device manager and do a search for new devices.
Are you jumping the pins on the cf30 caddy or the drive adapter? Do you have boot from media bay dvd/cd disabled in bios?

Just to put the info here also....

Ok on the cf51 2nd hard drive in the media bay.
CF51
floppy drive passes post and boots to c: normal
ide hdd in media bay passes post and boots to c:
sata hdd in media bay takes approximately 30 -45 seconds to pass post and boot to c:

None of my 2nd drives are set up to boot. I use them for storage only.

CF52
floppy will not boot. freezes
sata in media bay will not boot. post freezes. I have let it set for over 5 minutes, it will not boot with a sata in media bay. insert hdd after windows finishes starting and drive is accessible.
ide in media bay passes post and boots to c:

 

Hi Shawn
I am using this in a CF-30 and a 2nd hard drive adapter ide caddy with sata drive jumping the pins on the CF-30 caddy ribbon. Boot from media bay dvd/cd is disabled in bios.

I just want to use the drive for storage. When put the caddy in the PC after Windows has loaded it either not seen or locks up.

 

the jumper I am talking about is inside the sata to ide caddy not the cf30 "adapter". If your trying the mod for a cf29 drive caddy, That is a completely different setup.


Here is a post that discusses what I am talking about.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/hp-business-class-notebooks/352887-hp-2510p-owners-lounge-6.html#post5100530

I have never tried any of my 2nd hard drives in my cf30.
The bios may prevent them from working. As far as I know the cf30 does not require the master/slave setting. I swapped the optical drive in my cf30 without having to set it. The same result has been posted by other forum members.

It's difficult to give any help when the thread is about a cf51, but you are working on a cf30 now. They are 2 very different laptops. This is the first post that states you are working on a cf30. The cf30 optical caddy will fit into a cf51. To date all your questions have been in reference to a cf51. It sounded like you where using a cf30 caddy in a cf51.

 

Thanks everyone for the tips - will take them all into consideration.