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    CF-52 Recovery Issues

    Discussion in 'Panasonic' started by Brandonjjon, Sep 7, 2012.

  1. Brandonjjon

    Brandonjjon Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hello again everyone,

    This time it is a CF-52. I've got a brand new hard drive for it and the correct recovery disk for this specific computer. Unfortunately it looks as if I also have a bad optical drive. I've even tried my external optical drive but that doesn't seem to work. I don't think this bios supports one. It does however, support a usb flash drive.

    My question is.. since I have the recovery disk, can I make my 32GB flash drive bootable using the image from the recovery disk?

    Otherwise, what are my options besides buying another optical drive?

    Kind Regards,
    Brandon
     
    Brandonjjon, Sep 7, 2012
    #1
  2. ADOR

    ADOR Evil Mad Scientist

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    The USB flash drive boot and USB CD/DVD drive boot are listed separately in bios. Check your boot order. Some USB DVD drives can't be used to boot from, they just aren't set up for that. Read only.

    Now I looked back at the previous models that you have asked about. I seen a 73 and 74 listed. If you still have them the optical drive should slid right in and work. If I remember right the CD/DVD caddy from 51,52,73,74 is basically the same. The 73 has a grey color and the end isn't flat but the hookups locking and socket are right.
     
    ADOR, Sep 7, 2012
    #2
  3. toughasnails

    toughasnails Toughbook Moderator Moderator

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    This is what my boot order looks like
    52 boot order.jpg
     
    toughasnails, Sep 7, 2012
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  4. Brandonjjon

    Brandonjjon Notebook Enthusiast

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    Wel I have a pretty nice external Samsung that I'm using for the external drive and I've booted externally from it before. Just doesn't work on this one. The CF-74/73 are from a customer but fortunately it's the same customer as this one. Since they use a similar drive then that may be a solution.

    You have a CF-52, toughasnails? Are you able to boot via USB?

    Brandon
     
    Brandonjjon, Sep 7, 2012
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  5. ADOR

    ADOR Evil Mad Scientist

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    If you have booted from it before it shouldn't be a problem. I had a 52 but it was dead unit I had got to tinker with, wound up parting it out. The CF-19/30 I have have basically the same bios and boot fine from usb as long as it's set right in the bios.
     
    ADOR, Sep 7, 2012
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  6. Shawn

    Shawn Crackpot Search Ninja and Options Whore

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    Maybe take the ext drive out of the housing and put it in the cf52 caddy?
     
    Shawn, Sep 7, 2012
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  7. Brandonjjon

    Brandonjjon Notebook Enthusiast

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    The optical drive.. :confused:
     
    Brandonjjon, Sep 7, 2012
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  8. denrosten

    denrosten Notebook Evangelist

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    My 52 Mk2 boots from usb (stick and cd)
    could it be that the recovery cd is corrupted ?
     
    denrosten, Sep 7, 2012
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  9. Brandonjjon

    Brandonjjon Notebook Enthusiast

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    I doubt it. Brand new one..

    Also, when the machine was working. I remember not being able to read a CD/DVD in the drive.
     
    Brandonjjon, Sep 7, 2012
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  10. toughasnails

    toughasnails Toughbook Moderator Moderator

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    Yes but my externail USB cd-rom is a Panasonic CF-VDRRT3 .My guess yours has 2 usb lines where as mine is a single line
     
    toughasnails, Sep 7, 2012
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  11. Brandonjjon

    Brandonjjon Notebook Enthusiast

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    Mine is a samsung. It has a power cable and one usb cord. It should ideally work just fine.
     
    Brandonjjon, Sep 7, 2012
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  12. toughasnails

    toughasnails Toughbook Moderator Moderator

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    Have you tried it on another computer
     
    toughasnails, Sep 7, 2012
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  13. Brandonjjon

    Brandonjjon Notebook Enthusiast

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    Yes it works just fine on my desktop. I've booted from it before.
     
    Brandonjjon, Sep 7, 2012
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  14. toughasnails

    toughasnails Toughbook Moderator Moderator

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    Then it must be your boot order in the BIOS that is not right
     
    toughasnails, Sep 7, 2012
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  15. Brandonjjon

    Brandonjjon Notebook Enthusiast

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    Can't be. I've tried many different options. Even disabling everything BUT the optical drive. Also tried just the usb external optical drive by itself.
     
    Brandonjjon, Sep 7, 2012
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  16. toughasnails

    toughasnails Toughbook Moderator Moderator

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    toughasnails, Sep 7, 2012
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  17. Shawn

    Shawn Crackpot Search Ninja and Options Whore

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    Yes, I meant the optical drive. (Samsung I believe you said)
     
    Shawn, Sep 7, 2012
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  18. Shawn

    Shawn Crackpot Search Ninja and Options Whore

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    Nice catch on that. I always forget about people buying those things thinking they are full restore disks.
     
    Shawn, Sep 7, 2012
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  19. denrosten

    denrosten Notebook Evangelist

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    Not always the cheap disks are to blame, i have original disks for my cf-18 mk4, and they boot and start the setup, but refuses the second cd.
    Thats way i suggested the cd is corrupt.
    Best is to try booting with a oem xp cd, if it boots, then you are sure the recovery cd is bad
     
    denrosten, Sep 8, 2012
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  20. Brandonjjon

    Brandonjjon Notebook Enthusiast

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    The recovery disk is from Ebay for sure but I know what to look for. Just have to be careful what you read as they try to trick you. "Driver RECOVERY Disk" etc..

    So I got it up and running using the optical drive from a CF-74 toughbook. Thank you ADOR for that very helpful tip!

    Thank you all for your suggestions. :thumbsup:
     
    Brandonjjon, Sep 9, 2012
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  21. Springfield

    Springfield Notebook Deity

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    I've seen that behavior loading a CF-18 from an external drive when I swap CDs than press Enter right away. But if I wait about 6-8 seconds for the new CD to spin up to speed then press Enter, it accepts the new CD and continues loading. Might try that next time.
     
    Springfield, Sep 10, 2012
    #21
  22. denrosten

    denrosten Notebook Evangelist

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    Tried that, but it does not work.
    Works well with oem XP and loading the drivers manually, so no problem :)
     
    denrosten, Sep 10, 2012
    #22