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    CF-73SC Touchscreen with no BIOS TS option?

    Discussion in 'Panasonic' started by jtsiek, Jul 27, 2009.

  1. jtsiek

    jtsiek Notebook Guru

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    Hi there!

    I recently picked up a CF-73SC off of ebay and according to the toughbook configurator and several websites this model is supposed to have touchscreen capability however there is no option in BIOS to enable/disable it. I think it goes without saying(but I'll say anyway) that Windows will not accept the driver. Does anyone have any suggestions or insight?

    Thank you!
     
    jtsiek, Jul 27, 2009
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  2. Toughbook

    Toughbook Drop and Give Me 20!

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    Ahhhhh ebay... The seller probably just posted the model number and sold it "As-Is", yes?

    People swap stuff all around on these... Someone probably switched your LCD with a non-touchscreen. It is an easy swap in most cases taking a little more than 30 minutes, tops.

    If the seller sold it AS a touchscreen... Demand a refund or exchange for what was advertised. If he sold it leaving you to try to figure out what it has... Well... You just figured it out.

    You can buy a touchscreen and do the swap.
     
    Toughbook, Jul 27, 2009
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  3. 808_guy

    808_guy Notebook Guru

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    Does yours have a plastic-like cover on the screen? You should see a definite plastic coating on the screen that ends about 1mm or so from the edges of the screen.

    I didn't think my '73 had a touchscreen either but after disassembling and reassembling my screen to add WLAN antennas, lo and behold I had a touchscreen! Never figured out what it was, more than likely a loose or mis-aligned connector.
     
    808_guy, Jul 28, 2009
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  4. Toughbook Exchange

    Toughbook Exchange Company Representative

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    808, the plastic-like cover you're referring to could just be the screen protector.
     
    Toughbook Exchange, Jul 28, 2009
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  5. jtsiek

    jtsiek Notebook Guru

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    It does look like a touchscreen...

    The full model number is 73SCVTSBM. I don't suspect that it was switched out because it was a surplus listing from a local utility company but in the event that it was switched wouldn't the BIOS option to enable/disable still be there? And if the connection came loose, shouldn't I still have a BIOS option for it? I'm not familiar with how the toughbook BIOS handles removing hardware.

    Do I need to check into a BIOS flash?
     
    jtsiek, Jul 28, 2009
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  6. Toughbook

    Toughbook Drop and Give Me 20!

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    No but you may want to take off the LCD cover and see if the connections are good. I've had some where the touchscreen ribbon cable comes out of its connector and you lose the functionality. The BIOS sense when it has a touchscreen installed and adds it to the BIOS automatically. (On the fully rugged models anyway. I assume it is the same for yours)

    Check the connections.

    Do you have a fully Service Manual for it yet?
     
    Toughbook, Jul 28, 2009
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  7. jtsiek

    jtsiek Notebook Guru

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    I don't have a service manual for it...do you know where I can get one?
     
    jtsiek, Jul 29, 2009
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  8. Toughbook Exchange

    Toughbook Exchange Company Representative

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    Toughbook Exchange, Jul 29, 2009
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  9. jtsiek

    jtsiek Notebook Guru

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    Thanks for the link

    I took off the lcd cover and checked all the connections making sure they were secure. I then booted the 73 back into BIOS but there was still no option for the touchscreen.

    Is there anything else I can try?
     
    jtsiek, Jul 29, 2009
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  10. Connor922

    Connor922 Notebook Evangelist

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    I had a CF-74 with a touchscreen and there was no option for it in the BIOS ever, Ill bet the CF-73 is the same way. On a not so positive note the touch screen had to be replaced because it went bad. There was no other way to tell something was wrong besides it just wouldn't work, there is no enable/disable on the 7X series as far as I know
     
    Connor922, Jul 29, 2009
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  11. Psych0Thrasher

    Psych0Thrasher Notebook Evangelist

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    I don't know about that I picked up a cf73 mk1 from ebay that had the touch disabled in the bios, and they thought it was broken so I got it for cheap :). anyway I enabled it and all was good so I gave it to a buddy and he has never had a problem with it
     
    Psych0Thrasher, Jul 30, 2009
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  12. jtsiek

    jtsiek Notebook Guru

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    Does anyone think a BIOS Flash might "restore" the option?
     
    jtsiek, Aug 3, 2009
    #12