CF-74 Newbie

Been wanting a ToughBook for awhile, almost dropped my laptop so many times working it's a miracle I haven't. Hit the brakes and it has flown off seat to floor a few times. Plus with a glare screen it's been a pain. I use a laptop for EFI Tuning of vehicles and that will be it's only use. Then wireless network to my desktop/Laptop...

Really excited I just got a CF-74. Very clean unit and only 510 hours on it. But like most it needs a hard drive and caddy etc...

Has 1GB Ram , I've seen some Ram of 4GB, is this the max? Would be plenty for my needs.

Has 2.00GHz Intel Core Duo, wondering if this is upgradable to?

Need battery, charger, wireless card, hard drive and caddy so I'll be looking through the for sale fourm. But would like some recommendations on parts? Seems like there's lots of Hard Drives for sale but no name... scary?

Just looking for some help to get going, links to drivers, manuals and whatever.

Thanks!

 

Welcome to the Panasonic Toughbook Forum

Yes 4GB is the max

Nope its not..soldered in ...sorry

http://www.panasonic.com/business/Toughbook/computer-support-search-downloads.asp

We need your full model number so we all know what you need help with..

caddy $60.00 and up ... http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=cf-74+caddy&_sop=15
battery $40.00 and up... http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odk...trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=cf-74+battery&_sacat=0

FYI... we do not use them cheap china AC/DC chargers for our Toughbooks...they heat up and can catch on fire... stick with the OEM or the IBM chargers...be safe now or sorry later

Another thing that would save you a lot of time is the recovery disk for your model. The disk is an image of your 74 when it left the factory...30-40 minutes and you are done...XP and drivers all loaded. Do not get them cheap "driver disk" they sell on ebay...they are no good and we can tell you where to find them for free :thumbsup:

 

Ah...another cheap computer. Really truly no offense mate, I have a customer picking up a 74J tomorrow, and my cost for a $104.00 computer is $276 bucks and it had a battery.

So....at 2.0 you have what? a 74G?

They are very nice, 2.0 is quick enough for internet,......I can't speak for your diagnostic equipment speed wise.

The CPU is not changeable unless you are pretty slick with a soldering iron. IOW not!

Crucial says they max at 4 Gb 5300.. Do not try to use slower speed ram..ask me how I know...and it was yesterday!

The ad on fleabay for CF-74 caddies....from China...I just got two and now need another. They appear to be OEM. The blue color in some of the ad's is a thin plastic sheet.

I've built about 6 of these 74's this year. Shoot me a PM if you need help. But for sure post the model number.

Thanks,

Jeff...oh, and welcome to the fracas....:thumbsup:

 

Jeff...not sure if he means Core Duo (MK2) or Core 2 Duo (MK3) . We will see when he post his model #

MK2
CPU Intel® Core™ Duo Processor T2500 (2.0 GHz, 2 MB*1 L2 cache, 667 MHz FSB)
CF-74ECBAXBM / CF-74FCBAZBM / CF-74FCBCZBM / CF-74ECBCXBM / CF-74ECBADBM

or

MK3
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T7300 (2.0 GHz, 4 MB*1 L2 cache, 800 MHz FSB)
CF-74GCDADBM / CF-74GCDCDBM / CF-74GCDEDBM / CF-74HCDAZBM
CF-74GCDBDBM / CF-74GCDDDBM / CF-74GCDFDBM / CF-74HCDBZBM

FYI

MK1
Intel® Core™ Duo Processor T2400 (1.83 GHz, 2 MB*1 L2 cache, 667 MHz FSB)
CF-74CCBAXBM / CF-74CCBADBM

MK4
Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor P8600 (2.4 GHz, 3 MB*1 L2 cache, 1066 MHz FSB)
CF-74JDMBDAM / CF-74JDMBDJM / CF-74JDMHDAM / CF-74JDMFDAM /
CF-74JDMDDAM / CF-74KDMBZAM / CF-74KDMDZAM

 

Yep, your right. Looks like an E model. I forgot that thing. Thanks.

 

Hey thanks for the warm welcome! That's the kind of info I was really looking for! Especially the charger thing!

Model# CF-74GCDADBM

Guess my first concerns is a safe charger, the battery does hold a charge.

Then the hard drive? I saw one 500GB in a carrier with XP loaded as per your model number for $169? The CF-74 has a XP Pro COA sticker, I can load XP so would it be worth it to buy recovery discs, hard drive, caddy, or the one loaded? I'm just concerned the hard drive is crap and don't know what to look for. Thanks for the heads up on which carrier to get and which to avoid!

And a wireless card! I can plug in to my network for now...

For my use of EFI Tuning it's way more then necessary. This stuff does not need much. Actually the Serial port is a bonus for some of my equipment. All of it started as Serial years ago, it was a hell of a change when Serial disappeared and USB was coming in.

Feel free to spam PM me for any parts I need. I don't have enough posts to place a WTB ad in BST forum...

 

That link in your signature for search sure helped. Not sure why I've used "site:forum.notebookreview.com/Panasonic TEST" before on other sites and it worked, but not here?

So in my search I found
"The Seagate Momentus XT hybrid 750 gb hard drive gives me room to have the extras. It has 8 gb solid state for faster file retrieval, 32 mb cashe, and 7200 rpm."
At least it's a name brand, I have no need for half that size but like the options. It was in a thread about installing Windows 7... so wondering if I should go windows 7? And options for hard drtive...

 

Not really sure how much room you need but I am putting a SSD 160GB in my "new to me" 74...maybe W7
Yours is a CF-74GCCDADBM...I think you might have an extra letter in there...maybe a "c" . Mine is a CF-74GCEADBM

 

I seen that to...well you do need a caddy and if you are going to use XP then you need the restore disk so you are looking at about $120.00 so what is it going to cost you for a HDD? So you are getting close to what he is asking for everything...starting to sound like a good price in a way....anyways off to bed...up early

 

Opps! One to many Cs.

Model# CF-74GCDADBM

160GB would be more then enough. Just don't want crap and most of the stuff I see is made by? I guess an email is in order to see exactly what he's selling. It's a very clean CF-74 and very low hours, so if I'm going to put money into it, it's going to be good stuff. Why blow a perfectly good opportunity to UPGRADE!

So is this CF-74 windows 7 compatible? Just curious, XP is fine and I have an old desktop that has no issues with my wireless network, although I haven't run the backup software on it to wireless backup hard drive. Can XP Pro do the backup to wireless network hard drive? My kids Vista laptop can't but I think it's a home version...

 

I have just done up three 74's for the kids new pc's. All of them are Mk3's. I am finishing up the last one a Mk4 for the girl friend as she needs a second pc bigger than her CF-19 Mk2. Two of them have SSD's and all of them are running windows 7 fine right now.

 

I can! Lol...

I will assume your running Tuner Studio here? If not, lets call it a good baseline software. In my experience it is just a little more processing intensive than any of the other software out there. It runs tops on my CF-19 with only a 1.0GHz Duo Core and 2gb ram.

Needles stay pretty smooth. The CPU does start to bog slightly if your live tuning and updating as you roll (be careful doing that lol!).

I would recommend upgrading memory. While an SSD drive would be really nice, super speedy, and take hits even better, the tuning process is a little write intensive. I have used normal drives in my tuning Toughbooks for years with zero drive failures.

 

Here is your model info

Configuration Results
Model Number : CF-74GCDADBM
Status : DISCONTINUED
MSRP : $3,299
Description: Intel Core 2 Duo T7300 (Centrino), 13.3" Touch XGA,1GB,80GB, Intel 802.11a+b+g, DVD/CDRW, Win XP SP2, Bluetooth

Ok then I would pass on the caddy kit and buy just the caddy and the restore disk if you are going to use XP Pro and pickup a SSD (120GB-160GB) . I have bought theses sizes for $80 - $100 at newegg on sale.

FYI...
you only need 5 posts to PM members...1 more to go :thumbsup:
you can post a WTB ad BUT to post a "For Sale" ad you need 20 posts

 

Woo Hoo! Pad post...

Hope that means I can get PMs, I don't like to bother people but did want to invite PMs for parts. Haven't seen much in for sale section.

 

Wow! $3.299... I'll have less then 10% into it when done...

Any recommendation on SSD ? I've never used one but I think for this type laptop it's the right equipment, the extra speed helps too.

 

Cool thanks! The only disadvantage I can see to Windows 7 is just slowing things down a bit.. Opinions? But I heard, don't know if it's true that Windows XP no longer has updates? Wonder where this leaves a guy with fresh install?

I use TunerPRo RT, TunerCat OBDI and TunerCat OBDII, all with Emulation, AutoProm and RoadRunner. The only one with any small demand is EFI Live if I'm using the RoadRunner Emulator while data logging and the Real Time Auto Correction. Even then opening the software is biggest load, taking in data and changing hex is just not that much demand.

 

Back to the hard drive. If I get a SSD it needs SATA, SATA II, SATA III, connection? Any issues with caddy?

 

It's not going to matter much because your 74 is SATA 1 so if you bought a 2 or 3 it still will run SATA 1

I use Samsung , Intel and Kingston. OCZ is one I stay away from because of the reviews I have read.

 

Hard to beat the reviews on the Intel. Decided to go the few extra bucks for SSD, the speed and shock proof just seem to be right for this laptop, just don't need all the space at cheap price for HDD.

Is that bullet marks in your avatar? I know these are tough but...

 

Actually that laptop saved the life of a soldier overseas many years ago...the laptop was toast but they pulled the caddy out and put it in another and fired it up.

 

If you go though and tweak windows 7 you won't see any slow down. Now with vista I have done tons of tweaks to it and the system in time would un-do those tweaks. I haven't had that problem in 7.

Check out UWT (ultimate windows tweaker (for vista and 7)) Also check out Black Vipers windows tweaks web site. Lots of good tweaking stuff there. There is even more you can do over that. Just depends on how far you want to go like making your own custom rom.

 

Tweaker! I remember Tweak UI from windows XP days.

Looking at Intel 2.5 SSD hard drives, seems there's a model 320, 330, 510? Any better then others and are all 2.5 ssd same as far as mounting in caddy?

 

I have used X25 , 320 , 330 and 520...the 510 is very high priced . Most of the Intel one's I have got used on ebay...you can get a 120GB - 160GB for $100.00 now (most 80GB cost that)

 

I have got 5 intel ssd drives used so far and they have all been good. I haven't went past the x-25 series yet. 40 gb(kids), 80 and 160 gb sizes.

 

Got a couple more questions...

Am I able to install a wireless card in this CF-74?

Where can I get Recovery CD/DVD? XP Pro

 

What a great word...

 

I am at work now but will send you a PM when I get off in AM

 

Yes you can install WWAN, BUT you need the special cover and board that goes on the lid.


Here are some links that have pictures. ( I do not know the sellers, pictures are for reference)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Panasonic-C...25322146?pt=Laptops_Nov05&hash=item3ccc4835a2

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Panasonic-T...23735975?pt=Laptops_Nov05&hash=item2329b754a7

 

Isn't that for like cell? Maybe I should have said Wireless Lan... my manual shows antenna in monitor and a card that goes in underneath. Worried it may not be wired etc... and a big pain to get parts...

 

I just misunderstood what wireless you were talking about. Yes what I posted was for the cell phone internet.

 

Not sure about the 74s but I know the 51 and 52 I got had then in it , they just had tape on the ends.

 

Still waiting for my CF-74 to make it past the storm so haven't been able to see inside... but looking through specs some of these had 667Mhz FSB and some 800Mhz FSB, is this the slower issue you mention? There's some good deals on both at auction... 667Mhz is quite a bit cheaper.

 

Finally got the CF-74 in the mail. Was way cleaner then even the pictures at auction looked. Would have to look with a magnifying glass to see if there are any signs of wear! 510 hours in BIOS.

Battery so far has run 4 hours and has 27% - 1.49 hours left! Been installing my software and hardware while timing the battery so it does not even need one.

Auction said it had no wireless card but there is one and works fine along with Bluetooth.

Came with 2 512 sticks of RAM and I had 2 1GB of RAM so I stuck that in, still have 2 sticks of 2GB RAM coming.

Needed a hard drive and caddy which cost more then the laptop. I got a Samsung 840 120 GB SSD and so far no issues, amazing fast boot and shutdown, stand by is almost instant. Even running I can't believe how fast this thing is, never have I had a Windows XP machine come close.

Have to thank you guys for the help, especially toughasnails! :thumbsup:
For links to charger, great deal on a dual power charger.
The only couple issues I had were could not get windows updates with service pack 2? All info a MS said I should, even updated the IE and no joy, so I manually installed service pack 3 and windows update worked fine.

Something wrong with the Intel PROset wirelss software, had to use Windows to connect, the Proset would not allow me to type in my wireless network password letters? Numbers worked?

 

We don't use the Proset software...we let windows do its thing with the wireless, works much better. Glad you got it up and running...SSD is some nice...yes :thumbsup:

 

It's my first SSD so I'm very impressed.

 

So you got the drive in and all setup now so if you want even more speed check out this The SSD Optimization Guide Redesigned | The SSD Review . These guys know SSD's and are more than happy to help you out.

and a little info on your drive http://thessdreview.com/Forums/samsung/2820.htm

 

I'll have to go through that thread thanks! Samsung has Magician software for optimization and takes care of garbage that XP does not. With that and great reviews and a good price it was an easy decision.

I'm sure the SSD helped the batterey, got 5 hours and 11 minutes of straight run time before it hit 5% warning and shut off.

 

Well I just installed my SSD in the 74...very nice. Bootracer shows 23 seconds boot into windows.

http://download.cnet.com/BootRacer/3000-18512_4-75330418.html?tag=mncol;1

http://download.cnet.com/BatteryBar/3000-2094_4-10866804.html?tag=mncol;1

Only thing that is giving me trouble is the wifi. After a restart it connects then disconnects ??? I have to go and disable it then enable it and it stays on then.

 

You didn't need the extra battery bar. There's a good program in there. Control Panel and power options, under advanced have to click Always show icon on the task bar.

Then in Panasonic folder a battery re-calibration.

I think I fixed the WiFi in Panasonic, Lan Power Saving Utility, click and it's in taskbar, it has an auto, maunual, disable...

I didint' do any fancy programs but I did watch the clock for restart and was under a minute.

 

Yes I new about that one but never liked it. I ran the battery cal last night and it shows almost 4 hours. Now to work on the touchscreen

 

I'm trying to keep this machine as lean as possible, just what's needed for my tuning. The bonus of Serial port for my Wide Band AFR is a major factor. They work through USB but the Serial is how they were designed and more accurate.

 

Since I got this set up, updated, programs loaded, optimized. Is there any way to get a iso for installation like this?

 

Got the 4GB of RAM in mail today and installed it. Old RAM was 2GB 667mhz and new is 800mhz, runs fine, don't know if the speed will help?

Also in BIOS it only shows 3317 ?

 

That is all XP will see. Did you get 5300 or 6400 memory.

 

But he was looking in the bios. It should of showed all of it.

It depends on what ISO you are looking for. If you are just reinstalling xp you can use several different oem's pro disks to get the OS back installed then load the drivers. If you are taking about the proper restore cd for your model you will have to do some looking to find it.

 

In the BIOS of mine it shows...
System Memory - 4000 MB
Available Memory - 3317 MB (not all Toughbook models show this)
So my guess you were looking at available memory ?

He has the right restore disk. I think what you are looking for is to make a backup copy of the 74 now with all the updates so you won't have to do it all over again ?? Kinda guessing thats it.

 

It had 5300 and the new is 6400...

 

Mine too.

Yup, got er done with recovery CD and the rest on a USB stick, but can't find USB port from CD, must be missing drivers. BIOS is set to USB, CD, then HDD.

 

Guess I haven't been paying attention enough on the newer bios screens, I looked up some pictures and seen what you were talking about.

 

Seems I had Excludes in BIOS to remove and this things fires up from USB stick now!

Anyone know if a Back Lit keyboard can be installed in one of these?