CF-74 some more questions...

hi guys. got some more questions as i do more research on this lappy, more mysterious stuffs keep popping up!

1. where's the bios? i checked the official panasonic site and they seem to have bios update for only some of their offerings. they don't have one for cf-74 mk4 !!!

2. i purchased ac adapter seperately and it's a huge brick rated at 15.6V, 8A. that's 125W adapter!! my cf-74 mk4 comes with fairly efficient P8600 and no external graphic card so i just don't think it would need that much wattage(125W) to function properly. did i get the incorrect-type adapter? i did some research and it appears that old IBM Thinkpad adapter may be compatible with some toughbooks, mine included. i have one rated at 72W, that's from my old Thinkpad. can i safely use it instead? this 125W adapter is way too big and the cord too stiff for my taste...
or is it the case that this toughbook requires the whole 125W power supply for some reason?

3. mine comes with what appears to be a cellphone module, complete with popup antenna. on the bottom, it says Sprint something... does mine take simcard somewhere? can i activate with Sprint to get the 3g internet access somehow?

4. i was gonna install windows 7 on this but i'm also considering windows XP and run some old games. do you guys see that as a possibility? does panasonic offers all the necessary XP drivers for cf-74 mk4?

again, many thanks in advance.

 

My guess there is none. Panasonic does not update there bios very often. Only when needed

Is this a Panasonic charger ? If so what is the model number.

What is the full model number of your 74 ?

 

yes, it's a genuine panasonic charger and i got this one.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Genuine-Pan...816350?hash=item2c756fb5de:g:-f0AAOxyM89SbvNO

the full model number is CF-74JCJBLAM

i just installed W7-32bit and i didn't install no drivers yet.

it recognizes the pen so i guess it's touchscreen.

however, the pen input is wildly off the marks.

(the pen cursor appears about 1/2 inch rightside of where the pen is pointing at...)

do you know if this can be re-calibrated? if so, how?

or maybe my touchscreen is shot?

update: no worries about the calibration. i just did it with the installation of touchscreen
driver.

i'm curious, however. does cf-74 come with two pens? cuz it's got two pen holders on both

sides but mine came with only one pen... they were generous to put one extra in case you lose one?

thanks

 

Look at the bottom of your 74. This MK3 I have says 15.6 8.0 A on the label.

W7 prefers a tablet. [F2] to bios. Settings are auto/tablet /touchscreen.

I use the Windows calibration tool. It shouldn't need a driver. [IF THE BIOS IS SET TO TABLET] Not yelling just trying to be clear.

[Menu] (windows key)
type calibration

Have fun.

 

That's the right charger. It is on the high side price wise. I only paid $20.00 for mine shipped. You just need to know how and where to look.

Just one pen. Surprised the seller gave you 2. Most don't even give you one.

Model Number : CF-74JCJBLAM
Status : DISCONTINUED
MSRP : $3,699
Description: WinXP (Vista COA), Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 2.40GHz (Centrino2), 13.3" XGA Touch, 160GB, 1GB, Intel WiFi a/b/g/n, Multi-drive, Bluetooth, Sprint EVDO Rev A

 

thanks. do you know if my cf-74 originally came from the factory with the 125W adapter? it just seems too big for cf-74... i mean, it's not like it's got a quad-core cpu with nvidia graphics... i'm thinking maybe my cf-74 came with 80W adapter or something from the factory...

 

thanks for comment. it's set to "auto" and "current setting:tablet" in the bios. i did calibration with windows tool also (the tablet calibration tool in the control panel) and it seems to have been calibrated. however, i installed Panasonic Writing tool and it barely works. i mean, i write something with a pen and it barely traces the line i draw. i can launch an app or close it with pen just fine. but writing with a pen is basically impossible. did the pen, when used in writing, always suck? or do you think it may have something to do with the age of my lappy. i mean, it's got 12370 hours on it after all... and what happens if i set in the bios to "touchscreen" mode. would that disable pen input?

thanks

 

Some of the Toughbooks refuse to charge correctly unless you use the "big brick",but the CF-74 should work with the ibm adapter you have. If not the battery light will flash red.

 

thanks. i'll try it and report back

 

one more question

does cf-74 mk4 take ddr2-5300 or ddr2-6400? i guess i'm asking if the front bus speed is 667mhz or 800mhz. i know it will probably take either one but i'd rather get the one that takes full advantage of the frontside bus speed...

 

Re: ram: ask Crucial. http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/compatible-upgrade-for/Panasonic/toughbook-74
I put 6400 in one yesterday.

I don't do handwriting...but try it if you want to. It's your computer.

Toughbooks are designed to be handled with gloves. Therefore they are not as sensitive as cell phones and the like. It is what it is and a 74MK4 is a nice unit.

You may be right regarding age of the panel. To me, 12,000 is nothing. I have a 38,000 hour CF-29 that works fine. Take a look at upgrading the Synaptics package....check settings in calibrate. Maybe a wider pen ......try writing in MSPaint.

 

They both will work but the memory will not run at 800 if you get the 6400. The memory will only run the speed that the motherboard was designed to.

When you 74 was new it came with a CF-AA5803A charger
Input 100V-240V , 50 Hz / 60 Hz,
Output 15.6V DC , 8.0A
The seller did sell you the right charger. Thing to remember is a old laptop takes more power than a new one.

 

thanks for the confirmation. now ill sleep in peace tonight...

 

thanks. not that i play much with tablet pen, but i sure will try ms paint.

 

If you are into note taking with the pen, OneNote is the program to get.

 

On the Mk3 74's with the smaller 3.42amp ibm chargers I started to notice charging problems from time to time. But on the Mk4 I had issues trying to charge the battery while working on it. The 7amp and 8 amp charger I have never had a problem.

Windows has a built in writing utility. I am not too fond of the Panasonic one. I have better luck with the MS one. Like said before try paint to see how it reacts to the pen.

For the wwan look at the bump out on the lid to the side you will see a grey plastic square with one screw. That is the sims card slot. I haven't used my WWAN on any of the 74 models I have. So I can't really tell you how well it will work. If you want to swap networks you will need a new card. If you remove the bump out on the lid you will find the card underneath.

How old of games are you wanting? Dos games? If so just download DOSBOX it works well. Even under 64 bit. I use it for old games and old programs.

 

thanks for the tips. yes dos games and some very old games that would run on 4500mhd is what i had in mind.
im glad i got the 125W adapter...

thanks!

 

I have tried Skyrim on a Mk4, with a little modding it's playable, but can get unplayable in towns. I am sure a few more mods would take care of that.

Also check out GOG or goodoldgames. All of there games are DRM free. A lot of nice older ones for cheap. They have sales all the time with some games as cheap as 2 dollars. I think I have about 80 games from them so far.