CF-H1 - Win 7 but no Panasonic software.

Hi Guys - 1st post on the 1st Panasonic Toughbook forum I found. Probably way too long winded and full of newbie to Toughbook questions I'm afraid.

Today I got an as new but used CF-H1, as in my sig below.

It came with W7 installed and is currently charging and updating.

As far as I can tell it has a camera on the rear, and has a barcode scanner and barcode button on the handle.

My problem is - the only software is the Windows 7 it came loaded with - I have no Panasonic specific software on the machine, which I assume it would need in order to operate the scanner and camera - and any other function buttons it might have.

I have seen various dvd's advertised saying they are recovery dvd's - but none say anything about providing any Panasonic specific software.
How do you use a dvd if you have no dvd drive anyway! Can I copy a dvd to a usb drive?

I downloaded the manual - which seems to say you have to enable things like the camera and scanner in the bios, I cant get into the bios without an F2 key to tap away at.
I assume I can use a usb keyboard in the port replicator that came with it which will work upon bootup?

So in a nutshell - how do I get the scanner and camera to work?
How - where - what - do I need to load from Panasonic to make it fully functional?

I tried their website and downloads section and just confused myself totally as it does not explain what all the downloads do or are for, and also says they have to be downloaded in a specific order.
So I came here as you probably all know far more than I do!

This isn't going to be used as a pc, but for keeping stock lists on to be updated in the field, and the barcode reader would be a great asset.

Many Thanks

Gerry

 

Copying a dvd to usb will not work.
You will need an external usb-dvd

Download and run this. It should have all you need
ftp://ftp.panasonic.com/computer/software/H1C-MK2-7X86.exe

 

Another approach:

Go to:
http://business.panasonic.com/support-computerstablets

Then (near the top left) where it says Business > Support > Computers & Tablet > Other Downloads,
Click on Computers & Tablets
Then you can click on Driver Downloads
Select Individual Drivers
and Search For: All Drivers > Model # CF-H1 > Model Version CF-H1c (mk2) > Operating System Windows 7 32bit > Language North American English

This pulls up 42 records for me which include drivers and Panasonic apps and the all important Installation Instructions.

Not sure about this device, as I don't have one, but with other Panasonic computers, it **really** matters the order in which you install the drivers and apps. Follow the Installation Instructions for correct order.

 

I might have the restore disc for that, let me look. Nope, H2 only.

 

Thanks guys, didn't think i'd get answers so fast!

I downloaded from Shawns link, which seemed to load a lot of things - but I still cant see anything to do with cameras or barcode scanners or anything looking like a Panasonic application anywhere on the pc.

So I did a search and found a thread where it showed how to get into the BIOS with no keyboard by pressing the 'key'button. In case there was anything that needed enabling, Unfortunately that didnt help me though - as apparently this now wants a password, and no - I am not even going to ask as I know what the forum rules are!

So looks like I bought the company a nice new paperweight which wont go down too well, which is a shame as it really is pristine, everything was in the box brand new apart from the relevent recovery disk.

So thanks for the help guys, much appreciated, I might have to find another one and transplant it into this shiny new case!

 

Do you have the dock for it? Because you really need that to get anywhere. Where are you located?

 

I do have the small magnetic port replicator that came with it, but I left it at the office - so wont be able to use that until this evening. Then of course I'll have to track down a usb keyboard!

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Panasonic-T...549467&hash=item41cca4a315:g:b9UAAOSwIxZZg-nL

This is what you need, if you bought the H1 on ebay and there was no mention of the bios pass, send it back. The H2 is a much better unit.

 

ohhhh ... the *locked* bios ... well , leave us hope not .
yeah , without certain items , it becomes almost impossible to make headway .
if the project gets too big maybe one of the fellows here would take it on for a fee ?

when it comes to spending someone else's money , the responsibility factor rises steeply .
been there , done that .

 

So - basically I bought a new brick for the company, and because I mentioned BIOS

everyone thinks I'm up to no good lol.

So in all your collective opinions there is no way to access or enable the barcode scanner from outside the BIOS?
And also no way to download any Panasonic or 3rd party barcode software that might enable it?

None of the downloads above let me see anything to do with barcode scanner, there is ( I am guessing ) no way to make a button work the camera either.

I can always buy a wireless barcode reader, so its not the end of the world, just would have been nice to just carry around one thing, my office is my car on a farm estate, I have a CF-29, but lugging that around requires arms like Popeye and I needed something lighter.

 

google is your friend

https://chentiangemalc.wordpress.co...anasonic-tough-book-barcode-settings-failure/


https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBA7FE5E6F3536ECD

 

Thanks Shawn, I think that must be written for people who have the faintest idea of what it all means and how to do it though !

So is that basically telling me - I have to figure out what drivers this machine needs, download them, and some automated process will install them in the correct order, if I can figure out how to apply that process.

I'm not afraid to give it a go if its just a case of copying and pasting that script thing somewhere - but that explanation is as clear as mud to anyone not routinely altering registries or writing software for Microsoft, I wouldnt even know how to start with all of that on there.

Off to study it a bit more see if i can make sense of it.

 

nooooo ...
i/we don't think you are up to no good ...
you are right about the rules ... we cannot knowingly help someone circumvent the passworded bios issue .

if you used paypal or ebay to purchase the machine and it was not mentioned in the auction ad that the bios was locked ... then you have legal recourse to have any and all monies including shipping refunded .

lugging around a scanner and a couple of other items is a pita ... stuff also gets broken or lost .
your *out* as far as the company is concerned is that you did not know the bios was locked as it was (hopefully) not mentioned .
sooo ... it is really not your fault ... you bought the machine in good faith with the implied understanding (most everyone else mentions a locked bios if there is one) that you could modify it as it was presented .

 

Download the one file I linked.
Click and run that file.(preferably right click..Run as Administrator)
It will install ALL of the drivers and programs in the proper order.
Watch the VIDEO I linked. It says to open NOTEPAD and click one of 2 buttons to operate scanner.

That is about as easy as it gets, other than sending it to someone and paying them to do it.
I found the file and gave you a direct link. What else is there other than download and run it?

 

Here is the manual .... https://panasonic.ca/PCS/OperatingI..._Manual-pce0282j_t_tab-nonlog-M-p20090900.pdf
This video for the scanner

 

If you are looking for individual drivers, the top 3 drivers are Barcode and further down are RFID drivers, and further down are Panasonic Dashboard, and Panasonic Camera utility.

 

I have one of these (H1) and, to my knowledge, you can load all the drivers correctly and still not know if your camera and scanner are working... Here's why. The Toughbook is waiting for you to load your camera and/or scanner software. You might be able to access basic camera functions and record a small movie clip... But that is about it...

 

Hi guys - sorry - been away from home working for 4 days with no internet. I got the BIOS password from the vendor - so took a look to see whats in there - not much - but there was a setting for something which gave me the option of hardware or software controlled which has enabled the barcode reader when I switched it to hardware controlled.

So - the button on the handle now works - I get light from the reader, - next hurdle is finding some software that will see the reader when its operating and actually use it, I found lots of barcode software that seems to use pictures taken by a camera, but I dont think this is what I need.

Do the Panasonic recovery discs dotted about contain software or are they just drivers and stuff?

 

I would go back to Shawn's post and install the drivers he posted.

 

A USB barcode scanner just acts as a keyboard device, so might try just opening notepad and scanning a barcode to see what it sends to notepad.

 

thats what the official instructions say to do.

 

At work we use CF-19 which has a USB barcode scanner. We use no special software other than MS Word. I have MS Word on the screen and when I scan a bundle tag it is scanned into Word automatically. Try what they say. It will work for you.

 

Ok - I installed the driver package using Shawns link, I have tried operating the bar code scanner button - at random bar codes, using Notepad - Wordpad, and not a thing shows up.

I'm missing something here but cant figure out what it is, the link to the missing barcode by Shawn talks of com ports being used by 2 devices, I checked mine in device manager and nothing to do with bar code scanners is listed in there at all - no items share a com port either.

Just so you know - I'm not just waiting for an answer to magically appear - I am driving myself nuts with Google too!

I have no idea if the scanner is actually reading anything - if it is it does not seem to be able to show it anywhere.

I might try Panasonic again - not that they seem to keen to help anyone unless they are the original owners

 

Ok - I tried Panasonic again - they told me to download a barcode .dll file - which I did - even though it is already on the unit, and surprise surprise nothing different, scanner lights up and no info is shown anywhere.

Told Panasonic - they said perform a recovery - if that fails then they need it back to investigate further.

So onto my next questions - I guess this unit does not have a recovery partition, I cant see anything pointing to recovery anywhere on the unit?

So should it originally have had a recovery cd or dvd? If so - how the heck does that work with a unit that cant read them?

Panasonic in there list of recovery discs does not list this model, there are iso downloads available to purchase online - but would this mean I now have to purchase a usb dvd drive just to try one? or can iso's be mounted onto usb memory sticks and used that way?

I dont really want to send it back to Panasonic - I can see it costing more than I paid for it!

On another note - I tried the Panasonic configurator thing they have on their site to try and see what my machines ID code means and it wont recognise it, I was hoping it might tell me what should be installed hardware wise.

 

Boot into bios.
last page of bios.
should be a line for recovery if the partition is there.

 

The Panasonic recovery disc is a backup image of your H1 HDD when it left the factory new. So it will install the OS, drivers and software like it's was when new.

 

This is one of the many examples of Ebay bargains.
Sellers slap a generic windows on the drive and call it refurbished.
But they don't include drivers or recovery partitions.
Half the hardware doesn't operate.
Or locked BIOS's which cripple the machine.
-----------------------
Poor buyers are unaware.
Then the buyer assumes these are as easy to work on as a Dell or HP.
Toughbooks are not easy.
They are designed for military and large corporations with IT professionals.
Amateurs have a steep learning curve.

No insults intended.

 

Thanks Shawn - cant find anything in the bios at all.

So I guess - as you say above - the sellers just formatted it and then loaded their own windows on it.

I'll keep chipping away at it though, its only the barcode scanner letting it down at the moment, the camera I couldn't care less about as it is probably not up to much anyway, the WiFi works just fine, it would just be nice to get it back to how it was, it had 2 hours 'on the clock' when I got it.

I have no idea if it has gps or anything like that, I did take a look inside, but didnt recognise anything to do with a gps. I've made several pc's and have put my old CF-29 into a new case, so not afraid to get inside!

 

watch this video. it shows exactly how to access the recovery

 

i agree with shawn .
there are some chaps on ebay that intentionally (but i would hope unintentionally) get these machines and then screw them up .
how can someone not know that something is not working ?
this is the point where the wise and honest person would put it up for sale "as is" and state that they attempted to wipe the drive and load the OS but there are a couple of things that do not work , and then spell out exactly what is wrong .

the machine that got me here , was one that W7 had been attempted to be loaded on and it was given to me because the guy (pretty sharp with comps) had hit the wall with it .
after i got here , i found out that the first thing that needed to be done was flash the bios .
after that , it was only half a nightmare .


post some pictures of the insides ... the gps module should be noticeable .
it might be an after market and not quite as readily discernible .

 

Did you ever got the dock for this model?
It will allow you to connect external keyboard and dvd drive which will allow you to use official Panasonic image from Heartland


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It came with a dock - the smaller magnetic one, I use it to plug in a usb Bluetooth dongle for a small wireless keyboard. Where would I get an official Panasonic image - as I can find anything from Panasonic here in the UK

 

Heartland Services 14206 Overbrook Rd., Leawood, KS., 66224 USA
913-685-8855 telephone


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Thanks UNCNDL1, but looking at their website I cant see them sending me anything to the UK that wont cost a fortune, especially if Panasonic here if Panasonic here cant do it themselves, but I'll email them with the machines details.

 

hmmm ...
i don't know if you tried dl'ing all the stuff you need from panasonic , but it looks like all the drivers and stuff you need are available here :
http://business.panasonic.com/support-computerstablets-driverdownloads
it may not be everything on a couple of disks but at least it is a workable solution .
you could burn the drivers to disk ... i did this for my CF-30 .

there are a couple of *supposed* suppliers of recovery solution disks out there , but i don't know if every thing you need is on one disk .
truthfully , i don't know if i would trust some of them or not .

i find it odd that the panasonic people over your way do not want to play ball with you .
have you tried contacting the corporate offices for panasonic ?
you might explain your plight to them and let them know that your experiences with the local panasonic outfits has been less than acceptable .
i worked factory warranty repair for many years and one way to get someone to sit up and take notice is to build a fire under them .
usually , if the fire comes from on high (almost the name of an elo song) it gets results .
on this side of the pond we have the BBB (better business bureau) ... what is your equivalent ?

 

They ship fed ex for $35 US dollars.
Maybe there is a UK counterpart...?



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Try calling...the service reps acre very helpful.
You will need exact model number and serial number in bios


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Someone on here from UK once asked Heartland Services about a CD but they said shipping was $90.00 . Someone on here posted a UK dealer and that is where he got the CD.

 

Panasonic Business Systems A Division of Panasonic UK, Ltd.
Panasonic House Willoughby Road
Bracknell Berks
RG12 8FP, UK

01273 765 114

 

The H1 is a major pita to get working correctly minus restore disc, much like the CF-19 and CF-C1. If you can get that disc over there, you are going to be miles ahead. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Panasonic...336553&hash=item284207dc8c:g:oH0AAOSw7GRZHK3Q