The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    CF-VDW07 Screen

    Discussion in 'Panasonic' started by aka-andrew, Feb 22, 2012.

  1. aka-andrew

    aka-andrew Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    12
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I have got an old screen from eBay and have come up with a few problems.

    I have been trying to update the firmware but have been unable to.

    It is a:

    Model no: CF-VDW07M
    Firmware: V2.00L01M10

    I have looked around this site and others and have tried all the suggestions but for some reason I'm doing everything it says but the MDWD_Vup just stays at the 'Step 1/Confirmation' screen and doesn't move onto loading the firmware.

    I have been using a Levono x61 on Vista and also a Dell on XP, both don't work, I have also been using a usb to serial converter and a serial to serial cable.

    Any ideas?
     
    aka-andrew, Feb 22, 2012
    #1
  2. mnementh

    mnementh Crusty Ol' TinkerDwagon

    Reputations:
    1,116
    Messages:
    3,389
    Likes Received:
    29
    Trophy Points:
    116
    Your Serial cable needs to be a serial crossover cable as in the diagram in my primer; a serial cable off an external MODEM will not work. You also have to have the unit plugged into an AC adapter ONLY, NO BATTERY to force the 07 into "FLASH BIOS" mode.

    mnem
    FLASH!
     
    mnementh, Feb 22, 2012
    #2
  3. aka-andrew

    aka-andrew Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    12
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    aka-andrew, Feb 22, 2012
    #3
  4. aka-andrew

    aka-andrew Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    12
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    yeah have followed the instrustions fully, and have made sure the com port is right in the notepad bit.
     
    aka-andrew, Feb 22, 2012
    #4
  5. onirakkiss

    onirakkiss Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    552
    Messages:
    711
    Likes Received:
    23
    Trophy Points:
    41
    onirakkiss, Feb 22, 2012
    #5
  6. mnementh

    mnementh Crusty Ol' TinkerDwagon

    Reputations:
    1,116
    Messages:
    3,389
    Likes Received:
    29
    Trophy Points:
    116
    Yes, I believe that is a simple straight-through MODEM cable. What you need is a CROSSOVER or NULL MODEM cable like the one onirakkiss suggested. You can check the pinout against my diagram and rewire the one you have if you're handy; I made mine out of an old MODEM cable and a solder-type DB9 connector.

    Also, you may not be able to get a free Com port available in Windows for your USB serial adapter that is in the range which the BIOS Updater software can use; you may have to borrow an older computer which has a serial port built in.

    mnem
    *Wired*
     
    mnementh, Feb 22, 2012
    #6
  7. aka-andrew

    aka-andrew Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    12
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I am able to use the port on the X6 base for my X61, think i have still got an old pc with a port also. I have one of those cables ordered now, will see how that goes.
     
    aka-andrew, Feb 22, 2012
    #7
  8. mnementh

    mnementh Crusty Ol' TinkerDwagon

    Reputations:
    1,116
    Messages:
    3,389
    Likes Received:
    29
    Trophy Points:
    116
    That may or may not be an improvement over the USB one. Make sure you have the right com port; see which one changes when you dock. If it's not in the 1-4 range, I believe the BIOS Updater won't see it.

    mnem
    *Portalicious*
     
    mnementh, Feb 22, 2012
    #8
  9. aka-andrew

    aka-andrew Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    12
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5

    cheers for the info, will keep an eye on it
     
    aka-andrew, Feb 22, 2012
    #9
  10. aka-andrew

    aka-andrew Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    12
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Thanks the cable came today and I have just updated the screen firmware.

    I've reinstalled meiWDS but I am using Vista just now and the black icon hasn't come up on the lower right bar.

    Is this actually needed, I can get to the supervisor password and have changed that.
     
    aka-andrew, Feb 27, 2012
    #10
  11. Springfield

    Springfield Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    507
    Messages:
    942
    Likes Received:
    127
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Please let us know if you can get the Panasonic software working under Vista. I have tried but never got it working.
     
    Springfield, Feb 27, 2012
    #11