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    Can you flash a new BIOS over one of the special BIOS?

    Discussion in 'Panasonic' started by gbrittenum, May 8, 2012.

  1. gbrittenum

    gbrittenum Notebook Geek

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    My question is on the AT&T CF-30s or the Farmer's CF-74s can you flash it to a normal BIOS. I know in the past when Dell used boards made for them by Intel that you could flash the Intel BIOS over the Dell BIOS or vice versa if one or the other supported something you wanted.
     
    gbrittenum, May 8, 2012
    #1
  2. Rob

    Rob Toughbook Aficionado

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    You can update it to a NEWER version of the BIOS.

    Newest version is 10.1L19 - Vista BIOS.
     
    Rob, May 8, 2012
    #2
  3. db04p71

    db04p71 Notebook Deity

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    That's for the Mk1. The Newegg AT&T CF-30's are Mk2.

    A little searching indicates that the AT&T CF-30 Mk2 may have bios V2.00L14M16. If that is the case then there is a newer bios, V2.00L15, which may overwrite the custom bios.

    There are no publicly available CF-74 Mk3 bios.
     
    db04p71, May 8, 2012
    #3
  4. toughasnails

    toughasnails Toughbook Moderator Moderator

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    With this update its only good if you are updating to Vista or Windows 7. If not you will lose your touchscreen if you are running XP .
     
    toughasnails, May 8, 2012
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  5. Twocents

    Twocents Notebook Consultant

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    Is there a CF-74 MK3 bios update in existence? If not that would explain it's lack of availability. Just a thought...
     
    Twocents, May 8, 2012
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  6. db04p71

    db04p71 Notebook Deity

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    I'm sure that Panasonic has several versions of the bios. They generally do not release them to the public.
     
    db04p71, May 8, 2012
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  7. Pinecone

    Pinecone Notebook Consultant

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    This......
     
    Pinecone, May 9, 2012
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  8. gbrittenum

    gbrittenum Notebook Geek

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    Oops forgot to check if a BIOS update actually existed? Can't you copy the BIOS from another working machine that is the same model?
     
    gbrittenum, May 9, 2012
    #8
  9. db04p71

    db04p71 Notebook Deity

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    Don't think so. AFA!K, there is no way to backup the bios. Even if there was, you would need the bios.exe, which is not available, to install the bios.
     
    db04p71, May 9, 2012
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  10. orange_george

    orange_george Notebook Evangelist

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    Any Idea why?

    I don't understand what the Issue is with making available a standard version that supports standard hardware for all Models & Mks. :confused: They are already in the supply chain, so it's not asking for something that doesn't exist.

    o.g.
     
    orange_george, May 9, 2012
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  11. onirakkiss

    onirakkiss Notebook Deity

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    Yes, u can. Have a look for the BIOS-Type of ur model (POST message,Windows DMI-viewer,....), search via Google for the right flasher program, which can also understand to programm ur BIOS-chip (Universalflasher...) and make a copy from the machine
    ....
    But u will probably loose ur warranty...
     
    onirakkiss, May 10, 2012
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  12. Shawn

    Shawn Crackpot Search Ninja and Options Whore

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    Did anyone ever reflash the cf30 ATT bios to a standard one? I just want verification that it works.
    What are the differences in the ATT bios?
     
    Shawn, Nov 16, 2012
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  13. MasterBlaster2039

    MasterBlaster2039 Notebook Evangelist

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    Did anybody ever flash a CF-M34 mk2 with a bios of an 700MHz CF-m34 mk3 ? Why ? Because then all mk2 cf-m34s 400mhz machines would be able to boot from USB.... very important for me, and many others....

    or is anybody able to dis-assemble the BIOS rom of the mk3 and edit it , so that the mk2 can work with it ? I can program in 6502 assembly and machinelanguage (mnenomic hex), but have no knowledge of Intel 8088 assembler.... and i also have no knowledge about the internal hardware structure /programming of all hardware of the 400mhz mk2. If somebody wants to start this project, i am willing to spend my time to join... and even to learn intel assembly programming....
     
    MasterBlaster2039, Nov 16, 2012
    #13