Downgraded to XP----NO SOUND!!! CF-74

When I got my toughbook CF-74 a year ago, i put XP on it, NO Sound. I got the right drivers from panasonic. So then i went to Vista, sound worked fine. Upgraded again to Windows 7 and sound still worked ok. But my touchscreen didnt calibrate right with Vista or Win7, so i went back to XP last night. My touchscreen works perfect but NO SOUND! I got the right SoundMAX drivers and all that, but remembered that when i first got the Toughbook i had to install Vista for the sound to work and forgot about the XP issue....until NOW...LOL.

Anyone have any advice? I read that alot of people that downgrade to XP have this type of issue. Have not found a solution yet. Does anyone currently have a working touchscreen with Windows 7 on a CF-74? Or advice on how to get my sound working on my XP config, so i don't have to reformat again back to Windows 7!!! I know this forum is more of a "rugged" board, but maybe someone will have an answer.

 

The only possible cause is the driver. If you have the right driver, try some generic or "wrong" ones.

 

Try getting the latest generic driver for the AC97 chipset from the RealTek website; I've had to do this for dozens of laptops using that horrible little tvrd of a sound chip...

http://www.realtek.com.tw/DOWNLOADS...=23&Level=4&Conn=3&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false

mnem
Failure is NOT an option... it comes bundled in your software.

 

Yeah, i've tried a few RealTek drivers, with no success. Also tried some other's mentioned on other forums. Nothing seems to do the trick. When I first got the laptop it had a corrupted XP on it, so I reformatted it with XP Pro and no sound. Only XP has the problem, cause Vista and Windows 7 automatically installed the "High Definition Audio Device" upon the install of the OS.

Once again I'll have to settle for a non-calibrated touchscreen with Win7. I'll search for a few more options, but if I can't find one soon.....back to Windows 7 I guess. Thanks for the advice guys, if anyone else has a solution or have fixed this issue before reply back soon before I reformat back.....Cause I'm a "usenet" freak and need sound for my movies and music! Thanks again.

 

You should be able to calibrate in W7
Read here

Alex

 

I tried that prior to the install of XP yesterday, didnt work right. But now that I reformatted back to Windows 7, without calibrating the screen it seems to be more accurate than before. Only on the left side is slightly off. But i can manage to click everything on screen. But until I find a way to calibrate successfully, this will be fine for now. Now when trying to install the FTsetup, it stalls for a minute then stops responding. Before it would automatically say "installation isnt complete" then it would close. Who knows, maybe there will be an update on Panasonic's end soon. Thanks for all the advice, if you got any other suggestions feel free to add.

 

I have a couple of cf-74's that I have to deal with
Both touchscreens are not working now under xp ,but one unit was before with w7 beta
I just have not found the time to mess with them

Alex

 

maybe you could link me to the mouse driver your talking about, just so we are sure im getting the right one. Or maybe email me the driver itself. Your call. PM me for my email if you need it.

 

The correct driver for your mk-3 I linked in your previous thread for vista
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5405053&postcount=10

here is the xp driver link

http://pc-dl.panasonic.co.jp/cgi-bin/itn/toughbook/dl02.cgi?main=8694

When you unextract to a folder you will see the calibration utitily in that folder ,and using device manager you can update your mouse properties and direct to that folder to update

Alex

 

Ok....I'm sorry, I have all the Panasonic drivers for my model for both XP and Vista. Tried other model's as well. But, I don't see a FPS cal that you mentioned in your first link. But I have tried the setup and manually clicking on the "calwin" file, but i am unable to hit the red +'s, and it will not finish. Its pretty much installing the driver in general that's got me stuck.

 

Ok

That was for a different model ,so the application is not the same name
If you are in W7 try running the application with compatability settings or as adminisistrator

If I find time I will dig out a cf-74 and load W7 on again, I think I was able to get it to work
Each version does have issues though we have a few threads on W7 on the cf-30 ,and in each of the three mk#'s there was some features that were not working properly
Calibration worked on my cf-30 mk-1, but not on my mk-2

Alex

 

If you don't mind give us the exact, full model number off the audio card itsself, and i will look into it. It is a driver issue, it's really that simple, and there is always a way around those problems

 

Not sure on how to go about getting that information for you. I already went back to Win7, and only sound listed is the Microsoft High Definition Audio Device. If you can tell me a way to get the info, i will gladly do so. Thanks in advance.

 

Sure -

Look in Device Manager, Sound Device, Properties, Details tab, Driver Node Strong Name subkey; that should return a CH$ that you can decipher to figure out MFR, PCI address, & Device ID.

mnem
WhereDiddIGo?

 

hdaudio.inf:Microsoft.ntx86:HdAudModel:6.1.7600.16385::hdaudio\func_01

That's what's listed under the only "sound" entry in the device manager.

When i try and install the SoundMax drivers for Vista, i get NO sound and this string...

oem10.inf:AnalogDevices:HDA_LNTB:6.10.1.6170:hdaudio\func_01&ven_11d4&dev_1884&subsys_10f70000

Note: That I am currently running Windows 7 x86.

 

MMhmmm... That's the default audio driver allright; though usually they'll return the hardware ID CH$ as well. I'm afraid you'll need to do the same thing once you go back to XP; it should return an actual HARDWARE ID instead of just the one embedded in the driver package.

I'm still about 88% certain your laptop uses the AC97 audio chip though; and if so, that generic driver from the RealTek website SHOULD work. Did you try it? Did you uninstall whatever faulty driver you have first?

mnem
Sometimes, MicroSoft's attempts at making it idiot-proof just get in the way of those who know what they're doing...

 

It's most likely the AC97 as mentioned above. There are different versions of the generic driver that can/should work, mainly older ones. Any driver, even soundmax, that covers the AC-97 is worth a try.

My only other sugestion is to try a different Windows XP cd, because if you are missing a package and don't know it then that could cause issues.

 

Thanks for the info. I'll take the leap (again) and go back to XP (using another copy to be sure). I'll download the AC97 drivers mentioned and try that. I know the SoundMax ones that Panasonic offers does not work. I'll be sure to uninstall any drivers that don't work, and hopefully I don't have to format AGAIN if it all doesn't work.

I really like Windows 7 though, and wish the touchscreen would work right. Before I had the x64 (which i like better) and it didnt install or calibrate right, now after this XP issue, i used Windows 7 x86, and still no dice.

But since a few posts back, I DID get the FTsetup to install using the "troubleshoot compatibility" context option, and it installed, but the calibration is still unable to complete. Both regular and again with the compatibility mode.

The screen is most calibrated in the lower portion of the screen in the middle. All the way on the left edge using the stylus registers about a half inch off the left edge(if that makes sense). I am unable to hit the back buttons in the browswers and the start button. Everything else is a guess to where i tap, but usually where ever i tap the mouse is slightly higher and to the right. So when i do the calibration wizard, i am unable to hit the top +'s at all. So its useless.

Maybe we can figure this out so I don't have to revert back to XP afterall. But thanks again for everyone's help, and maybe we can get either one of these issue's finally resolved!

 

And if you DO go back to XP, I would also recommend going to your BIOS and make sure you set it ALL back to DEFAULT. Just my 2cents, but Vista and 7 assign IRQ's differently than XP and if someone has changed the legacy settings in the BIOS you COULD see this happen. Worth a shot...

 

WOOT!! WOOT!! The touchscreen finally works with my Windows 7 config! I reinstalled the setup using the compatibility mode, and then did the calibration and it wouldnt let me hit the +'s at first, but i re-did it and it completed! Its finally calibrated!

Thanks guys for all your advice and i'm very relieved that my toughbook is fully functional again!

 

Glad you got it worked out man

 

Thanks. So now there is no need to downgrade back to XP, I'll just avoid the sound problem all together.

On another note, so i dont have to open another thread. Any good place to get a cheap stylus for the 74? I found places online, but mostly selling 10+ packs, and i only need 1. Mine is dull and worn out a little. Plus I melted the tip to make it smooth a few times, so it's time for a new one.

Also a good screen protector would be nice too. The one that was put on this laptop was really dull and "rainbow" looking. So i took it off. Anyone know a good store for all things toughbook? Thanks in advance.

 

They have them advertised on Ebay, but you can find them cheaper elsewhere. Put the Panasonic part number in Google and you will find a ton of places selling them. They usually run $15-20 plus shipping. Best to get the OEM so it will be sure to fit in the slots.

 

mm, another problem, touchscreen works on win 7, sound-no.

there http://pc-dl.panasonic.co.jp/cgi-bin/itn/toughbook/dl02.cgi?main=6841.
this is for win xp, but it works on win 7 too!

can you tell me, where is sound driver?

sorry for bad english, i'm from russia, hello from moscow!

 

Try this, dupektop
http://pc-dl.panasonic.co.jp/cgi-bin/itn/toughbook/dl02.cgi?main=6728



Alex

 

thx, for care, but with this driver, sound not worked too, but windows thinks that all is good also any errors is not present.

I installed others drivers from sigmatel and the input for ear-phones worked , dynamics - is not worked.

thanks. )