GPS in a MK1 on the blink

I bought two CF29CNKGLDM toughbooks both with factory GPS. I installed the GPS program and they both worked fine. Added Engenius wifi, and added 1gb ram to one. Now the one with added memory will not connect to the satellites where it did a week ago. I did check the bios, it is enabled. It is set for Com 2, the correct one. I compared all the settings I could think of with the working one and they are identical. Even removed the added ram, no go. What did I do wrong? Can you guys think what I am missing? I tried the GPS program I was recommended from here, the WinFast Navigator, and MS Streets and Trips, they all run but will not find the satellites. Thanks for your help!

 

As much as posible don't take out the main battery when your GPS is set and configured. It happened coz the data was lost on the receiver when you pull out the main battery.

Try to pull out the sled again and then reseated. Go to device manager under what comport it was assigned then go to properties. Under prop..ties hit resources and set it 000001 something like that. If it still doesn't work, assign a new com port like on com 4 or 5 or seven.

ohlip

 

I followed your advice on the working gps cf29, (the non working one is with my friend), went to resources and could not find anywhere to change the values. Any idea? Also what steps would I go through to assign a new com port?

 

There is a drop down arrow on box. Click those arrow and it will display the resources option.

ohlip

 

Is the one with the Engenous wifi the one on the blink? You may try uninstalling all COM ports in Device Manager, including wifi and LAN... Then reboot. This will reorder everything back to the way it should be. It sounds weird but I have had to do that a few times to get GPS working after adding a new LAN or wifi card... Just a thought.

 

WE tried uninstalling the com ports, now it cannot find the gps! We scanned the com ports and it doesn't seem to be able to find the gps. I do have a mk1 recovery disk, am I ready for that? Ohlip suggested unplugging the gps device and plugging it back in, but I honestly don't know where it is located. Any help would be appreciated!

 

You might open the battery door and peek in there above where the battery usually sits. To remove pull the two screws in the palm rest end and slide the palm rest end out a half inch.
That's how my Mark2 works. Has a plug similar to the HDD plug. IOW two guide pins and the connector.

 

Okay, I removed the 1gb ram, restarted, and now the gps works. I put the 1gb ram in the other MK1, now that one does not connect to the satellites. Hmmm, it seems like the added ram has something to do with losing the ability to track the satellites. I am scratching my head over this one. Will I have to live with 256 mb ram to use the gps?

 

You might try pulling out the sled and checking all the connections on the GPS. Sometimes they come loose.

 

Who is the manufacturer of the RAM in question?

Concensus here is Crucial is the best bet for Toughbook compatibility.

 

WWAN and GPS are Legacy devices and can be problematic
Reset bios to defaults to start thats what I recomend for serial devices
Sometimes you have to mess with them in device manager

 

SODIMM 1GB laptop PC2700 DDR 200 pin DDR333 1G PC 2700 - eBay (item 110403381484 end time Feb-06-11 11:55:14 PST)

This is the auction where I purchased the ram, I have a 1gb Crucial Ram on order, I will try and install that and see what the results are, and let you know.

 

IOW; "generic."

Just like the drunken fisherman, we bait with weighted breath.

 

UPDATE...I removed the generic ram, did a restore to two days ago, gps is working in both cf 29's. Both MK1's have 256 ram only. Now, how do I add my crucial 1gb ram without losing the gps?

 

Just fumble through it
Disconnect ac adapter and battery ,add the ram , put everything back together ,
Hit the power ,and hit F2 to get into bios
Confirm GPS is showing
Boot to windows and confirm everything is good
Maybe the incompatible ram has messed up settings
Any issues, Go into Bios and in the last tab,Reset to defaults

 

Installed the 1gb Crucial ram, checked bios, showed added ram, gps enabled, no connection. Went into bios and reset to default, still not finding any satellites. Now this machine was finding the satellites with just the 256mb ram, but not with added 1gb.....grrrrrr......

 

I've been using G-Skill with good results... But the Crucial RAM should work well.

It sounds like maybe a dirty slot where the RAM goes. Have you cleaned it out? Try compressed air! Check all the contacts.

Just a thought...

 

Don't fight it then
Try 512MB
768mb total will work excelent with xp

 

As I stated on my previuos post. If your unit boot properly/normal with the 1gb stick, it means nothing wrong with it. Its thr resources or port setting that need changes. Uncheck the auto. setting on com port properties and change it.


ohlip

 

Bios does show 1.24 gb ram so it does see the memory. Went to resources and tried all manual settings, one at a time, didn't work. Ordered a 512mb memory card, will give that a try next.

 

Keep us posted...

 

Here is my plan, install the new 512 mb ram, the do a restore with my MK1 disks with the memory installed. A friend of mine did that with his MK1 he purchased from the same seller and his does work fine. I will post the results when I receive the ram.

 

have you tried changing the port no. like com 4 or com 7?


ohlip

 

Can you give me directions on how to change the com ports? I am not very familiar with doing that....

 

Under the Device manager go to com port where the gps assign. Usually it is on com4. Double click this port or right click then go to properties. Under properties above the taskbar look for port setting. click this port setting and it will come up a window where there is an advance tab. Click advance and it will show a new window. under that window below there is drop down arrow for "Com port number" click the drop down arrow and choose com 7 or com 4. Just for com port not in use.

ohlip

 

Went in and changed it to com port 7, restart, the gps program found the receiver on com port 7, but.... still no connection to satellites....sigh....

 

Do you have GPSInfo.exe? I fought a GPS here for a few days until I found the program. It does a search for the gps, and IN MY CASE with the factory gps seems to reset or more likely wakes up the gps or something. My victims were two Mark2 E and F CF-29s.
This may be for naught in your case but FWR it worked for me.
BUT
1. I pulled and reset the GPS.
2. Set to defaults several times.
3. Set GPS to auto.
IOW all the things Teo and TC brought up and a few I read about.
Then I left it outside clear sky view for a while to look around. (20 minutes)
On Mark 2s it seems to like Com3. What this means( to keep from seeming to be argumentative ) is with the gps/sled plugged in Control Panel showed Com 1 and Com 3. With GPS pulled out only Com 1 was there. Again not arguing ....just saying what happened.

Jeff FWR (for whatever reason)

 

If you receive the data and it streaming. It means your gps is working the problem is, it start all over again from cold start. It take a bit of time and it must be in open sky. Thats the problem of the module without the back up cmos battery. Everytime you pull out the battery(power) all the data save were lost.

ohlip

 

Troubles with my CF-29 LAQGZBM I just found to be the antenna. It saw the birds but only one had a bit of strength. Cracked the back, squeezed the antenna into the Sirf module and heard this clicking sound. Like it was plugged in again. Ran three programs they all liked it. MOTS check the antenna. It may not be your problem but it was for DS mine.
There is a post somewhere by Rick (Toughbook) about either 28 or 29 sled antennas. Or maybe Teo.
Teo, I know I'm high-jacking a bit here......your advise is excellent and the reason that I have been checking this thread .

Jeff moral of the story=MOTS

 

GPS is working with a reinstall of XP but the jumping mouse is here! I tried adding the ....NoSerialMouse...line and it didn't stop it. I cannot seem to find the GPS registry patch on the Panny site for an MK1. I did try one I found for the MK5 but it would not work. Anyone have the location of the patch for the MK1?

 

https://panasonic.ca/PDP/Drivers/gps_29_2_d040227.exe

It's for the mk-2
You are correct, I don't see a mk-1 version

 

I tried installing the mk-2 one, a dialog box opens and says "this machine does not support"....sigh...

 

I am suprised you have not caught the solution to that small issue ,as we have discussed using the free to download winrar to extract quite a few times

 

It is now working, finding the satellites and no jumping mouse! Teo emailed me the correct patch, and now I am good to go. Thanks to all you, you guys rock!