HOWTO: Install Windows 7 on a CF-18 mk1

While I've already written the core of the information here in several posts on a different thread, there has been a request to summarize everything in one post, so I've created one here (and under a much more descriptive thread title). While this is based on my experience with a CF-18 "early" mk1 digitizer model, I hope that it may perhaps be beneficial to those with other models that share similar hardware. I have gone through this Windows 7 install process multiple times and have been able to reliably replicate Windows 7 installs by following these instructions.

Additionally, other users have reported using these steps as the basis for installing Windows 7 on newer marks or even CF-19s. I would be remiss if I did not give a special note of thanks to the following:

• Slammer111 for his post on installing the Panasonic Misc driver
• Toyo for noting the availability of Intel's Chipset/INF update
• David O. for his report on installing on a CF-18 mk4

As best I can tell, all major functionality available under Windows XP Tablet PC Edition is available under Windows 7, too. In fact, a little functionality is actually gained, too:

• Tablet PC Buttons - The three customizable Tablet PC buttons can now be assigned a "press and hold" action in addition to the existing "press and release" action

Background
The core Windows 7 System Requirements for 32-bit x86 machines are as follows:

• 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster processor
• 1 gigabyte (GB) RAM
• 16 GB available hard disk space
• DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver

I have performed the following relevant hardware upgrades:

• 1.25 GB RAM
• Mtron SLC Solid State Drive to replace the stock hard drive

Thus configured, the Windows Experience Index scores are as follows (scale of 1.0 to 7.9):

• Processor: 1.7
• RAM: 3.0
• Graphics: 1.9
• Gaming Graphics: 1.0
• Primary Hard Disk: 5.9

The overall Windows Experience Index is determined by the lowest subscore, which in this case is Gaming Graphics at 1.0. However, these Toughbooks aren't designed for gaming, so that score doesn't matter too much to me; thus, I would consider a score of 1.7 (Processor subscore) to be more relevant.


Now, the steps--

Disclaimer: These instructions are geared for a digitizer model with a fairly basic set of hardware options. Under Microsoft Windows 7, a digitizer is required for Tablet PC. To quote Microsoft's Tablet PC Hardware Requirements page:

• Tablet PCs must include a pen-based stylus ("Digitizer")

Thus, please do not expect official Tablet PC support for non-digitizer models.


Prepare to Download Drivers

• Please refer to the stickied thread "The Ultimate Toughbook Resource Thread" for a current, active list of driver download sites.
• Use 7-Zip to extract: If you have trouble extracting the drivers (e.g. you get an error message when attempting to run the downloaded self-extracting executable), try using 7-Zip, which is Open Source software. Open the downloaded *.exe in 7-Zip the same way you would load any other zip/archive file, and then 7-Zip will show you the files that downloaded self-extracting executable contains
• This is only a subset of the Windows 7 drivers that are available for the CF-19 K/L. While there are some forty downloads or so, a number of the ones not listed are incompatible with the CF-18 hardware.

Download Drivers

• Intel Chipset/INF Update Utility
  • Download the latest version for Windows 7 32-bit from Intel's Download Center
  • NOTE: Unfortunately, as of the time of this writing, Intel's Driver Update Utility is out-of-sync with what actually works. When visiting Intel's Driver Detection webpage while running under Windows 7, it has shown me that the chipset driver is outdated, but the driver link provided is to an XP-based version in the version 6.* series that won't install under Windows 7. From the Release Notes for 9.2.0.1030, this update covers the Intel 800 Series Chipsets. So, just manually find and download this driver instead of trying to let the driver detection tool find it for you.
• Panasonic Windows 7 Drivers for the CF-19 K/L (yes, nineteen):
  • Panasonic common components
  • Touchpad driver
  • Panasonic misc driver *
  • Hotkey driver
  • Hotkey appendix application
  • Hotkey settings application
  • Tablet button manager
  • Tablet buttons driver
  • Panasonic notification utility *
  • Concealed mode utility *
  • Loupe utility *
  • Battery recalibration utility *
  • Wireless switch utility *
  • Wireless connection disable utility *
  • Display rotation tool *
  • Port replicator LAN driver
  • Bluetooth stack driver
  • PC info viewer application *
  • NOTES:
    • For other Toughbooks or CF-18's with different configurations, you may need to download additional drivers
    • All driver noted with an asterisk (*) depend on the Panasonic Misc driver. If you completed an earlier driver installation without the Misc driver, you can install all items marked with an asterisk (*) in order without having to go back and redo the entire installation.
• Panasonic Vista Software for the CF-19F/G/H (mk2):
  • DMI Viewer
• If you have a newer CF-18 with a SigmaTel audio device, you may need the following (thanks to David O. for the report on CF-18's with a SigmaTel device):
  • CF-19C/D/E (mk1) SigmaTel driver for Windows Vista
• Realtek Driver for Windows 7:
  • Win7 32/64 Auto Installation Program for Realtek RTL8139
• If the system has Intel 82852/82855 graphics, you will need the following:
  • Download the latest 82852/82855 drivers from Intel's website
  • The driver version I used was 14.19.50 for XP

Verify the BIOS is at the Latest Version

• On the same Panasonic website used to download drivers, check the latest BIOS version for your specific hardware model (i.e. don't install a BIOS update created for a different hardware model)
• If the BIOS version listed is newer than the current version, follow the BIOS update instructions for that version

Perform Initial Windows 7 Setup

1. Install Windows 7 to an empty partition (clean install)
2. Go to Control Panel > System and Security > Windows Update
3. Run Windows Update after the installation completes
   1. Verify that you are connected to the Internet
   2. Go to Start > Control Panel
   3. Click "Windows Update"
   4. In the list of options along the left column, click "Check for Updates"
   5. You will likely see text that "important updates are available" and/or "optional updates are available"
   6. Click either of those to view a list of the individual updates (drivers are usually listed as optional updates)
   7. Select the updates to install
   8. Click "OK" (in the lower-right corner) once you have selected the updates to install
   9. Click the "Install Updates" button to begin the update process

Install the Toughbook Drivers

1. Intel Chipset/INF Update Utility
   • Run infinst_autol.exe
2. Panasonic Common Components
   • Run Setup.exe
3. Panasonic Misc Driver * (thanks to Slammer111 for information on the Misc driver)
   1. Open the Device Manager
   2. Expand the "System Devices" category
   3. Right click on the Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Embedded Controller device and select "Update Driver Software"
   4. Select the "Browse my computer for driver software" option
   5. Select the "Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer" option
   6. Click "Next"
   7. Click "Have Disk..."
   8. Select the folder that contains the file newmisc.inf from the Panasonic Misc Driver download
   9. Click "Next"
   10. An "Update Driver Warning" message will appear saying (among other things) Windows cannot verify that the driver is compatible with the hardware and that the hardware might not work correctly if the driver is not compatible.
   11. Click "Yes" to continue installing this driver
       
4. Sound
   • For models with an Intel 82801DB/DBM AC '97 Audio Controller, skip this step
   • For models with a SigmaTel device, install the SigmaTel audio driver (thanks to David O for the report on CF-18's with a SigmaTel device)
     • Run Setup.exe for the Windows Vista SigmaTel driver
     • If that does not work, download and run the Windows XP version of SigmaTel driver for your particular CF-18 model
5. Touchpad Driver
   1. Open the Device Manager
   2. Expand the "Mice and other pointing devices" category
   3. Right click on the PS/2 device and select "Update Driver Software"
   4. Manually select the driver using steps similar to the following:
      1. Choose to browse your computer for driver software
      2. Click "Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer"
      3. Click the "Have Disk..." button on the next screen
      4. On the "Install From Disk" dialog, click "Browse"
   5. You will want to use the folder containing driver fidmous.inf
6. Hotkey Driver
   1. Open the Device Manager
   2. Find the section that includes the "unknown" devices
   3. Right click on one of the unknown device and select "Update Driver"
      • This unknown device is typically the first of of two unknown devices that will be listed
      • If you select the wrong unknown device, the install will fail. No worries, just pick the other unknown device.
   4. You will want to use folder containing the driver hotkey.inf
7. Hotkey Appendix Application
   • Run Setup.exe
8. Hotkey Settings Application
   • Run Setup.exe
9. Tablet Button Manager
   • Run Setup.exe
10. Tablet Buttons Driver
    1. Open the Device Manager
    2. At this point, there should be just one "unknown" device
    3. Right click on the unknown device and select "Update Driver"
    4. Manually select the driver using steps similar to the following:
       1. Choose to browse your computer for driver software
       2. Click "Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer"
       3. Click the "Have Disk..." button on the next screen
       4. On the "Install From Disk" dialog, click "Browse"
    5. You will want to use the folder containing the driver MeiTBtn.inf (found in the top level of the driver archive file extract; do not use the one in the amd64 folder)
    6. Wait for the driver installation to complete; if the install fails, try the other unknown device
    7. Manually copy meitbrc.dll to C:\WINDOWS\system32
    8. Run MeiTBSet_STANDARD.reg to update the registry
11. Panasonic Notification Utility *
    • Run Setup.exe
12. Concealed Mode Utility *
    • Run Setup.exe
13. Loupe (Magnification) Utility *
    • Run Setup.exe
14. Battery Recalibration Utility *
    • Run Setup.exe
15. Wireless Switch Utility *
    1. Run Delay.reg to update the registry
    2. Run Setup.exe
16. Wireless Connection Disable Utility *
    • Run Setup.exe
17. Display Rotation Tool *
    • Run Setup.exe
18. LAN Driver for Realtek 8139
    • Run Setup.exe
19. Port Replicator LAN Driver
    • Run Win32\Setup.exe
20. Bluetooth Stack Driver
    • Run Setup.exe
21. PC Info Viewer *
    • Run Setup.exe
22. DMI Viewer
    • Run Setup.exe
23. Video Driver for Intel 82852/82855 GM/GME Devices
    1. Preparation
       • Be sure there are no other video drivers installed (you will want to start out with just the standard VGA driver)
       • Extract the Intel 82852/82855 video drivers somewhere, but do not install anything
    2. Turn Off the Digital Driver Signing Check
       1. Create a shortcut on the desktop to cmd.exe
       2. Right-click on the shortcut and select "Run as administrator"
       3. When the command window opens, execute the following commands:
          1. bcdedit /set nointegritychecks ON
          2. bcdedit /set loadoptions DDISABLE_INTEGRITY_CHECKS
       4. Reboot
    3. Install the Video Driver
       NOTE: This bit of rigmarole is necessary due to the Intel 82852/82855 device present in the CF-18 mk1; if your Toughbook has a video device that is better supported out-of-the-box in Windows 7, you will likely be able to skip these video driver steps. Without the right video driver setup, though, you won't be able to run the full display resolution.
       1. Open the Device Manager
       2. On the menu, go to Action > Add Legacy Hardware
       3. Acknowledge the initial dialog screen
       4. Select "Install the hardware that I manually select from a list (Advanced)"
       5. Click Next
       6. Select "Display Adapters" and click Next
       7. Click the "Have Disk..." button
       8. Navigate to the path where you extracted the Intel drivers. The ialmnt5.inf file will be in the Win2000 folder
       9. IMPORTANT: Do not select the 82852/82855 GM/GME drivers, select the 945GM driver (yes, this is counter-intuitive)
       10. If prompted to reboot, DO NOT REBOOT
       11. If told the 945 device might not work right, acknowlege the error, then run Action > Scan for Hardware Changes
       12. "Intel(R) 82852/82855 GM/GME Graphics Controllers" and a "Mobile Intel(R) 945GM Express Chipset Family" devices should now be listed under "Display Adapers
       13. Wait for Windows to finish doing its thing installing the drivers in the background. The first time through, there will be a tool tip from the system notification area stating that the 82852/82855 device has been installed, providing a visual indication; on subsequent runs, though, that tool tip might not appear, so watch the system notification area and give it time.
       14. Disable the 945GM device
       15. IMPORTANT: If you do not wait for Windows to complete the driver install process going on in the background prior to disabling the 945GM device, I have seen Windows 7 re-enable a 945GM device that had just been disabled. If the system is rebooted with the 945GM device enabled, Windows 7 will roll the driver back, and you will have to repeat the step.
       16. Reboot
    4. Verify the Video Driver Installation
       1. Upon rebooting, Windows 7 may roll back one or more of your display devices to Standard VGA
       2. Open Device Manager
       3. Check the Display Adapters
       4. If there is only one 82852/82855 GM/GME device, or if there is a new "unknown" device, precisely repeat the above driver installation section (include the instructions for disabling the 945GM device); in the case of an unknown device, run the "Update Driver" action for that device instead of running the generic "Add Legacy Hardware"
       5. When everything is working, you should have "Graphics Properties" and "Graphics Options" menu items in the pop-up menu when you right-click on the desktop
       6. The "Graphics Option" item should have sub-items for display rotation
       7. Reboot and verify that Windows 7 no longer rolls back your display drivers after rebooting
    5. Protect the Video Driver Installation
       1. Go to Control Panel > System and Security > Windows Update
       2. Windows will likely tell you that an important update is available
       3. Click the "important update is available" link (do NOT click "Install updates")
       4. Right-click on the "Intel Corporation - Display - Mobile Intel(R) 945 Express Chipset Family" update
       5. Click "Hide update" from the context menu
       6. If the display driver gets updated to what is currently on Windows Update, the system will revert back to the Standard VGA driver.
    6. NOTE: When using a driver install hack different from the method described here, I have read reports that a system might Blue Screen when using Windows Media Player to play DVD's; however, alternate media players, such as VLC, reportedly do not exhibit this issue. I do not know if this method will have this same problem, but I thought I would mention this workaround in case someone does experience this issue.

Run Windows Update
NOTE: Be sure you have protected the video driver as noted in the "Install the Video Driver" section above

1. Verify that you are connected to the Internet
2. Go to Start > Control Panel
3. Click "Windows Update"
4. In the list of options along the left column, click "Check for Updates"
5. You will likely see text that "important updates are available" and/or "optional updates are available"
6. Click either of those to view a list of the individual updates (drivers are usually listed as optional updates)
7. Select the updates to install
   • Again, remember to exclude the Intel 82852/82855 display adapter
   • As of the time of this writing, the latest version of Realtek's RTL8139 Fast Ethernet driver is not available on Windows Update, so you may want to deselect this driver update if Windows Update still shows the update Publish date as 10/6/2008
     • Realtek
       • Driver Date: 7/23/2009
       • Driver Version: 6.111.723.2009
     • Windows Update
       • Driver Date: 3/31/2008
       • Driver Version: 6.108.331.2008
8. Click "OK" (in the lower-right corner) once you have selected the updates to install
9. Click the "Install Updates" button to begin the update process

NOTE: You may need to repeat the Windows Update process multiple times, especially after a clean install. Sometimes one run of Windows update will subsequently make other updates available. So, when you go back after the first set of updates have installed and and re-check for updates, there might be a few new updates there that hadn't been listed previously.


Configure and Customize Tablet PC Buttons

Tablet PC Buttons can be configured by going to Start > Control Panel > Table PC Settings dialog > Buttons tab, but I wanted to do more than what that dialog provides.

Turn Off Display - I wanted to set the press and hold action for the display rotation button to turn off the screen. Unfortunately, the Tablet PC Settings Control Panel Dialog only allows you to associate the "Turn the display off" action with press and release events. A little registry hack took are of that--
* Press and Release - Rotate screen
* Press and Hold - Turn off display

The simplest way to make these changes is to either download and run the "TabletPCButtonMappings.reg" file that is included in the attached " TabletPCButtonMappings.zip" file or perform it manually as follows:
* Create a text file and give it a *.reg name (e.g. ButtonConfig.reg)
* Open the file you just created in a text editor (e.g. Notepad)
* Copy and paste the contents of the "code" section below in the file
* Save the file and close the text editor
* Double-click the file to load the settings into the registry
* In all likelihood, a permissions prompt will appear - allow permission

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\TabletPC\ButtonMaps\0]
"ButtonID"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\TabletPC\ButtonMaps\0\PrimaryLandscape]
"DefAction"=dword:80000006
"DefHoldAction"=dword:80000002
"DefHoldActionData"=hex:00,00,00,00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\TabletPC\ButtonMaps\0\PrimaryPortrait]
"DefAction"=dword:80000006
"DefHoldAction"=dword:80000002
"DefHoldActionData"=hex:00,00,00,00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\TabletPC\ButtonMaps\0\SecondaryLandscape]
"DefAction"=dword:80000006
"DefHoldAction"=dword:80000002
"DefHoldActionData"=hex:00,00,00,00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\TabletPC\ButtonMaps\0\SecondaryPortrait]
"DefAction"=dword:80000006
"DefHoldAction"=dword:80000002
"DefHoldActionData"=hex:00,00,00,00

Lock Workstation - Then, I wanted the the press and hold action for another button to lock the workstation

1. Select "Start a program" as the action
2. Enter "rundll32.exe user32.dll,LockWorkStation" (without the quotes) as the program location

Manage Display Rotation
There are several different ways to manage display rotation.

• Video Driver Context Menu
  • Right-click on the desktop
  • In the pop-up menu, navigate to Graphics Options > Rotation
  • Select another rotation setting
• Video Driver System Notification Area Icon
  • Click on the Intel Extreme Graphics 2 for Mobile icon in the System Notification Area
  • In the pop-up menu, navigate to Graphics Options > Rotation
  • Select another rotation setting
• Video Driver Hot Keys
  • Test without other programs running to verify that another program does not intercept these hot keys
  • Default hot keys are as follows (think of the arrow as pointing to the TOP of where the screen would be if in Notebook mode):
    • <Control><Alt><Up>
    • <Control><Alt><Down>
    • <Control><Alt><Left>
    • <Control><Alt><Right>
  • To Enable/disable and/or customize these and other display Hot Keys, go to Start > Control Panel > Display > Change Display Settings > Advanced Settings > Intel Extreme Graphics 2 for Mobile tab > Graphics Properties > Hot Keys
• Tablet PC Buttons
  • To configure, go to Start > Control Panel > Tablet PC Settings > Go to Orientation (link toward the bottom of the dialog)
  • Choose the orientation sequence and click OK
  • Press the screen rotation button on the front panel of the computer
  • Each time the screen rotation button is pressed, the display should rotate to then next rotation angle specified in the orientation sequence
• Automatic Display Rotation Tool
  • To configure, Right-click on the Display Rotation Tool icon in the System Notification Area
  • Click Settings
  • Select the default angle for both laptop mode and tablet mode
  • Click OK
  • Flip the screen from notebook mode to tablet mode and vice-versa
  • As long as "Keep Angle" has not been selected, the display should automatically rotate to the specified angle

Normally, the Automatic Display Rotation Tool is already running on boot; however, if it is not, it can be launched from Start > All Programs > Panasonic > Display Rotation Tool. This program will not actually rotate the screen; it will simply launch the utility and load it in the System Notification Area.


Calibrate the Digitizer
Some users may have problems with the digitizer's edge action--for example, the mouse pointer won't go all the way over to the right edge, causing problems with the close button, scrollbars, show desktop, and anything else that might be along that edge. One trick I was taught by a WalkAbout (now DRS) tech was to offset the calibration click for the Wacom digitizer.
NOTE: These steps assume the right edge is the problem edge.

• Go to Start > Control Panel > Tabelt PC Settings dialog > Display tab
• Click the "Reset..." button if it is not disabled (need to be in "full" calibration mode [16 calibration points])
• Click the "Calibrate..." button
• On the four right-most calibration targets, do NOT click in the dead center of the target; instead,
• Click the tip of the left line--vertically, your click will still be centered, but horizontally, your click will be offset to the left
• Click the other 12 calibration targets the same as you normally would

Picking the optimal offset distance to click can be an inexact science, but for me this calibration method has greatly improved pointer accuracy along the right edge.


Customize the Windows 7 System Properties Screen
Special thanks to db04p71 for this tidbit.

• Download the attached OEMLogo.zip file
• Copy the included OEMLogo.bmp file to the \Windows\System32 folder
• Run the included OEMLogo.reg file to update the registry

Customize the Desktop Wallpaper
Need a desktop wallpaper to put the finishing touches on your new install? Check out the posts in this thread for some Toughbook-themed wallpaper.


Happy Installs,
Matthew

P.S. Here's mnementh on the topic, " Why Move on to Win7?" ;-)

 

Holy Mackrel! Excellent post! + Rep for sure!

 

So far, it is working great on my 19mk1. I am up to the display portion, but have to scoot for church. I will finish tonight and see if all is well.

+++++++++++++RRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEPPPPPPPPPPPPP

ps. I dont have 7 yet, this is being done under vista. I have 7 coming in the mail once its released.

 

Wow

You have put in a lot of effort on this
And I believe it is worth it
Vista or W7 is a tablet friendly operating system

Your final results are comparable with what we can expect on a newer model cf-19
The auto rotate feature will not work on W7RTM on my cf-19 and I have a few other bugs as well

If you have some spare time ,you are needed at Panasonic support
They are busy working out the bugs in order to supply drivers and applications that are needed to allow users of the latest Toughbook models to upgrade to W7

You can bet that they will only put their efforts towards the models that have been current for the last year

Thanks again for your post


Alex

 

Ok, so everything went well except for the Video. This may just be a Vista thing, but It installed the 945 driver off the bat so all I had to do was go to Intel's website and run the auto driver check and it upgraded it to the 82852. I did not do the Reg hack for the push and hold because I wasn't clear on how to do each step (afraid to mess it up), but all other things are working great (with the exception of the auto rotate).

Thanks again for all your hard work and posting this in clear language.

 

I can confirm this is working 100% on my CF-18DD! Great post & info! Thanks a lot!..

 

great post mate! thanks!

just a quick question, how is w7 speed wise on a cf-18... as quick as a good xp install?

 

thanks for all your work on this! Any bugs to watch out for to upgrage xp to w7 on a cf-29?

 

SAR... There was a thread about that in the past month or two... (CF-29 specific) It's around here somewhere...

 

Thank you to those that have posted the positive feedback. I'm glad to know others have found this useful. Work has kept me busy lately, so I apologize for the delay and will try to answer some of the questions.

Registry Settings
I have updated the Tablet PC Button Configuration registry hack section to provide a few more step-by-step instructions to hopefully make that a little clearer.

Performance
As to the speed, this CF-18 mk1 started its life with a plain old hard drive and just the built-in 256 MB of RAM. Along the way, I've maxed out the RAM with a 1 GB module in the open slot and replaced the original hard drive with a solid state drive. I haven't taken the time to run any performance comparisons, but with these upgrades, the performance and responsiveness is better under Windows 7 than it was with Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 in its original configuration. (Though I must say that XP was quite snappy under these upgrades--on the boot screen, the pseudo progress bar would usually scroll across just twice before that boot stage finished.)

Other Toughbooks
It wouldn't surprise me if the some of procedures here were proved useful to other Toughbook models. There were several "gotchas" along the way, but the biggest and trickiest one was the video driver. Without it, I had only 800x600 resolution. If any other Toughbooks have the Intel 82852/82855 GM/GME, the video driver upgrade section would almost certainly be of use. There is (somewhat of a) method to that madness, and the trick is not just getting the driver installed but keeping Windows from reverting back to the generic driver and an 800x600 display mode after rebooting.

Other Thoughts
I like the tablet features Windows 7 offers. When I started this process, I didn't know what to expect and was prepared to stick with XP. Suffice it to say, I have been sufficiently impressed with the functionality of Windows 7 on my CF-18 and have no plans to go back to XP.


Thanks,
Matthew

 

Agree

Vista and now W7 is a great choice on the tablet models


Alex

 

Here is an "hack" in case you don't like the tiny scroll bars of Win7 as the standard width is not very comfortable for tablet/touchscreen use.

Make a copy of your registry (just in case). Copy the quoted code into a text file. Rename the extension to *.reg and execute.

 

When calibrated according to the normal calibration method, I have problems with the digitizer's right-edge action--I can't get the mouse pointer over to the right edge, causing problems with the close button, scrollbars, show desktop, and anything else that might be along that edge. After reading the above post, I guess I might not be the only one to experience this. However, one trick I was taught was to offset the calibration click--in other words, for certain calibration targets, don't click in the dead center of the target.

Assumptions:
* You are in the "full" calibration mode (16 calibration points)
* Problem edge is the right edge (adapt accordingly for problems on other edges)

Method:
* On the four right-most calibration targets, don't click in the dead center of the target; instead,
* Click the tip of the left line. Vertically, your click will still be centered, but horizontally, your click will be offset to the left.
* Click the other 12 calibration targets the same as you normally would.

Picking the optimal offset distance to click can be an inexact science, but for me this method has greatly improved pointer accuracy along the right edge.

I first learned this from some tech at WalkAbout Computers (now part of DRS Tactical Systems) on their Hammerhead XRT's. Both units have Wacom digitizers, and what worked on the XRT has worked for me on the CF-18. (As a side note for the curious, Hammerheads are fully ruggedized, fully submersible, "pure" tablet computers and have a tablet lineage that predates XP Tablet PC.)


Matthew

 

RCX,

This worked great!!! Code for enabling the software keyboard button in the HKEY? Just a thought. Have the full release through technet and it is working better than I expected. Win7 is far better than XPTab...

 

So I finally got my W7 in the mail, and had some time to play so I installed it on my CF19 mk1 machine using the above steps on a fresh install. I must say, it went more than smooth!! I didn't even have to do the video part at all. Kudos again for this write-up. My 19 is running very smooth and fast now!!

 

has this pst been stickyed yet and why hasnt it good job rcx. i may now be atempting an install since this guide was so informative

 

Yes, it has been listed and linked in the Resource Thread sticky
Thats our main look here first sticky

Alex

 

good just wanted to make

""

 

Hi,

Some of you W7 users may find this an interesting read . . .

http://lifehacker.com/5388948/top-10-windows-7-booster-apps/



There's also a heap of stuff on 'youtube'

 

Installed windows 7 using a new 250G HDD. After booting the windows screens are not useable. The mouse cursor pings around the screen to random places about 4 per second. I cannot not control the cursor to type. I can Ctrl-Alt-Del to exit. This is so early in the upgrade process, I have not found mention of this type of problem.
Any suggestions?
Thanks, Mike

 

Yes, you have to disable your GPS in the bios
Press F2 while booting , enter bios advanced and look for GPS under advanced serial options , and disable the GPS for now


Alex

 

After that run the Panasonic skipenum.reg file for XP. It also works for Windows7.... At least it does here....

 

I cannot get the drivers to hold. It keeps reverting to Std VGA.

 

RCX,
I'm installing W7 on a MK2 CF-18 and have encountered a couple of problems.
1. When I try to manually point to a driver, I can't drill down any deeper than folder level and when I point to the folder containing the tablet button driver it can't find the driver. I have the drivers on both a thumb drive and in a folder in documents and it just won't find them.
2. I'm getting "machine not supported" messages. Which model CF-19 drivers did you down load? I think I grabbed the MK3 drivers.
Thanks for all your work on this.
CAP
This is a touch screen machine by the way.

 

Capt.

you may need to use an unzip tool to extract the drivers. If you run the self-extract, it will complain about the model number. I just used the unzip command under linux, but you can try 7zip under windows to extract the files

nine

 

Or WinRAR


Alex

 

WinRAR is a good program plus it's free. That reminds me I need to put it on my cf-28.

 

Could some post a link to the CF-19 vista drivers page (and mention which model would be best to use)'

cheers

 

The best reference for driver links is the thread titled " **READ BEFORE POSTING** **The Ultimate Toughbook Resource Thread**" that is stickied at the top of this Toughbook forum, as this has been serving a central location for the maintenance of current, active links.

I used the CF-19M (mk3) drivers, as I think that was the only CF-19 model I saw with Windows Vista SP1 drivers listed. Since the time of the original post, I see Windows 7 drivers are now available for the CF-19K/L (mk3) models, but I haven't tried these drivers, as mine has been working fine with the Vista ones. There is a good chance the Windows 7 ones might work, though.

Hope this helps.

 

Just to let you guys know... The drivers in the Official Windows 7 Upgrade from Panasonic and the main download driver page are the same. They are numbered a little different, but the same exact drivers. Don't waste your time thinking they are upgraded and load them. They even show an updated date of 1/22/10 instead of 11/25/09.

 

Sorry, one more thing. Where or how do you get to the calibration mode where there are 16 marks? Or is this only on the 19's? On my 30 there is only 9.

 

RCX!
I followed your step by step instruction, and I failed
I have a cf-19 mark 1 panasonic, and I installed and registrated a win 7 on it. I downloaded a drivers and installed a first one without problem. (Panasonic common components)
When I tried to install a Tablet buttons driver, and I was using a browser, it didn't recognize a inf file! I tried to update both of the two unknown devices , like you said, but it is no luck.
It is important where I will unzip to this drivers? I just made a folder on my desktop, and unzipped them one by one, and tried to show that location when I started an installation, but no luck. It sees the folder name, but not the file. (.inf)
Can you help me please?

 

Great instructions, I found the thread with all the driver resources and clean installed W7 ulimate onto a new 160GB HDD over the weekend, worked like a dream, had to do the video driver bit twice but otherwise no problems.
ONE QUESTION: I seem to have lost the WiFi radio ON/OFF soft-switch that would come up on the XP taskbar when I right clicked on the WiFi card icon (not the wireless connection icon), is there anyway to get this function back, or is there another way to turn the WiFi radio off (so I can use the laptop on a plane)?

 

You should be able to go and find the driver/software and insall it. It might already be there also. Click on the Start Orb~Panasonic~ Then look and see if it's there. If it is, make sure it is configured to start up for you automatically.

 

@ garlickiwi
Here is the wireless switch utility download
http://www.panasonic.ca/PDP/Drivers/wlansw_18_1_d030311.exe
You can usually disable wireless in the bios as well


Alex

 

Tomcat many thanks, downloaded the driver, usee winRAR to unzip it, ran the setup, rebooted and volia a handy soft switch in the system tray. Must say this forum was a truely fantastic find.
Cheers GK

 

The steps listed under "Digitizer Calibration" bring up the 16 points for me. Be sure to click the "Reset..." button that it to the right of the "Calibrate" button. If I don't click that reset button first, there are fewer calibration points for me.

 

Unfortunately, the wireless switch (along with several other drivers and utilities) depend on the Panasonic Misc driver. My CF-18 mk1 doesn't have the Panasonic Misc device, so the driver won't install. Thus, at least for this model, that limited the number of Windows 7 drivers and utilities that could be installed. (The battery recalibration utility is another such install that depends on the Misc driver.)

 

Did you go through the following options:

1. Choose to browse your computer for driver software
2. Click "Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer"
3. Click the "Have Disk..." button on the next screen
4. On the "Install From Disk" dialog, click "Browse"

When you browse through that file browser, you should be able to see the *.inf file. If you go the "Search for driver software in this location" route instead, then I think that would lead to the problem you are describing.

 

The "Update the Video Driver" section may be long, but each step is required in the exact order specified. Skip a step, run a few steps in a different order, etc., and the display is almost guaranteed to revert to standard VGA. From a clean system install, I've been able to repeat a successful display driver setup following the steps outlined. For example, prior to rebooting, are you disabling the 945GM devices that get created?

 

I have a CF-18 MK2 and have installed W7 Pro. None of the hot keys will work (I followed the instructions) and display rotation driver will not load.

 

Hot Keys
Of the all the special drivers that needed to be installed, the hot key setup was one of the less problematic ones. I installed the Vista drivers in the following order:

1. Hot key driver via Device Manager
2. Hot key appendix application
3. Hot key settings

I can now press {Fn}{F9} and see a graphic with my battery level displayed on the screen. Were there any indications of failure or any observable abnormalities during any of those steps? Any specific information like that that could be provided would be helpful.


Display Rotation Driver
A display rotation driver hasn't been included in the installation instructions, so I'm not sure I understand the display rotation driver failure. Once the video driver is installed, I am able to rotate the screen. For example, after clicking on the Display icon in the system tray, I can navigate to Graphics Options > Rotation and select my screen orientation. Alternatively, if I have the configured one of the Tablet PC buttons to rotate the screen, I can press that button to change the screen orientation, too. Either way, I didn't have to install a display rotation driver. Can the display be rotated using the video driver software? That's the first step to check.


Now that Panasonic has released Windows 7 drivers for one of the CF-19 models, I have gone back and redone the part of the installation process where I had used the Vista drivers. With that completed, I need to make a few updates to that first post. I will try to get my notes together and get that updated....

 

If you believe you have installed the wrong driver in the hotkeys via device manager, how do you update? Normally the "unknown device" would be showing, but now I have none and I am not sure where the hotkeys would normally reside. What would be the basic process to update?

 

I fingered it out. There were two tablet button devices showing and I just looked for the one with the 0019 ID. I then updated the driver using the hotkey driver and now all is working, at least the hotkeys are...still working on getting the 945 video installed and rotation working. Just cannot seem to get it where it will start.

 

Just for reference, in Device Manager, "Hotkey Driver for Panasonic PC" is listed under the "System Devices" category when viewing devices by type.

For the video driver, does that mk2 have an Intel 82852/82855 GM/GME as its graphics adapter? This video driver install was hands down the most arcane part of the whole Window 7 upgrade. Is there a specific steps or steps where the result of an action differs from the expected result that is described?

 

It has the 855, but I was trying to install the 945 as per the install thread, but while I got it installed, I cannot get it to start. I went through the process and was able to get the resolution to stay at the higher number. However, when I went to update the driver again to try and get it to work again, it went back to the 800 x 600.

 

If updating the video driver, I would re-enable the previously disabled 945GM devices prior to performing the driver update. Then, perform a reboot, which should have the effect of uninstalling the 945GM driver and reverting back to 800 x 600. Once the prior driver is cleared out, the video install process should be able to be restarted from scratch, this time using the desired driver. The driver version I used was 14.19.50 for XP.

Officially, Windows 7 drivers are not available from Intel.

 

Dear all
CF-18 video works perfect with standard install driver procedure.
Just find DRIVER:
Intel(R) 82852/82855 GM/GME Graphics Controller (Microsoft Corporation - XDDM)

or direct download from:
RapidShare: 1-CLICK Web hosting - Easy Filehosting

All the best
Radek

 

Unfortunately, while the source of that driver isn't attributed, from looking at the files included in the zip file, the files match a driver set I tried prior to creating this thread, and those files did not work.

Those drivers appear to be a driver extraction from an earlier version of Windows. Just from looking at the files, that zip file is missing the display setting tray utility, which can be used to control the screen rotation (among other things).

 

If you have Display Rotation Tool instaled, rotation is working perfect.