HOWTO: Install Windows 7 on a CF-18 mk1

One of the big issues was those drivers would not sustain a 1024x768 screen resolution. Immediately after install, 1024x768 would work, but after rebooting, Windows 7 would roll back to using the standard VGA driver with an 800x600 screen resolution. Install it again, and Windows 7 would roll it back again after reboot.... This is a commonly-experienced problem with this graphics controller under Windows 7.

Thus, to keep the driver from rolling back, the installation process becomes more involved.

 

Hello,

New to the forum I would like to say Thank you for the great post on installing windows 7 on the CF-18. I should be receiving mine in a couple of days and plan on following these directions.

Thanks again

 

I have updated the instructions in the first post in this thread to reflect using Windows 7 drivers that Panasonic has released for the CF-19 K/L. Among the changes, the Panasonic driver install guide for Windows 7 has a different installation order than that the one I had used when created the Vista-driver-based installation instructions, so that has been reflected in the updates.

 

I have a CF- 18FJAZXBM Toughbook and I have the touch screen driver installed but when I touch the screen the mouse will go off the right side of the screen. I can not get it to do anything.

Help?

 

CF-18FJAZXBM DESCRIPTION:
Pentium M 733- 1.1GHzULV (Centrino), 10.4" Touch Screen Hi-bright XGA, 40GB, 256MB, Intel 802.11a+b+g, WIN XP SP2, Backlit keyboard, Dual pass through

BTW: your CF-18 is a Mk3.

You're going to have to be more "Operating System" specific here, as you started another Subject; CF-18FJAZXBM Vista or WIN 7, indicating that you do not currently have Vista or Win7 installed.

 

It's running windows 7

 

Following the excellent post by Matthew (RCX) on page 1, I post my experience installing on a CF-18K (MK4 - I think).

After installing Win 7 on to a clean HD I had no sound, I downloaded the CF-18 sound drivers (SIGMA - Tel C-Major Audio)) for XP from Panasonic and installed - sound worked OK.

Followed Matthews advice and installing using list 1 to 8, all appeared to go smoothly, haven't done 9 and 10 (LAN - may try later) and tried 11 from list re DMI viewer, but this I found slowed the PC down on start up using the version listed beneath (XP version (CF-18) didn't work neither did Vista version (CF-19), but dual XP/Vista (CF-19) did).

After installing Win 7 and the sound drivers, I made a backup of the HD using Acronis and saved to external HD.

The copy of the installed Win 7 I played about with using the dvr files - making a note of the file name of which file worked and carrying on to the next. After installing all 1-8 (and finding out about the slow startup using the DMI viewer) I then reinstalled my Acronis copy (sound only copy) and went through my working list of putting on all my dvrs back in again - all working OK.

Files used were in order of Matthews list:

Note - there are a mixture of l's and 1's

1). pcommon-v2_0010m00-1930-33-xpxpvi-d080731.exe

2).Installed sound driver

3). touchpaddriver_v1.0.0.3_19k_19l_w732_ss6978.exe

4). hotkeydriver_v11.1.1100.0_19k_19l_w732_ss6943.exe

5). HotkeyAppendixUtil_v900110_19k_19l_w732_ss6942.exe

6). hotkeysettingutil_v2.01l11_19k_19l_w732_ss6944.exe

7). meitbman_v2.02l10m00_19_3_w732_d091376.exe

8). meitbn_2.1.1000.0_19_3_w732_d091674d081926.exe

9). left blank - not used

10). left blank - not used

11). (not installed but worked) dmi_1930_22d060603.exe

HTH

Dave O

 

Welcome to the forum, David, and thank you for posting your report. I have updated the first post based on your experience with the sound drivers and DMI Viewer. Out of curiosity, did you try to install the SigmaTel Vista sound drivers for the CF-19C/D/E (mk1) before reverting to the XP drivers?

Additionally, that first post has also been updated with the following:

• Newer LAN driver for the Realtek 8139 Ethernet adapter
• Windows Update instructions

Thank you,
Matthew

 

Hello Thanks for this Howto

I received my SSD in 4 days i think and i would like install seven on my CF-19 Mk1 .

I download all drivers and software here :

Windows® 7 Support and Upgrade Information | TOUGHBOOK | Panasonic

And i see for the Audio driver so i download the Vista driver for CF-19 Mk1 .

I test this install so in 4 days .

 

Matthew, I can't remember trying the Vista Sigma dvrs, doesn't mean I didn't just remember that XP worked.

David O

 

As a follow on. All of my installations have been saved to an external backup drive (my software for this has always been Acronis) from my XP Tablet to my final installation of Windows 7. As I use two caddies, I thought I would try a duel boot of XP & Win 7.

Using my XP caddie, I put on XP a copy of Partion Magic 8 (an old version - all I had) and partioned my XP drive to almost equal sizes for taking Win 7 - my choice not the PC's.

After Partion Magic had done it's job and rebooted etc (and making sure XP booted up OK with the new partion added to the XP HD) I then used an external DVD drive and installed Win 7 on the new partion, left the activation bit blank and installed Acronis (latest version) after Win 7 had finally booted up and settled down.

Win 7 creates a boot system prior to start up (if an earlier version of Win is detected) to give the option of earlier version of Win or Win 7. Now knowing the system worked but with an unactivated Win 7 I then used Acronis to over-write the new installation of Win 7, as it was going on to the same PC the activation was still OK when it re-started otherwise it would need to be re-activated (I believe).

So, I now have dual boot, XP & Win 7, I believe you can have Vista on as well if installed prior to Win 7 and make it triple boot (not tried).

Dave O

 

For me after install seven sound work but i install sigma drivers for vista after on my CF-19 Mk1 and it work .

 

24 hours have past since the dual boot and I note that when booting into Win 7, the system does not show the XP partition only the Win 7 partition so file swopping is not possible between partions when in Win 7.

In Win 7 , defrag will see the XP partion as \\\?\23453 or something similar and the computer management programme in Control Panel will see the XP partition.

When booting into XP, you can file swop with Win 7 partition as XP sees it.

Dave O

 

Dave, could you not have a 3rd partition as a "D" drive (or whatever) for both OS's and have both "my documents" reside there?

Fraser

 

Hi Dave!!! Thanks a lot for your posts, it's very helpful.
I have just 1 question: Did you made screen rotation in WIN 7 ?

-----
Sorry for my bad english

 

Hi,
If you follow my procedure in my original first post No's 1 -11 screen rotation is not automatic if you rotate the screen to the tablet position but does happen if you use the screen rotation button on the front right of the laptop.

Now, this may well be to do with the software mentioned above or it may be to do with Win 7, the outcome is yes, you can rotate and use it in tablet form.

HTH

David O

 

Hi Fraser,
I suppose your right re 3rd partition if need for file swopping etc, but I assume as the original partion was made in XP, it would have to be made in Win 7 for this operating system to see it and the 3rd partion to be resized from the Win 7 partion not from XP one (using a third party software) in case of any errors in resizing the XP one from Win 7.

I'm not a techie person, just thinking it through a bit.

I use Memory-Map with and external USB GPS, it will work in XP with the drivers but not in Win 7, plus a couple of other progs that may well work in Win 7 if chosen to run in XP service pack 3 compatability mode, but haven't tried yet.

Regards

David O

 

Thank You David!
BUT position #1:
Note - there are a mixture of l's and 1's
1). pcommon-v2_0010m00-1930-33-xpxpvi-d080731.exe

Where I can get this driver? I got from CF-19Kxxx is it OK? But your like from XP.
AND MS Streets & Trips (american version of Autoroute) working on CF-18GPS version WIN 7- just fine!
Regards, Constantine.

 

Hi,
From memory, I think I downloaded all the software from this link.

https://panasonic.ca/english/customercare/sandd/softwarequery.asp

Regards

David O

 

Hi!

I do need some help with my cf-18 and his tablet buttons...

The device (ID MAT0020) does not accept the drivers i've downloaded for windows 7 from panasonic website.

No way to make it work.

I start from Device Manager, choose the option "Have disk..." , point to MeiTBtn.inf and the pc pops up a message that says the driver is not compatible with a 32 bit system...

In 1 hour of attempts the only PARTIAL success came from choosing the Hotkey Plus Driver for CF-18 for Win XP...obviously Windows 7 says that he blocked the driver 'couse it's not suited for "him"...


Please...please do help me


ps. sorry for my bad englis...i'm not native speaking.

 

This error sounds like you might be using the MeiTBtn.inf file that is under the amd64 folder? Use the MeiTBtn.inf file that is under the top-level directory of the file archive and not the one that is under the amd64 folder.

 

Hi Dave!
I know where is located hot buttons, so buttons works, just not rotation button, tried remap this fuction to another button - negative... Any ideas?
Regards, Constantine.

 

Based on another post, I assume you are trying to do this on a CF-18 version with GPS (do you have the specific model number?). If exactly following the installation instructions in the first post of this thread, things should be in pretty good shape. Missing or incorrectly performing even just one step could lead to things not working as expected, so it can't hurt to verify things. If any specific steps are unclear, just ask.

Additionally, there are also instructions on how to update the registry so that a press and release of the button will rotate the screen and a press and hold will turn off the screen.

 

Hi Matthew! yes, It's GPS version
CF-18FDAZAVM
So I should try to turn off GPS in BIOS right? (Just Made it - negative.)
Guys thanks a lot for your help! I'm doing ABSOLUTELY everything and step by step as in Your#1 and Dave's posts.
May be any else Ideas?

 

Yes I did this patch, it works. Thanks a lot for this! Also I have MK-1 model without GPS - tried on it and got same picture - no rotation.

ALSO guys I have 1 question:
Rotation starting work before this step or after???
Update the Video Driver

 

CF-18 mk1 digitizer without GPS is the model used as the basis for the installation instructions in post 1. Thus, as you apparently have a very similar model, I would recommend following the instructions in the order given.

 

Hello, excuse me for my bad English. I have one big problem with my Toughbook CF-18.
I'm doing all steps from rcx and David O great posts. And seem that all is working fine. Touch screen is working, but Windows 7 don't recognize my CF-18 as Tablet PC. I don't have Tablet PC Settings icon in my Control Panel and all Win 7 tablet functionality is not active. I even try to start Tablet PC Input Service manually from Administrative Tolls, but noting happened.
My Toughbook Model No is CF-18JHU52TW and Serial No is 6KKCB61474

 

That is just brilliant. Sorry for sarcasm in my reply, the sarcasm comes stright from my ignorance. But after spending half an hour disabling 945GM devices each time it appears in my Device Manager made me a bit upset and nervous. I have no idea what do I do wrong, but my poor CF-18 just repeats finding the 945GM Express Chipset Family device, re-loads the contents in Device Manager and... the process seems to have no end. Right now, when I#m typing it, it just re-rolls devices, blinks the screen, does... SOMETHING, I don't know actually what.

Isn't there any easier way ? All I need is to prevent Win7 from installing Video Driver each time I re-start the computer. It works fine, gives the best resolution and so on but whenever I re-start it - systems installs the driver over and over again. VERY annoying. :/

 

HI guys! I'm extremely sorry for my stupid questions.
I've got the solution! My video driver, which I installed, was 2003 and newest for intel is 2006. version 6.14.10.4497
So first of all you need uninstall previous video driver and than install correct video driver, so than
everything will work, just do absolutely everything as posted!!! and rotation will start work only after correct installation NEWEST VERSION OF DRIVER!
as in Matt's post #1
Sorry for so many stupid questions! I'm so happy that I found this solution myself.
Matt and Dave thanks a lot guys!!!

If nothing steel helping, try reinstall win 7, than use acronis true image home for backup - just this helped me don't drop My CF-18 from 12 floor...
Sorry for terrible english!

 

It's seems BIOS - check there! Does touchscreen turned on there? русский?

 

I have upgraded my mk.2 (CF-18D) using the original instructions and the Vista drivers (CF-19M) and I installed the wireless switch no problems. I now have a new battery and would like to calibrate it but nothing I've tried so far will let me install a version of the batt cal ulitility (the CF-18 XP version installs but crashes W7, the CF-19M vista version won't install, the CF-19K/L W7 version won't install). Any help, tips, instructions and/or links would be very welcome.
My alternative is to put the old HDD with XP on it back in the laptop and boot up XP-Tablet just to calibrate the battery then swap back to the W7 HDD.

 

I may be able to answer my own question. On power up I tried the CTRL+F9 combination and lo and behold the battery recalibration ulitilty poped up. I am now in the middle of recalibrating my battery. I will post the outcome later.

 

In the BIOS setup, under the "Exit" tab, there is also the "Refresh Battery" option. The "Item Specific Help" for that option reads as follows: "This utility discharges the Battery Pack completely in order to display the remain [sic] of the battery completely. Connect the AC Adaptor [sic] and execute this utility. It will take about 3.5 hours to discharge completely."

 

I discovered something related to the installation of the video driver, and though I have updated the first post, I did want to point it out specifically.

One of the steps in the video driver install process for the Intel 82852/82855 GM/GME Graphics Controllers is to disable the 945GM device that appears in the Device Manager. I have found that if the 945GM device is disable soon after it appears in the Device Manager but before all background processing for the driver installation has completed, Windows will actually re-enable the 945GM device you just disabled. Thus, while you might think you have disabled the 945GM device, it is actually enabled when you go to reboot.

If the system is rebooted with the 945GM device enabled, the video driver will be rolled back, requiring a repeating of the video driver install process. If you are having problems with the video driver install, be sure to check this.

 

I am about to try this on a CF18 Mk2, I have located all the drivers listed in the first post EXCEPT for the Hotkey appendix application and Hotkey settings application. These do not seem to be listed on the Panasonic site Windows® 7 Support and Upgrade Information | TOUGHBOOK | Panasonic where I found all the other ones.

Can one of you please point me in the right direction?

Thank you

 

Please refer to the link above from the instructions and then look for the "Toughbook Driver and Manual Sources" link on that page. This is not an upgrade install, so the referenced Windows 7 upgrade link is not applicable. One of the drivers sources linked to through the aforementioned Ultimate Toughbook Resource Thread should be used instead.

 

I must be thick or something, but I cannot find any of the links in 'The ultimate…' that give me the two missing drivers. I am assuming that these are W7 and for the CF19, even though I will instal on a CF18 mk2!

I am!

I just found the two missing drivers!

 

Not to jump on the Johnny-come-lately, "me-too" bandwagon, but...

Holy crap, it worked! The process sure is convoluted, but hey - whatever works, right?

One suggestion, though: Would you be so kind as to specify in the OP which drivers to download?

On page 5, you mention the following:

This would be very good to have in the OP instructions. It seems obvious now that we should download the latest WinXP drivers, but I still tore my hair out over this the last few days, going under the assumption that you found some "special" Win7 drivers, even though I saw the statement from Intel that no Win7 drivers exist for the 855 chipset.

Regardless - thank you so much for posting this howto!

 

I updated the first page to add the link



Alex

 

Yes, it's certainly not the most straightforward process, so thank you for posting both word of your success as wells as a way to make the process clearer (and a tip of the cap to Alex for putting that in).

My pleasure--thanks for the feedback!

 

I’ve done it! CF-18DDB25ME

Most of the day spent doing the upgrade to Windows 7!

Just two little Tablet Button issues that I cannot resolve myself…

I cannot get the display rotation button to work. I must have missed something; I’ve tried changing the setting in the control panel and also applied the Registry changes as documented. But to no avail!

The other buttons that is not working is the LCD brightness control, with no on screen indicator and no changes when the up/down button is pressed.

The three other buttons work, just as they should.

In Device Manager I still have a yellow exclamation against Other Devices —Video Controller. I have the screen set at a resolution of 1024x768 and the Display is described as Generic Non-PnP Monitor on Standard VGA Graphics adapter. I can’t fault how it looks and it retains the setting when shut down and restarted.


Any advice appreciated!

 

The lcd brightnees is directly related to hotkeys , and you need to look to see if they are installed





Alex

 

Alex,

I have found that the brightness control button is working, but i need to 'step' push it up or down, whereas I thought if I just kept pushing it would go up or down - my mistake! I just don't get the on screen indicator that was there in XP.

 

Thats good then, its important to be able to dim the screen
My cf-30 mk-2 still does not show the indicator on the screen, I have not looked into figuring it out as I have not had the time, or care to spend the time on this small detail


Alex

 

A few notes:

• Be sure not to miss steps 8.7 & 8.8 when installing the tablet buttons driver. If there is only partial tablet functionality (such as described above), those steps could be the needed key. If omitted, the tablet buttons are only partially functional.
• The on screen indicator does work under Windows 7. If there is a problem, it is likely related to the above.
• Also check to see if you are able to configure the Table PC buttons under Start > Control Panel > Table PC Settings dialog > Buttons tab. This tab shows Toughbook-specific images. If you do have this, this is another sign that the tablet button drivers have not been installed correctly/completely.
• For the video driver, note in particular step 4.4
  

Hope this helps!

 

rcx,

I followed these to the letter, BUT when I got to 8.1 there was only one unknown device the other one was labelled as video controller! Now I only have that one!

Panasonic TOUGHBOOK Tablet PC Buttons now resides under Human Interface Devices.

Tablet PC Setting DOES show the Toughbook specific images.

 

If the Tablet PC Buttons now appear under Human Interface Devices in the Device Manager, then the system has found a driver it thinks it can use for that device. The driver by itself provides partial functionality; meitbrc.dll and MeiTBSet_STANDARD.reg (steps 7 & 8) link up the rest of the functionality.

After a clean install of Windows 7, the Tablet PC Buttons will be an "unknown" device. If drivers were previously loaded, try going through an "Update Driver Software" process and select the "Browse my computer for driver software" option. Tablet PC Button driver steps 7 and 8 need to be performed regardless of whether installing an "unknown" driver or performing a driver update.

Also, be sure that all drivers used are the ones specified in the original post and not the ones that came from the Panasonic Windows 7 upgrade link.

 

A quick note for those who are following this thread--

The original post has been significantly updated, including:

• Improved formatting
• Notes on the Windows Experience Index statistics
• Panasonic Misc driver installation, which then facilitates the installation of the following (thanks to slammer111 for sharing his notes on the Misc driver):
  • Automatic display rotation tool
  • Windows 7 version of several utilities
    • Panasonic wireless switch utility for Windows 7
    • Panasonic PC info viewer application for Windows 7
    • ...and more

The big highlight is that automatic display rotation is now functional under Windows 7. Thus, as best I can tell, all major functionality available under Windows XP Tablet PC Edition is also available under Windows 7.


Enjoy!

 

I’ve managed to install the correct video driver using the instructions found here; (very simple and quick!)

Laptop Drivers: Intel 82852/82855 GM/GME Windows 7 Driver

However for the rest I had not realised that the process had been significantly updated as I had printed a version from a few weeks back, and there is a lot more there now!

So as far as my change goes everything works except for the rotation button. (the on-screen brightness control now appears).

I’m now very confused with what is written in the thread …how to install the misc drivers, and referring to this.

I am not a PC expert, and I know that most of you are, and I am sure this is the answer I am looking for, to get the buttons working correctly but;
1) what .inf file is being refered to? (and where do you find it?)
2) In system Manager I don't have ACPI Embedded Controller, I have ACPI Fixed Feature button, ACPI Lid, ACPI Power Button and ACPI Thermal Zone

All of which currently show the provider as Microsoft with the same driver 6.1.7600.16385!

Can I just update the drivers (and which ones) or do I have to start all over again with my Windows 7 install?

I'd like to know how I can run the driver updates from the Command Line as mentioned in the Instalation instructions for CF-19K/L?

I will add a big THANK YOU to all of you for your help and guidance you have all been a great help.

 

Not sure what this question refers to, as the inf file name of "MeiTBtn.inf" was given for the Tablet Button driver in the post. If referring to the Misc driver this file name was given as "newmisc.inf." Either way, this file would be included in the contents of the respective Panasonic driver download.

Note the differences marked in bold. You will also find a Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System device nearby in the list, but that it NOT the one to update.

As for the video driver, my preference is for non-destructive techniques. In the long run, I think that will prove to be the simpler method, anyway. The destructive method could potentially be flagged by the System File Checker or overwritten when installing an update in the future.