HOWTO: Install Windows 7 on a CF-18 mk1

Just to clarify, by "Windows Tablet PC functionality," I was referring to the OS enhancements that Tablet PC provides. If people are working trying to get those OS enhancements enabled on non-digitizer models, I just wanted them to be sure they were aware that such a configuration isn't officially supported.

I would also clarify that for the "tablet buttons," those should provide functionality regardless of whether the system is a digitizer model or a non-digitizer model. This is where the Panasonic software should fill in the gap; based on reports by multiple users, it is not.

The dependencies for the tablet button capabilities are as follows:

• Panasonic Common Components
• Panasonic Misc driver
• Panasonic Notification utility
• Tablet buttons driver, including
  • C:\WINDOWS\system32\meitbrc.dll
  • MeiTBSet_STANDARD.reg
• Tablet button manager application

On a non-Tablet PC instance of Windows 7, there is a trick that has been noted for displaying the "Tablet PC" control panel dialog. According to the Microsoft Answers forum, the Tablet PC settings dialogs can be accessed under Windows 7 on non-Tablet PC's by performing the following:

• Press the Windows Logo Key + R to bring up the Run dialog
• Type in or copy/paste the following in to the "Open" text box
  
  Code:

  shell:::{80F3F1D5-FECA-45F3-BC32-752C152E456E}

On a non-Tablet PC instance of Windows 7 on a CF-18/19 (a non-digitizer model without the Wacom driver installed), does the "Buttons" tab on that dialog show the three Panasonic tablet buttons? Does it even have the "Buttons" tab?

While the Wacom driver does activate the tablet buttons, it's not quite the ideal solution--the Wacom software has its own issues, and Flicks functionality (Start > Control Panel > Pen and Touch > Flicks) has also been noted in earlier posts to be an issue. Unfortunately, I don't have any non-digitizer CF-18/19 models at the present on which to test.

 

yes, on my CF-18 touchscreen without Wacom PenSoftware installed, executing above shell command invokes "Tablet settings" dialog; the "Buttons" tab shows, so does the PANASONIC buttons location picture, as well as the "Tablet button" settings list, allowing to configure button behaviour for "press" as well as "press and hold" states.

However, while the settings dialog can be invoked with above method, the tablet buttons still do not work.

And to clearify, Windows 7 of course has the generic tablet support installed (installs by default even on a touchscreen CF-18, being non-digitized).

So the question remains how to get the tablet buttons to work without having to install the Wacom PenSoftware on CF-18 touchscreen version.

PS: The PANASONIC auto-rotation driver also in no case works on my CF-18 touchscreen, with or w/o the Wacom PenSoftware, while all other modes of invoking display rotation do work, given that the video driver is properly installed as per rcx excellent post#1 in this thread.

@rcx: I can send you a loaner cf-18 touchscreen, if you like. PM me.

 

Thank you for reporting back on this. Based on the description, it seems the tablet button driver installation was at least mostly good, as otherwise the Toughbook-specific images wouldn't have been displayed.

Thank you for noting this as well...that also has a dependency on the Panasonic Misc driver.

• Do you recall if there were any issues, unusual messages, etc. after installing the Misc driver?
• Do the hotkeys work (e.g. screen brightness, volume, battery level)? Those do not depend on the Misc driver.
• Have you attempt to install the battery recalibration utility (don't need to try to run it, just try to install it)? The battery recalibration utility also depends on the Misc driver, and it will let you know at install time if it can't find the Misc driver.

 

The intel 915GM graphics driver was earlier available via Windows update. This might relate to the release of SP1.
Not anymore.
This made me search a bit, and I came across this:
ftp://hp.com/ftp1/pub/softpaq/sp34501-35000/sp34749.exe
It's initially a windows XP driver.
Extract and run setup.exe as administrator AND windows XP compatibility mode.
And you're all done!
Now that I think of it, the CF-18 windows XP gfx-driver might work as well.

And as a sidenote. If you intend to install any MUI-language packs, do it before you install SP1. I had to remote SP1, install it and am now reinstalling SP1..

 

RCX, would you be interested in performing this install on a CF-18 MK3 and a CF-19 MK2? If so, let me know how much it will cost. thx. [email protected] is my email.

 

I really hate to bug any one regarding this issue as I have spent the last week cruising these forums and others looking for a solution. The problem I'm having is that my touchscreen just stopped working when I was using My CF-19 Toughbook. I had Vista running when this error occurred. I originally thought that if I updated to Windows 7, the problem would be solved. I have followed these instructions as well as the links that lead to other forums regarding this issue, driver installation, zero out hard drive, and even cracking her open to be sure the cable wasn't loose, But still no touch capability. I ran the PC Diagnostic and I get a failed error in the USB area and the Touchscreen portion of the test. Just want to know does this mean that my screen is dead and I have to get it replaced?

 

A very good chance that it's a hardware issue
What model is your cf-19 ?

 

It's a CF-19CHBAXBM

 

I'm pretty sure you have a dead TS. Let me know If you find a replacement one. I'm gonna buy those defective one with the untouch front bezel.



ohlip

 

Thats what I was afraid of, thanks alot and will keep you in mind when I find one at a decent price.

 

Being a mk1 ,yes hardware fault ,if it was working ,then stopped working

 

Thank you as well Alex, just glad to know I'm not losing my mind, haha. Thanks so much you guys!

 

It's a bit of work, but probably not much harder than changing the whole lid

TOUCHSCREEN TOUCH SCREEN Panasonic Toughbook CF-19 CF19 on eBay.ca (item 260703705585 end time 04-Apr-11 14:50:32 EDT)

 

All has been going well with my CF-18 and Windows 7, but I’ve noticed a change in the way it’s operating now.

My main use of the CF-18 is to run mapping software in my Land Rover, and I use both Memory Map and Quo.

As I am driving I sometimes want to just move the map over slightly and using the pen this has in the past worked just fine, moving the map over just the amount I want it to.

Now I notice that even after I’ve moved the map over it continues moving, much further than I want it to. (I have to do this left handed, being in a right-hand drive vehicle!)

I’ve gone back to the Pen settings and notice that the calibration screen has now only one box and not the two I had previously, and I can’t seem to find a way to set the sensitivity of the pen. Distance from the screen, which I think may be the problem. (or did I imagine this was a setting?).

Is it possible that a W7 update has made a change? There is another post on the site where a user has found that unpredicted changes have happened on CF-19 digitizer!

 

I've wondered how disruptive the changes in Windows 7 SP1 might be, but I haven't installed it yet. Do you have SP1 installed now?

 

I have not yet installed SP1, so we can take that out as the likely cause.

 

By one box and not two, do you mean you don't see the full 16 calibration points as described under the "Calibrate the Digitizer" section in the first post? If so, per that post, click the "Reset" button to re-enable extended calibration. After a 16-point calibration has been completed, the calibration will only the minimal set of calibration points during subsequent calibrations (unless, of course, you click the "Reset" button).

Depending on what mapping software you are using, the continued movement of the map might be a "momentum" feature of the mapping software--even though you reach the edge of the screen, the map will continue to scroll. Some touchpads have this feature, too--perform a special swipe, and it will keep scrolling until you tap the touchpad again. It is a useful feature when you need to do a considerable amount of scrolling.

Holding the pen at a distance from the screen, or hovering, is the equivalent to moving a mouse around without any clicking. Unless you enter a special "drag" mode where you can drag without holding down the click, normal movement of the mouse (e.g. no click-and-holds involved) as provided by the hover capabilities should not introduce any issues.

Disclaimer 1: All of the above assumes that the Wacom driver is not installed.

Disclaimer 2: I use pens from DRS WalkAbout instead of Panasonic's little tethered pens; the tethered pens seemed way too jittery. The DRS WalkAbout pens are more stable, not causing near the amount mouse cursor jitter. Plus, they are the size of actual ink pens, too, which to me provides a better feel. (Note: Both pens were designed for the same type of Wacom digitizer. Not all digitizer pens are cross-compatible.)

 

RTX, than you again for your help and advice.

I did mean that I only had 8 calibration points. I have now reset calibrated as per your first post. I had forgotten (It’s an age thing!) that I needed to do a reset to return the 16 calibration points.

I also found that in one of the mapping software I had inadvertently changed one of the settings to ‘continuous scroll’. Changing this back has improved things!

However I still find there are differences between the pen, touchpad and using a USB mouse.

Example:
Both touchpad and mouse need left button held to move the map, whereas the pen will move the map without holding the pen button down. (It works this way with two different mapping software’s.)

Your full size pen solution would be very handy for me, I’ve Googled the pen you mention but cannot find any results for the pen alone being available. I have a Wacon pad and tried the pen that came with that, but it doesn’t work. Do you know if any of the Wacon pens will work?

 

The Wacom "Penabled" pens work with the CF-18-19. The MP200 is the one Panasonic uses for OEM.
CAP

 

Captain, thanks for the info, but this looks to be the same size as the one that comes with the CF-18. I'm after a pen that is more like the size and feel of a normal pen.

The Wacom Tablet I have is the Intunos 3, which is described as 'Penabled', however I have tried the pen that came with it on the CF-18, and it does not work.

 

With a digitizier under the default configuration,

• Hovering the pen above the screen is analogous to moving the mouse without holding down any mouse buttons
• Tapping the pen against screen without pressing any buttons on the pen is analogous to a left mouse click
• Holding the pen against the screen and moving it without pressing any buttons on the pen is analogous to a left-click and drag
• Pressing the button on the pen and tapping the pen against screen is equivalent to a right click

To describe it another way, touching the screen is analogous to pressing the left mouse button, while pressing the pen button and then touching the screen is analogous to pressing the right mouse button.

To put it in terms of the mapping example, I would expect the pen to act just as described--move the map without holding the pen button down--if you are dragging the pen against the screen.

 

I 've been using Panasonic Tablet PC for a couple of years for field data collection and processing. But when it comes to all these mods and enhancements I AM A COMPLETE NEOPHYTE. I don't even know how to get to the registry to modify it. Every post usually assumes everybody knows how to "go to the registry" and perform changes. Somebody told me that "the Win 7 implementation of the Tablet PC platform surpasses the XP by far". So I took the plunge, purchased Win 7 Ultimate and had a friend load it on my CF-19 and my troubles started. A few functionalities like rotation, backlit, panny software and manual disappeared. I have read this "How To" all over and still can't get things going right. So I called Panasonic and I was told that my model - CF-19CDBAXVM is mark one and not compatible with win 7. "We do not have drivers for your model; you have to wipe your HDD clean and re-install XP Tablet edition". Now, is there any member of this forum who has successfully upgraded this model XP to Win 7? If so, how did you do it?. I have 2 GB memory and 160 Hard Drive on my CF-19 WorkHorse.

 

Its been done here, mostly the senior citizen of the forum. I can't seem to find the exact thread but its here somewhere. To give you some pointers, use the vista drivers for MK1(digi..) on win 7 OS.


ohlip

 

Check out this search TEST site:forum.notebookreview.com/panasonic - Google Search I don't have a 19 myself but many fellow members do and have it running with no problems

 

I have followed the process in the OP (it took me over 2 days) and no success. I ain't computer smart like you guys so I decided to live with it w/out display rotation and FN keys operations. Then this afternoon I got a DVD from Panasonic. It is labelled: "CF-19 K All-in-one Driver DVD (with support for ALL previous CF-19 Models". It also has "WINXPSP2 V1.00L10" written on it. The disc includes all the drivers for CF 19 MK 1, 2, 3. Has anybody else received this? Should I install the drivers from this disc?

 

The drivers on that disk would be drivers to use with Windows XP; the drivers listed in the original post would be the drivers to use with Windows 7. The instructions in that first post should work, but they have to be precisely followed down to virtually every last detail. This install does have a higher than average degree of difficulty, but given what it entailed to get Windows 7 working, this complexity was hard to avoid.

 

Great thread with lots of useful info. I just bought a SH CF19MK1 Digitiser 4GB Ram 320GB HD X Strap $1.1K which someone had put XP pro on and of-course pen & buttons were not working, format and installed Win7 Ultimate, installed windows updates. Everything working apart from front buttons. Installed the 19 listed drivers just in case I was missing something and everything still works including front buttons. Nice machine, as expected much faster than my old CF-18.

 

Hi All, Just did a complete install on a new hard drive CF-18 DD.A bit of a strange way to install a O/S,But everthing works great!! 100 percent.
Thanks So Much

 

hello guy, I read this forum from much time but it is first time that I write. I write from Italy with help of a web translator, excuse me.
I want thanks RCX for optimal tutorial.
I have installed seven on mine cf-18mk1. The computer works perfectly except the push-buttons that are found on the front face on the left like in the photo.
If I pressing the right push-button for a second it is ignited the light of the mail but it does not succeed nothing, while the light of the wireless flashes in continuation but I do not know what wants to say.
I have read that it would have to be a system in order to ignite or to extinguish the wireless fastly but does not seem to work.
But the system wireless of the computer works perfectly.
Who can help me?

 

I pulsanti sulla sinistra sono per le connessioni WWAN o cellulare non per le connessioni WLAN per la rete domestica o hot spot wireless.
CAP

 

Thanks CAP, a thought in less.
Thanks also for to have answered in Italian.

 

Hello, I have still a small doubt, my cf18 has this acronym: CF18BDK01ME.
In the table under the quarter letter 0 it does not appear here.
Why? Thanks for l' aid.

Fourth Character is WWAN (Builtin Broadband) options:

F – GPRS (Cingular)
G – Edge (Cingular) (AT&T GPRS prior to Pent M733)
H – GPRS (T-Mobile)
J – CDMA 1xRTT Verizon (no voice)
K – EVDO (Sprint) (1xRTT prior to Pent M733)
L – GPRS (Cingular)
M – EVDO (Verizon) (1xRTT prior to Pent M733)
Z – none
3 – special order

 

Non ho un modo per decodificare i codici europei. Se ti stai chiedendo per il modem WWAN, è necessario trovare il software per il modem, spesso chiamato "watcher".
CAP

 

Ciao, scrivendo in italiano mi semplifico la vita ma non vorrei che la cosa non fosse prevista dal Forum...
La questione WWAN è superata da quanto tu mi hai spiegato, la mia era pura curiosità per dei tasti che non ho mai visto su di cf18, tutto qui. Di solito navigo in rete oppure in WI-fi, quindi niente modem.
Anche la questione della sigla non è poi importante, come scritto il pc va molto bene con seven, solo che decifrando la sigla che identifica il mio pc mi sono imbattuto in quello zero oppure O non previsto dalla tabella della Panasonic che ho trovato grazie a questo sito e mi domandavo che versione ho tra le mani visto la pulsantiera anteriore sinistra "anomala" e la sigla pure.
Spero di non avere abusato della pazienza dei Mod con il mio italiano.
In ogni caso ancora grazie.

 

Sei il benvenuto. Non parliamo italiano, ma noi siamo qui per aiutarvi.
CAP

 

Matthew, Dave, thank you, your posts have been very useful.

I was given a decommissioned CF-18 MK4 (touch screen, not digitizer), model number CF18KHHZXBE. I immediately put Windows 7 Ultimate on it and began searching for drivers. I found all the drivers mentioned in Matthew’s first post and followed the installation procedure with one exception; I used the original CF-18 MK4 video driver which was needed for the Intel 915 chipset.

Everything installed without issues and everything is accounted for in Device Manager without exclamation marks (the Intel 915 video driver does not rollback either). However, the touch screen does not work. When I touch the screen the cursor disappears. Following this when I touch the touchpad the cursor reappears in the bottom right corner of the screen.

Most information available is for digitizer screens, whereas mine is simply a touch screen. I have done several reinstalls of Windows 7, but I am at a loss, I just can’t get it to work. I would really appreciate some insight.

 

Do you know for sure if the touchscreen worked before ? Why I ask is this is what happens when the touchscreen goes kaput .

 

Sounds like the classic bad touchscreen. However, you may try cleaning around the edge of the touchscreen. Sometimes gunk builds up under the edge.

 

Axionomical has the same model as mine and the touchscreen on these are known to go bad, just hope that is not the case for him.

 

I appreciate your quick responses. @toughasnails I don't know if the touch screen worked before but I had a feeling the screen may be bad from what I've read. @db04p71 I'll try the flatened toothpick via a hammer method to clean around the edges.

Again, thank you very much for your insight.

 

No problem at all, let us know how you make out. Also if you had the restore disk you could try to install XP and see what happens. Myself I am going to replace mine with a mk1 screen.

 

No restore disk and no positive results on the touch screen. I did attempt to reinstall XP, however, I just can't get XP to boot from USB. I've since disabled it in the BIOS.

It's still a great computer, and a great DVD player when in tablet mode for my daughter. I may have another come my way, hopefully with a working touch screen this time.

Again, thanks for your insight.

 

hi mods, is the same procedure apllied to CF19ExxxxTx xp pro upgrade to vista sp2? TIA.

 

If you are still looking for the restore disk go to one of my auctions NEW PANASONIC TOUGHBOOK CF-18 OR CF-19 USB PORT COVER - eBay (item 400218531901 end time Jun-23-11 23:38:41 PDT) and click on " contract member " and I can help you out. You still need a few more post to be able to PM other members on here

 

Hi Guys,

Lurker with a first post. Hope you can help...

I have a CF-18 (Mk4) than I'm looking to upgrade to Windows 7 (CF-18KHHZXBM). I have all of the original image/driver disks, but these won't help me by the looks of things.

Before I download all of the individual drivers from the first post I wondered if anybody had compiled a driver disk they had an image for that I could use? An image including Windows 7 would be awesome and a real timesaver (nothing illegal - I'm not looking for any keys etc. as I have my own W7 keys).

Thanks for any help with this,

Mark.

 

Mark, welcome to the forum/nuthouse . Now why would you want to go this way....don't you want to spend hours and hours downloading, installing drivers......cursing and @$%&*. You don't know what your missing . That might be a tall order your asking .

 

Hi Toughasnails,

Thanks for the welcome. Regarding the request I figured it was worth asking before starting it .

To be honest, had I already carried out the task, I would be willing to help by passing my hard work on if it was needed. Maybe there are seeking Karma points today too

 

Myself I never did the W7 install, after reading some of these post and the problems I had with my CF-29 I said no way...good luck and hopefully someone can help you out.

 

Seems you might be right - no replies or PM's...

Next stop is to see if there is anything for sale that fits the above anywhere. Depending on cost, it might be cheaper to buy it (in regards to my time spent sourcing the files, and then setting everything else up/tweaking).

Thanks again for your help and feedback with this. Judging by your last reply it may be something that a few of us CF-18 users would find useful!

 

You will need a few more posts before you can send or receive PM's. It was 15 posts but I think it's 5 now. NBR does updates every night so if you hit 5 posts today you should be able to PM tomorrow .