Installing Touchscreen on nonTC CF-28 Problem

HI All: My first post. Toughbook told me about this forum and I have been reading. Lots of smart people out there. I'm having a problem. I installed a Touchscreen in my wife's CF-28 800Mhz which never had a TC. First time I started it it was fine and the TC worked flawlessly. On next startup it went to "OS Not Found". I tried starting it in safe mode, no go. Tried removing the RAM, still the same. Tried her HDD in my identical CF-28 and it was fine. I'm thinking I may have blown her Motherboard on her Mother's Day gift/upgrade. This sucks. Has anyone installed a TC in a nonTC CF-28? I'm out of ideas unless I swap the MB that was originally with the TC. Any ideas or knowledge on the subject would be appreciated. Thanks. Spark

 

If it power up and on boot or startup went to no OS found means your hdd was out for commission or need to be change (hdd retired after long service). But before you do that, check the connection of hdd to mbo. it maybe loose.


ohlip

 

I agree, check the hard drive connector, and make sure you pressed the black portion down (I've forgotten to do that a few times).

If that does not fix it, get into the BIOS and see if it shows a primary drive. If it does, try re-installing the OS. If it does not, try opening up the hard drive caddy, and make sure the connector in there is tight still.

 

I've had several CF28 computers and the way you lock the HD in place leaves some room for error (I've had the same problem you just said you had). When you put the HD caddy into the bottom of your unit, make sure when you push the connector in that you feel it locking in place before you slide the metal locks in place. The connector is free floating and can be wiggled into place when needed. Sorry to hear your problem and hope you fix it.

 

HI, and thanks to all. There is nothing wrong with the HDD as it works just perfectly in my other three CF-28's. It's not the plug, I always make sure that they are pushed in all the way. I've had quote a bit of experience with 28's. The BIOS shows no Primary Master. So, evidently the motherboard does not see the HDD. I even disabled the Touchscreen in the BIOS and also removed the RAM card. I've not run into this before and I'm stumped. I think I did this on a 600Mhz a couple of years ago and I believe it worked OK.

I put my HDD in and the computer does not see it either. I have a bad feeling about this.

I can't believe it is a coincidence that this happened the second time the computer was started after I changed the screen. It was flawless before I switched to the TS.

Thanks for the suggestions and I'm all ears here. Spark

 

I've added and removed touchscreens from CF28s many times. The BIOS goes out and detects if it is there or not at startup. All CF28 mobo's perform this check, from my observation. The touchscreen isn't directly related to your HD problem.. Although the act of installing it may have indirectly caused something to go wrong. (hopefully not though.. that sucks!)

 

gravitar: So, in your opinion any 28 motherboard should run a touchscreen?

What gets me is on initial boot, after the switch, it worked perfectly for the few minute test that I gave it. Next boot it went to no OS. I guess I'll take it back apart, smack it around a bit and try to convince it to play. Thanks for your time. I'm still all ears. Spark

 

Hi! I just want to make sure before we go to another theory, Inspect the harddrive cable, if necessary try the whole thing to another machine. If it works It means theres something wrong with your mbo. Then check this component at the base of a harddrive connector on the mbo. there is tiny fuse(fuse again) white color check that out. I think on printed board it is F2
if I am not mistaken.

good luck and happy hunting


ohlip

 

FIXED
It was me! When I put the hinge cover on I inadvertently installed the screw nearest F10 key and cut and grounded the tiny red wire which runs from the photo cell at the left and into the computer body under the ss plate which covers the keyboard plugs. The computer works perfectly again but I'm wondering about the red wire not being hooked up. I've been looking in the service manual and the OPs manual and I can't find what the eye does. I read about it somewhere but can't remember. I'm thinking about just insulating it and leaving it disconnected. Any thoughts on this. I would fix it but I'm in a place where I have no tools to do the job. I can do it later and will, but what about right now? I want to thank all of you for your efforts. Spark

 

Holy cow! BTW.... I think the wire that you are talking about is for the mic.


ohlip

 

The eye is for adjusting the brightness of the "daylight viewable" transflective LCD.
Whew, I am having a bad day! That one is for the backlit keyboard sensor I believe. The hole for the mike is on the right I believe.

 

ohlip: Yeah, I feel a bit stupid about doing this. Oh well, could have been worse. What I did learn out of it was that if you have a stray ground in will not let the HDD be seen. Could come in handy in the future for other troubleshooting.

I believe you are correct about the wire. I just looked at it and it looked like a photo cell and I got stuck on that. Thanks for the heads-up. Spark

 

Thanks everyone for all the input. Spark