Just got my Panasonic Toughbook Cf-29 MK 2

Just like a child on christmas opening up his presents. I got mine this morning and right now i am typing on this laptop!!! HAHHAHA!

Yay! Lots of stuff to get though..

1) 1GB Memory
2) CD/DVD Optical drive and Caddy (I have a drive but have no caddy, advice?)
3) Comtemplating on a better wifi card and antenna for my lappie.

Questions:
I wonder can my unit be retrofitted with an aftermarket GPS unit? Advice anyone?

 

i just got one too mkI but w/ more memory...maybe we got it from same seller?

I bought a new wifi card 2200bg (the one on there keeps turning on and off while on battery but not so much on an ac power) for 6.50 on ebay and just ordered a drive for 55 shipped, if you want the ebay seller i can get it to you. I'm eyeing a new battery for 60 shipped, but i dunno, it's getting expensive fast.

 

Hey Chingon, oh yeah? I got it from e-bay from a seller in Montreal. He has tonnes of like Toughbooks different models but mainly 29's and 28's.

A new wifi-card? Is it the PCMIA which u stick in the PCI card slot?? Sure, send me the link.

I got my battery for 50 total about 60? plus shipping.

 

You should read the F.A.Q here http://forum.notebookreview.com/panasonic/241106-cf-29-f-q-read-me-before-posting.html before buying a wifi card ( intel card is junk) or Media bay cd-rom. The one you have will not boot to the OS.....and will take 3 minutes to load XP Pro http://go.notebookreview.com/?id=525X832&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.toughbooktalk.com%2Fpublic_downloads%2FHDD%2520%2526%2520CDD%2520swap%2FCF-28%2520CD%2520to%2520DVD%2520Swap.htm&sref=http%3A%2F%2Fforum.notebookreview.com%2Fpanasonic%2F241106-cf-29-f-q-read-me-before-posting.html

For the GPS check out Custom Toughbooks, -Aftermarket solutions for Panasonic Toughbooks He (vince) sells them on fleabay too

 

It's most likely not the card but your wifi setting, if it sits too long it will shut off to save battery power

They just had some on fleabay for $30.00 . ONLY BUY OEM. Read this http://forum.notebookreview.com/pan...s-usage-calibration-feedback-experiences.html

 

Thank you toughasnails =) Appreciate the heads up. I think for now, i shall get the memory first for the Cf-29 MK1 for me.

 

Your antenna's are fine, there is no need to change them
Your stock Intel 2100B wi-fi card is in need of upgrading as you noticed

Yes, the stock Intel 2100B card is like that
The 2200BG is usable, but there is better options

Good price on the drive, that is if it has the caddy included

If it's a panasonic original battery, not a china copy, thats a good price for new

 

Hey Tomcat, well the thing is i don't have an antenna for my CF-29. Because its the 1.3 GHZ and i think its the MK I edition??? Advice?

For now they gave me a Netgear PCMICA (whatever) a card to stick in the PCI slot, which i did and receives signal. A bit awkward sticking out.

Oh yeah? Do you guys think this would fit for my CF-29 Hardrive??

Its a TOSHIBA 2.5" 320GB SATA Hard Drive

Do we need to change the SATA laptop adapter for the stock CF-29 MK I model?? I think i have a MK I.

 

I should've waited on the wifi, but this thing is getting on my nerves. I think it's making noises (as odd as that may seem), I mean, it's not the hdd, nor the speaker, and this thing is intermittetingly failing, so it' smy guess.

Drive includes caddy from description I'd guess. Battery's original new.

 

Advice, read the stickys
The cf-29 FAQ has model # info
All you need to do is read the first page/match your model # to the series

Is there no plastic antenna covers on the lid?
I have never seen a cf-29 without them, I wonder if you have a cf-28

Get the IDE 160GB samsung drive as recomended in the CF-29 faq

 

A 1.3GHz CF-29 is a Mk2, not a Mk1:

Mk1: Intel® Pentium® M Processor ULV 753 1.2GHz Centrino
Mk2: Intel® Pentium® M Processor ULV 718 1.3GHz Centrino
Mk3: Intel® Pentium® M Processor LV 738 1.4GHz Centrino
Mk4: Intel® Pentium® M Processor LV 778 1.6GHz Centrino
Mk5: Intel® Pentium® M Processor LV 778 1.6GHz Centrino

 

is there a way to disable the wifi going on and off? i notice that with the ethros.

also its hard to find a dvdrw ide nowadays i found one for 55.00 locally

 

Well Tomcat, you seem to be the expert here. I am confirming with you, i looked around my CF-29 it does not have any antenna at all. I will tell you the model number and maybe you can assist me ??

Here it is:
CF-29E3KGZKM

Where can i get that IDE 160 GB drive in Canada??? Suggestions?

Thanks for advising Tomcat!

Oops! My ding dongs! See? A newbie makes a mistake like that. ANyways, yeah, ten you are right, we are looking at a MKII

 

Oh yes you do, two of them at the top of the screen. If you read the first page of the F.A.Q you will find all your questions answered and save you some $$$ on junk hardware http://forum.notebookreview.com/panasonic/241106-cf-29-f-q-read-me-before-posting.html you will find

 

Those are antennas???? They don't even look like it. SOrry to sound like a retard here. But ok.

So, hypothetically speaking if those are the antennas, why do i still need a PCI wireless card for to get wireless signals?

Gonna go read the FAQ now. Thanks toughasnails for your patience. Sorry about the trouble.

 

id skip 160 and go 320

 

Well, i could go for that, but i got to look for a place to get it in Canada, and consider re-installing win xp without the CD. Unless i can find one.

 

You might not have a wifi card installed or no / wrong drivers.

 

Since you are from Ontario
HM160HC - Canada : Samsung 160gb 2.5" 5400rpm Udma/100 Eide Hard Drive 8mb - Product Details

It's 149 GB after the format
You will have 145GB free after your windows installation

Hit F2 while booting
Look for a wireless lan listed in Advanced tab

 

Model No: CF-29ETKGZKM
Standby...checking the BIOS now under "Advanced"

Cardbus COnt A: Enable
MOdem: Enable
LAN: Enable
Boot Up from LAN: Enable
Wireless LAN: Disable

Advice?

 

Enable Wireless LAN !!!

Download this driver for your 2200BG wireless card
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/con...x32.exe&lang=eng&Dwnldid=18404&ProductID=1637

 

Ok. I got the blue screen with some text. and we are back to not shutting windows down properly.

Ideas??

Right, the driver, let me do that now. Jeese! forgot about it!

Installation of driver complete. Running a test now.

If i have a netgear PCI card driver install, do you think i should remove it???

All right Netgear removed, now running from bios. Activating Wireless Lan.

 

Make sure if another driver is installed ,it gets removed if possible from add and remove programs menu

 

OH MY GOD! TOMCAT! YOU ARE SUCH A GENIUS! IT WORKED!!!!!

Thank you TOMCAT! You're the BEST!

One item off the list Wi-fi fixed.

Now touchscreen.

 

Newegg.ca - Computer Hardware,Hard Drives,Laptop Hard Drives,320GB,IDE Ultra ATA100 / ATA-6

Newegg.ca - Computer Hardware,Hard Drives,Laptop Hard Drives,160GB,IDE Ultra ATA100 / ATA-6

 

CF-29E3KGZKM DESCRIPTION:
Intel Pentium M 718 1.3GHz ULV (Centrino), 13.3" XGA Transmissive NON-touchscreen, 256MB Base RAM, 40GB HDD, Floppy Disk Drive, Intel 2100B 802.11b+g WLAN, Win XP Pro

 

Nooo..non-touchscreen!!

 

Well that was easy .......next on the list

 

Next is to upgrade the memory to 1GB. From my eye sight it looked as if it could fit a 2GB. hahhaha! What do you guys think from experience?

 

Your total max is 1256MB. So what you need is 1GB 200-Pin DDR SO-DIMM DDR 333 (PC 2700) Laptop Memory .They don't make a 2GB DDR I am told

 

If a 2GB existed I would have it already in both my units. In the FAQ sata HDD conversion is also there but you lose some of the toughness of the hard drive in the event you drop it "Just right". I have a back up ide caddy cause I am notorious for breaking stuff. Reason I have a ToughBook in the first place

 

"They" do; it's for the Getac ruggedized laptop, and it has been shown that it will not work in the Mk1 through Mk3 CF-29 Toughbooks.

Sorry.

 

Would these fit my Toughbook? Please advice guys, thanks.

Link 1: Lexar 2GB DDR2 Laptop Memory (LD1GN2S806CNA) - Future Shop


Link 2: Lexar 1GB DDR Laptop Memory (LD1GN1S403CNA) - Future Shop

 

Link 2 will work

Notice, it's not cheap

 

Newegg.ca - Computer Hardware,Memory,Laptop Memory,200-Pin DDR SO-DIMM,1GB

 

I will send it out tomorow
This is what I am sending
Newegg.ca - Kingston ValueRAM 1GB 200-Pin DDR SO-DIMM DDR 333 (PC 2700) Laptop Memory Model KVR333X64SC25/1G

 

2GB DDR?

 

Thanks to Tomcat, i am glad i will be able to somewhat "supercharge" my toughbook =)

 

I will update you all when it comes. The Ram !!!

 

I got the 1Gb upgrade today from tomcat and it works like a CHARM!!!! THREE CHEERS TO TOM CAT!!!! THANK YOU!