New member introduction

Good Day All,
My name is Dave and I am a network specialist at a not for profit residential treatment center and school. We recently received 2 skids of donated CF-28 and CF-29 Toughbooks in varying condition. In my search for information on these, they are different from standard laptops to be sure, I found myself here from links in searching on how to get them up and running. I have found very good information and a pleasant and helpful group of members here and hopefully I will be able to contribute help to others as I learn. I have already deployed 9 CF-29 to nursing, if they survive the nurses they can survive anything, and have a shelf of about 10 more ready. I have not started on the CF-28 at this point, as I have no power supplies for them yet. Most do not have drives so we will set up a PXE server for them.
I want to say thanks to the folks who have answered so many of my questions before I joined.

Dave

 

WELCOME to the group...

 

Welcome to the Panasonic Forum
make sure you check out this http://forum.notebookreview.com/panasonic/241106-cf-29-f-q-read-me-before-posting.html , lots of 29 info can be found there. Try the search in my sig, works great.

 

If you will be able to use the CF-28's let me know and I can send you a few hard drive caddies and a few hard drives for them. I probably have some power supplies around somewhere as well.
CAP

 

Dave... Welcome to the forum! I know the CF-29s like the back of my hand! I have built hundreds of them. If you need any help... Just sing out!

I live in Pasadena but get out to Westminster every two weeks or so. Usually on Wednesdays. If you need help, let me know.

Rick

 

And there you have it from some of the best of the best. I don't click like buttons but I really like the response from these gentlemen.:thumbsup:

Welcome Dave.

 

Cap, If they will run XP then we can use them. The current plan is to use the CF-28s with hard drives to give to the students when they leave. At this point, without PS to check them I don't know, but it sounds like they should. I have about 30 more CF-29s to go through before I start looking for PS. Thank you very much for the offer.

 

Thanks Rick, You are one of the ones that I learned a lot from before I joined. I live in Westminster, but work is in Baltimore Co. I grew up in Glen Burnie, near the Harundale mall between Aquahart and 5th Ave. Lived 15 years in Annapolis where my wife is from, and now in Westminster. The programmer from work lives in Pasadena sounds like the Lake Shore area.

 

A thanks to all for the warm welcome and the generous offers of help.

Dave

 

Dave, the CF-28 will run XP fine. If all of your CF-28s are the same model I'll image the drives before I send them out. I'm not sure how many posts you need to send PMs, but send me your address and I'll get a power supply out to you unless Rick drops one by sooner.
CAP

 

Cap , he will need 5 posts to send PM's . Then it might take a few hours to show up. One more post to go :hi2:.

 

Cap, Thank you, My boss the IT Mgr says you are a bunch of really nice guys. I have to agree.

Most if them are CF28MBFA9EMBKB a few CF28MBFA1EMBKB and 1 CF28PBJA9QMBKB checking a dozen or so out of about 160




http://gssmaryland.org/

I took a picture with my phone of a cart that has most of the CF28s stacked on it.

 

I'll get a power supply out to you today. It seems you won't be needing and backlit keyboards. I'm hoping the CF-28s came with hard drive caddies, I don't have 160 of them
CAP

 

Only about a dozen with drives or caddies, hopefully the pic worked

 

Dave , you can send PM's now. It might be a good idea to send your address to Cap instead of posting it for every one to see...we are a good bunch here but they are a lot of bad one's out there on the internet. For safety sake we only send our email address and home address by PM's.

 

Dave, since your address disappeared I sent the power supply to Maple Avenue in Baltimore. If you need to give anyone a heads up it should be there by Wednesday.
CAP

 

Sorry Cap , that was me , I guess he never PM you yet.

 

Unfortunately... I don't have any CF-28 AC Adapters... But I DO have a bunch of port covers that I probably will never use. Plus the sliding doors on the back that the PDs use to shatter when they tried to install them in their mounts with the door closed. I also have a bunch of daughterboards I stocked up when I was installing GPS into them. Just sing out if you need something.

 

Thanks Rick, With the number that I have, I believe I will have enough parts donor machines. One question is the rubberized KB the same on the CF-28 and CF-29? I have a few of the 29s with missing keys I did a transplant from one 29 that had other damage to another in good shape otherwise, easy enough but 20 screws wow.

Dave

 

20 screws? Seems like it should be only 13 or 14. Be very careful with the keyboard cable clamp on the CF-28. It's real easy to brick the whole machine if you break the little ears off the connector.
CAP

 

I have a Sony power supply that works for a cf 28 somewhere. I'll find it and send it to you, if you PM me an address....

 

Dave, sorry, I forgot the question I was trying to answer. Yes, the CF-28 rubber keyboards will fit the Cf-29, and the caution on the cable clamp relates to the CF-28 especially.
CAP

 

Cap, it just arrived and is plugged into the first of the CF-28 Charge light is on :thumbsup:

 

...................................

 

As long as the battery light isn't flashing red you should be good.

 

Thanks for the KB info. I have several of the CF- 29s with torn keyboards, I did swap 1 out from a parts donor CF-29, They seemed to have had a User with a hammer that destroyed a couple of the power input connectors. I will also get to change out a touch pad, I have 1 machine with the center worn through.

Dave

 

Unfortunately changing the touch pad requires removing the palm rest covers which are glued on. I fixed mine with a little very low viscosity epoxy, it works fine. Others here have replaced them.CAP

 

warm it up with a hair dryer and use a wide putty knife..Go slow...

 

Dave... For "slightly" torn rubber keyboards... Try black high strength RTV silicone and apply with a toothpick then wipe away the excess. Make sure you coat both sides of the tear and then wiggle it back in place and wipe. When done correctly.. It will fix the tear and will usually last a long time.

 

I found some paperwork in one, seems they have been sitting since 2008 so 5 years without a charge. Seems I am running slightly less than 50% taking a charge. Those with the red flash seem completely dead. I know for Li Ion that there is a chip that pops a chemical fuse if cells get unbalanced so that they don't explode. Li battery explosions are not a good thing. Violent and toxic.

 

Thanks,for the idea. For the ones that are torn and not missing this sounds like a great idea.

 

I have a heat fun that I use for paint stripping etc. Too hot? or worth a try?
One of the organ donor machines is smashed on one side I will practice on that one first for removal.

Are the Cell phone units under the battery on the CF-28 ok to leave in place or should I remove them to extend battery life? Looks easy enough 4 screws and 2 ribbon cables.

 

That board is not only for WWAN, it is also used for GPS. If you have a bump out on the side that that should be where your GPS antenna is at.



Picture borrowed from Google. The factory unit just doesn't have that antenna hole drilled.

 

They used to be useful for installing aftermarket GPS but I don't think anyone is much interested in messing about with that. Just take them out. There have been many attempts to rescue old batteries, none were successful.
CAP

 

I actually use a small heat gun. Most people don't own one, so I say hair dryer. Practice is a good choice. More heat makes the glue softer, BUT can melt the palmrest.