Proud owner of CF-29H3PCZLP

Wanted one of these toughbooks for years and now as a part exchange on a truck I got one, but....

Theres no operating system so Ive installed Lubuntu.

Can anyone tell me by looking at the reference number if this is a touchscreen version?

Also I read on here about those keyboards CF-VKBL02 + 03, am i right in saying you can take those apart and install the keyboard on the lap top. (Ive got a spanish keyboard with a missing E, and the 1 is clinging on for dear life)

Also from the reference, am I right in saying this has a GPS? And what about a mic? Not sure how much of this inability to function is due to the linux or the aging hardware.

Now for the real question. I am only getting sound out of the headphones. And very quiet sound at that. Any suggestions? is this a common problem? My feeling is that the headphone jack switch may be stuck on, but that wouldnt explain it being so quiet? Would it?

Really glad to have found this forum. Happy new year everyone.

Andy

 

the keyboard swap will work, just be careful when removing the flat cables(3) when you pull the tape loose as it may be easy to damage the cable. Just no icons on the function keys but azrial may still have some special sticker that you can place over the top row of keys. Shawn just mentioned the way ,order, in which to put in these cables so it is easier, makes more sense. Driller

 

Eh'm.....
It just so happens that I have a new, but bent up 30 chicklet keyboard that I pulled the v key off of and put on my sister's 29 (not backlit)

If you would like to do some business on the rest of the keyboard, I'll give it to you for a song. PM me if interested,
and Happy New Year.


**EDIT**
I just saw your post count and am not sure how the mods will feel about that.
If I'm in the wrong here, please just edit my post to death.
My apologies.

 

CF-29H3PCZLP
1.4ghz Centrino with a/b/g wifi
13.3 xga / no touchscreen
60gb hdd 512 ram
floppy / ethernet / bluetooth
no integrated options
XPP MUI XP Pro with Multi language user interface (I think)
international with Spanish keyboard

 

No GPS. No Touchscreen. No mic. However it should have Bluetooth. When you change the keyboard, look for a small circuit board antenna under the left side of the bezel above the keyboard.

 

Thanks guys. Yes found the bluetooth antenna. The hardware scan for this finds a fujitsu lifebook touchscreen, but I guess not.

Thanks for the offer of the keyboard. Iḿ in the uk so the postage would make it not worthwhile.

Any suggestions about the audio?? Thats really the make or break with this laptop if I keep it or not. I can do the mod to fit a mic, but cant live without a speaker. Want to use this laptop for travelling so skype is crucial.

All Iḿ getting is very low audio from the headphones. Nothing from the speaker. CHecked the speaker cable when I took the back off, looks fine. The headphones produce sound even as the jack is going in, brushing against the sides, before it pushes any switches inside the socket. Is the headphone socket always live or is it supposed to come on only when the switch is activated?

Thanks for your help.

 

First of all, I would read this thread. You may want to try this proven version. Possibly you have a driver issue.

Ubuntu 10.10 Is this the Toughbook Version?

Second, it may be a bad speaker.

Third, you may want to verify postage from USA to UK. It's not really that expensive. I have shipped hardware items to UK in the past.

 

Lubuntu is just a lighter weight version of Ubuntu. I run the full version of Ubuntu 10.10 along side windows xp. It runs fine and the lighter weight version isn't needed on this toughbook. Just about everything runs perfect out of the box and the first update fixes the rest. Just don't update to 11 if you like a classic desktop. Personally I didn't like the unity interface. After that you just need the calibration work and mouse tweak in the thread link that Shawn posted. Yours may have been upgraded by someone in the past to a touch screen. Touch screen will work on the ubuntu 10 live cd if you want to test that out. It seems they cut a few of the extra stuff needed for toughbooks out on the lighter weight versions of linux.

 

If you get a keyboard from the US, make sure it's a UK keyboard then

You don't want any keyboard that doesn't have the almighty £ on it!

 

Tried about 6 different distros of linux. Gave up on Ubuntu pretty quick as I still only have 512mb of ram and it wasn't enough. Even lubuntu is pretty slow. If I get the sound to work I'll invest 10$ in some more Ram.

Spent 4 days over xmas trying to find driver settings that would make the sound card work. Don't have access to a WinXP cd though so they have all been Linux os. Everything I've read says these machines (sound card and chip) should work no trouble with Linux, but this one doesnt. Suppose I need a WinXP CD to know for sure. (anyone)

What's the biggest HD I could put in this machine? I read 120GB, but then seen some people on here with bigger HDs than that.

Likewise with the keyboard. If I can get the sound to work I'll spend some money at this laptop. If not I have plenty of friends that will want it. Though a new keyboard would make it look less battered.

Interesting Fellow: How much for the keyboard. Not sure how to PM? Is it just the V key that's missing? is the hinge part that goes under the key still on there. Seen one of those illuminated keyboards on ebay for $20. Not sure if he'll ship to UK though.
What's "30 Chicklet" mean. I can live without the £ sign. It will help me spend less if I can't talk about money.

Andy

 

u can't pm till you hit 20 posts (or something)

yes, only the v key is missing, but the keyboard is bent up. not horribly, but it definantly will not sit flat when installed as is. it would be good as a key donor only. it is not backlit.

being in the uk, I know it will cost me $13.45 just to ship it.

30, as in CF30 (which will drop right into a 29, same part numbers)

I could pop the keys, and ship them for a bit cheaper than that. But I want it to work out fer both of us.
Lemme know.

{myusernamehere} at hotmail

 

Thanks. i need more than the key for the E. I need the little hinge bits too. Not really sure they can be removed from another keyboard, and fitted again without breaking them. I'd also need to get keyboard stickers, so would prefer to just get a keyboard that's ready to slot in. Thanks for the offer though. Sounds like there's probably someone else out there that will be able to make use of your keyboard.

 

Andy, if you want to test the speaker function before you start spending you can do so by very briefly brushing the connections with wires connected to a battery, say a PP3. If it crackles it's good.
Unplug the speaker first to avoid damaging the pcb. The speaker plug only has 2 very tiny holes for the pins so it might be easier to pierce or bare the wires a little - carefully!
I haven't checked but it may be possible to access the contacts on the speaker itself by removing the bottom cover if close work isn't your thing.
Smoke alarms use a PP3, don't use a car battery...

 

Thanks Unclemack. Think the speaker is probably fine. Its the sound card thatś behaving funny. Iḿ begining to suspect that someone plugged a line-in input to the mic, or the headphones and cooked the sound card. WinXP will tell for sure.

If that is the case, seeing as the sound card is built into the motherboard (correct?) does anyone have a motherboard for sale?

Just been using this machine for a few days now, and the ruggedness makes it so practical Iḿ hooked. Just need skype and the ability to watch (and hear) videos.

Is the motherboard from these used in anything else? (cheap and easy to find)

Andy

 

They also make a pcmcia / cardbus sound card that would work. You may find one that will fit with the door closed.

fleabay item # 200694726078 is one example