Seeking advice cf-29

Hi all new to this forum, seems to be the best place for info.

First off ill say im a computer noob when it comes to making old stuff work, this is my first Toughbook, Id like to get it running for work because I work out in the weather, and destroy laptops fast.

That being said, I am looking for info/tips/advice for a computer noob so bear with me please.

I recently purchased a CF-29NAQGZBM off E-bay, it booted to BIOS just fine, holds a charge. Added a stick of ram it recognized it no problem.

Now as for getting it to run, can I take say a old IBM 2.5" HD and somehow get it to boot from that?

I have a USB/IDE adapter that i just purchased as well and have never used, can it be used to somehow load the drivers needed to get this thing running, from another computer without the "NTLDR is missing error"

Seeking any advice out there to get this machine running
Thank you

 

Welcome to the Panasonic Toughbook Forum
Any standard harddrive will work in them but my guess you do not have the caddy for it ?

Good price on one here
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Genuine-Pan..._Bay_Caddies&hash=item3f26b3683c#ht_815wt_884

 

i got a caddy already, tried the IBM hard drive just to see what would happen

 

Welcome to the forum. You should read this if you haven't already: http://forum.notebookreview.com/panasonic/241106-cf-29-f-q-read-me-before-posting.html
You should then look for a factory restore disk to load the OS and drivers. Someone will pop in with a source for the disks.
CAP

 

If the chipset and processer that was loaded on the IDE hard drive you loaded into the toughbook it should be the same. It sounds like the windows that is on that disk is corrupted.

 

You need to do a completely fresh install of windows with (preferably) a recovery disk.. If not... Any XP disk will work with your COA... You'll just need to download and install the drivers manually.

No sweat... Just a little time.

 

Sorry about that , when you said iBM I never thought you meant with the OS loaded from another laptop on that HDD.

 

Thanks all, just saw that Heartland is like a 10 minute drive from my house, will pay them a visit about purchasing a recovery disk for my unit.

stupid question tho, since this unit does not have a cd on it, will it be 3.5 floppies lol? feel free to troll that, but I was just wondering.

Also found the driver installation order on the link from dogfish, thanks again, nothing but helpful stuff on this forum :thumbsup:



edit:: just wondering how much they charge for recovery disk
if anyone knows off the top of their heads

 

Heartland services charges $35.00 but they do not have them for the older models...sorry

 

ok, so no use seeing them about a cf-29?
if not best place here on the BST forum?

 

Sure I would give it a try or ebay

 

Welcome to the NBR Panasonic forum! :hi2:

You will need a CD to load the OEM software from 3 Recovery CDs. Doesn't come on floppies. Someone here may have a line on the right Recovery CDs, or look for Fleabay seller named Mark Hawkings who sometimes has most of them. I think an external USB CD might work. It has to boot from Recovery CD #1. In the long run you will need a CD in that CF-29 but they are a bit pricey and the CD drive comes in a custom carrier to fit the media bay so not just any laptop CD will work.

Give a holler if you get stuck, I'm sure someone here can help.

Just noticed my post count hit the Satanic mark of 666

Woo-Hoo!


saved for posterity

 

Send Mark a message on ebay. He might still have some left, you will need the MK5 restore disk, other models will not work. mark_hawkins | eBay. If you can't find any send me a PM...also if you need a cd-rom check this out :hi2: http://forum.notebookreview.com/tou...-cf-vcd271-cd-rom-media-pack.html#post9267996

 

If you'd like to spend time and not money, try this link:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/panasonic/496467-cf-29-ubuntu-10-4-success.html
Best regards,
cleve