So I'm installing XP SP2...

Got the CF-29Mk3 on Wed. Picked up an external USB DVD on the way home from work and trying to install XP from a regular install CD, not a Panasonic "recovery CD"

Boots from the external drive just fine, copies the install files to the harddrive and reboots. The Windows XP splash screen pops up. This is when it gets stuck.

Got a blue screen with a mouse pointer. Trackpad moves the mouse around the screen, but that's as far I can get.

Any ideas?

 

I would just use the recovery CD's. Do you have those?

 

Just edited the OP, I don't have the Panasonic recovery CD... yet.

 

You can't go wrong using the proper Panasonic Toughbook CF-29 Series Product Recovery CD Set.

 

Try resetting the BIOS to the default setting except for booting from cd drive first and hdd second.

Glen

 

Check your PM's

 

I would do this and then reload.... When you say "Blue Screen" are you talking about the blue Windoze screen or a BSOD. I would assume the Win Startup screen...

 

I need to know which Forum members have these to sell, as I direct to Mark Hawkins only because I know he has original sets, but would rather keep everyone "In House" when possible.

 

I totally would have "kept it in the family", but I already dropped $35 on a disk from the eBay link above.

 

In other news, was able to get XP to install after having to completely reformat the internal drive.

Loaded the drivers downloaded from Panasonic's website, and used WinRAR to extract the file since I was getting the "machine does NOT support" error when trying to self-extract them.

Still have a problem getting the on-board LAN/WLAN working. Have a D-Link wireless-G PC card in there for the moment.

Also discovered that a Sony Ericsson GC83 wireless broadband module w/antenna is installed, so that's a bonus. Don't know if I'm actually going to activate it though, or if it still works from the previous owner.

 

Obviously, you have one of the retired SBC CF-29 Mk3 uints:

CF-29HTM50BM DESCRIPTION:
***SBC ONLY***
Pentium M 738-1.4GHz LV (Centrino), 13.3" Transmissive Touch XGA, 512MB, 40GB, Intel PRO/Wireless 2951ABG 802.11 a+b+g WLAN, Win XP SP2, Tester I/F, EDGE(GC83), logo, asset tag, replaceable RJ11 jack

The Sony-Ericsson GC83 card is locked to Cingular/at&t and is GSM EDGE technology, requiring a SIM card from either Cingular or at&t to function.

Drivers for the card are available from either Sony-Ericsson ( Wireless Manager) or at&t ( Connection Manager), as part of their respective connection utilities.

Some of us (myself included ) have replaced the GC83 cards with one of the Sierra AirCard 8x0 cards, utilizing one of NTTD's custom-made antenna pigtail adapters.

 

Yeah, after I posted, got curious so I got the drivers and fire it up. Turns out someone went in and removed the SIM card, so no-go. No worries though, wasn't expecting to use it anyway.

 

Still struggling with the internal Intel WLAN, the "Intel Wireless Management Service" keeps crashing.

Has anyone else had this issue? Is there a specific way to install the drivers in order to get this resolved?

 

You might want to try this:

Update Intel® Wireless Adapters: Intel® Driver Update Utility

or:

Intel® PRO/Wireless and WiFi Link Drivers-Only for Windows XP

or:

Intel® PROSet/Wireless WiFi Connection Utility for Windows XP 32-Bit

or:

Just wait until your genuine Panasonic CF-29 Series Product Recovery CD Set arrives and start from scratch.

 

Yeah, already been there too. That's why I'm considering just swapping in an EnGenius card.

 

Which Intel® PRO/Wireless 2915ABG drivers did you use: OEM Panasonic or Intel Generic?

"OEM Supplied Versus Intel Provided Generic Software:

Intel recommends that you obtain and use the software provided via your laptop manufacturer."

 

Latest driver from Panasonic since I figured they did something to make it work with the software switch, latest Pro/Set software from Intel.

 

Just looked at the device manager, came up with something odd...

in the "Advanced" tab, I noticed the following:

Hardware Version: 0.0.10
MAC Address: 00-00-00-00-00-00

Are you guys seeing the same thing? Seems weird that the MAC is zero'd out.

 

THIS is the one you want...

Accept the agreement and then download on the next page. Don't rely on Panasonic to save you on this one... The 12/10/09 driver is what you want.... The ABG since that is what is in your laptop.

 

Exactly, that's the software I'm running, I guess I should have been more specific:

Driver: Panasonic provided - 9.0.4.37
WLAN Config. SW: Intel provided PROset install package - 12/2009
Additional software: latest Panasonic WLAN software switch, same package as driver install

 

You may want to contact the seller for a refund pending your Recovery Disks... Some of the SBC units are WAY worn out and abused... I'd shoot for a refund.

 

Cracked the case and reseated the WLAN card. One of the retaining clips was bent outward, thought I got lucky. Restarted the machine, no joy on a MAC address, but windows still tries to install drivers for the card.

Read about the BIOS possibly getting corrupted, so I restarted, got into the BIOS and reloaded to factory defaults.

The result: Success! MAC address present after installing the latest driver.

Intel PROset software downloaded from Intel website installed, connected to my AP.

WLAN software switch installed and working properly.

Everything now works, including the touchscreen.

Looks like I got an SBC keeper, not bad for a $130 eBay snatch...

 

Glad it all works for you now. A moderate amount of hair pulling is always good as a learning experience.

 

Yeah... you notice the big hat he's wearin' in his picture right there, doncha? That's to hide the results of his Graduate-level "learning experience" with Toughbooks...

mnem
*Counting his scales even as we speak*