The CF-28 F.A.Q. - Read me before posting

Stephenwilly.
You have a mk-3 cf-28
Not a mk-2
the latest bios is here
http://panasonic.ca/PDP/Software/cf28s_mk3_v300l12_r-2003-0064.zip
BIOS

Alex

 

Thanks, tried a different RAM and that one worked, guess this board is picky. I'm gonna look through the memory related posts here on the forum and find something compatible. Still gonna upgrade the bios though. Thanks for those zip files, that's really what I was after.

 

Do you really have 1 GB of RAM on a CF28?

 

Some were supposedly made that way... Though I have never seen one.

 

Hi all,
I am new to this post and I am very impressed with the collective knowledge I have read on some threads and from those that have refurbishing/modding a toughbook down to a fine art. I am in Australia and find the support and availability of information downunder fairly limited as compared to overseas in USA and Europe. So here I am:

My story so far:
I have purchased 5 x CF-28 toughbooks with 800Mhz processor, touch screen, 512mb Ram and all in very good condition (they are ex-military with little use judging by their external condition). Unfortunately though, they each have no HDDs (original destroyed before selling to public) and four of them have no HDD-caddies as well. So before I embark on my journey to get these operational I need to hone my skills and acquire recommendations and info from the experts on this forum. I welcome all suggestions.
I have a fair knowledge with PC computers and to the point where I have assembled a home PC from pre-purchased components, and I can generally fix software problems as they arise (google is also my friend). My first impressions are that the toughbook appears to be a whole new level of challenge for me, components are smaller, etc etc. I am probably lacking some self-confidence at this stage but I want to give it a go. I am happy to follow instructions with some photos attached if possible.

My intended use for the toughbooks is primarily 4wd touring using GPS mapping software. I am looking at an upgrade to DVD from CD and fitting an internal GPS and wireless network card. When all is finished I will have one toughbook for myself, the others are earmarked for family and friends so I have quite a bit of work ahead of me. The toughbooks will have Windows XP Pro and will not be bloated with too much software, mainly running Oziexplorer mapping software with lots of digital maps.

My request is, I was after the following recommendations on what works best in the CF-28 range of toughbooks.
HDD - I am steering towards purchasing the Fujitsu 80GB HDD 5400RPM (is this the most suitable). The Hitachi Travelstar 7200RPM is near impossible to get here in Australia. I will consider all suggestions.

HDD-caddy - I also have one only HDD-caddy ready to go, but to be honest I am a little confused on its assembly. I have also read that the HDDs are to be encapsulated in GEL. How have others achieved this, if at all. Is their some other method or can I purchase the gel surrounding only. Any photos would be great including how the HDD actually fits into the body.

I have already perused the informative CF-28 FAQ thread and followed links to these two in particular:
CF-27, CF-28, CF-29 CD to DVD Swap Tutorial-Lots of Pictures!
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=162276

Default CF-28 101 - How to Change Your Hard Drive
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=188522


While both of these threads are very informative, unfortunately I am not seeing the attached photos at my end. These would be of real benefit to get me started. Can this be rectified or is there a link to the photos that I have not found.

Thanks in advance and I look forward to some responses, learning and reading more on this forum ....regards - Zest4life.

 

Yeah 1G, 512 built in 512 added. I want to put a picture of the SODIMM in here but it's not letting me attach anything. Anyway, I got the bigger memory working without the bios updates. Went through a lot of sticks to find some that worked though. They're eight chips each side which is opposite of most of the info I've seen here, hence why I want to post the picture. Any help with that would be great.

 

Glad to hear that the 512MB CF28s really do exist. They must have been produced in very small quantities!

Although many people still say the 8-chips-per-side ones don't work, I've been using one in my CF28 for a long time and have had zero problems. It worked on the first one I tried, too.. I didn't have to find a "special" one

 

welcome to the forum..

As to the HDD assembly it looks like the assembly photos have disappeared, although there are 4 in the message at

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=2892113&postcount=9 that should show up - I just viewed them.

The gel is a dense foam that surrounds the HDD. Assembly involves a translucent plastic piece that fits in the stainless caddy, the white gel foam around the HDD, the 44 hole connector/interface that atttaches the HDD to the 50-pin motherboard connector, and a folded copper sheet with foam adhesive that fits over part of the HDD-to-Motherboard interface. I've tried to attache the last jpg from that here. It shows the final assembly before it all is squeezed in the case.

My best method is to take the translucent piece out, and place the HDD-gel-interface assembly in that and then try to slide it all into the stainless steel caddy.

If it still doesn't show up, PM me and I will try to get the images to you.

There is also info at toughbook.wikispaces and at the yahoo toughbook groups site as well, which may have HDD images.

HTH

 

I spent some time a while back working on the "expanding RAM" thing with a trial board acquired from ToughBook. It was my belief that Pen!sonic had used the same board for both models & simply left spaces unpopulated on the 256MB base models; I was wrong. After poking around for a while, I found some 512MB SODIMMs that appeared to be the same family from the same manufacturer (Samsung) as the chips on the trial board; while these SODIMMS did work perfectly in my CF-28 Mk3 (Both before AND After - I reassembled the SODIMM I scavenged & retested it), the RAM from my trial SODIMM did NOT function in the trial board AT ALL.

This may have been due to one of three possible issues I can surmise:

1) - The board itself died due to the experiment.

2) - The RAM was simply not compatible.

3) - The BIOS and/or memory controller in the board (a CF-28 Mk2) doesn't support the 512MB base RAM option; I understand this option was ONLY available on a few select Cf-28 Mk3 models...

Stephen, what I would REALLY like to see a photo of is NOT the RAM that worked with this machine, but rather the RAM soldered to the board directly UNDER the RAM expansion slot. If you could get a high-res photo with enough clarity to clearly read the numbers & branding on the chips (you might have to peel up the black plastic sheet & a label which is stuck directly to the chips), as well as tell me if there are more than 4 of them visible without too much hassle, it would REALLY help me advance this particular experiment.

Thanks,

mnem
Hold onto your BUTTS!

PS - Just a point of clarification - In a 512MB PC133 stick, LOW-DENSITY RAM will ALWAYS have a TOTAL of 16 chips, and 256MB PC133 will have a total of 8. The CF-28 Mk2 & Mk3 with 256MB base each have 8 chips; 4 on the "top" of the board where you can see them under the RAM expansion slot, and 4 on the "underside" of the board. (remember, the laptop is upside-down; so these "sides" are relative to the current point of view)

There are several different levels of "High-Density" in the 512MB world; some high-density RAM actually HAS 16 chips; some has only 8 chips but is not quite as "wide" (in the bus) as the newest High-Density RAM.

This is the reason we all have so much trouble finding RAM to work with our old CF-28 Mk2s & Mk3s - they were manufactured in an age when the standards for memory architecture were in flux, and they simply could not program their BIOS & Memory Controllers for all of the possible configurations. Added to that is the issue of trying to make the 256MB of Low-Density onboard RAM cohabitate with high-density RAM (8-chip 512MB SODIMM) and you have a REAL headache.

By the time DDR RAM hit the scene, most manufacturers had settled on standards for High-Density RAM, so you don't have near as much issue with compatibility in machines made after the advent of PC2100/PC2700 RAM.

 

Mnem, so what you're saying is that choosing/buying RAM is still a hit-and-miss? IIRC, there was a thread favoring a particular Kingston module. Best bet would probably be to lug the 28 to the shop and commit to buy, but only if it works.

Good luck with your tinkering. Sounds like you're having 'fun'.

Ron in SG

 

Guess I was real lucky that I was able to get my 256mb RAM at a computer show - took the CF-28 in and let the seller install the module and booted up to test on the spot.

 

I have a CF-28mkII 800mhz that I am trying to rehab. Does anyone know where or if the drivers are posted? Got a new harddrive installed so I am starting from scratch....

 

Isn't modly's site still up? Haven't heard much from him since he jumped on the anywhere-but-MI-express..

 

I tried his site but it appeared not to be working. I also found a site on Panasonic that has the old drivers but it's password protected.

 

Stiffnecked,
Try JB007rules, he's got some drivers up on his server, or try Panasonic.ca, they're good or lastly PM me and I'll send them to you.
Cap

 

I think you can find everything you need on panasonic.ca. When I was buying new toughbooks for resale, the local Toughbook rep told us to not bother with the US site, and always go to panasonic.ca for support

 

I don't have the drivers for the CF-28, probably mostly becuase I've never owned a 28 (only a 29/30/M34 & T5), thats where my expertise is ... I'm trying to convince my mother to get a 52, but she doesn't wanna get rid of her nice little(13.3) sony to get a bulky toughbook lol... if she only understood! lol... but until then I won't know much about the 52 either

 

What is the interface for the CD/DVD drives?

 

Do you mean the interface from the actual drive to fit inside the caddy, or from the caddy to the motherboard?

The drive to caddy interface is IDE, but not sure what the specific connector is called. But the interface is very standard across laptop CD/DVD drives. The connector from the caddy to the motherboard however, it's proprietary.

 

Just checking because Newegg has an option for IDE or SATA interface.

 

IDE and SATA are hard drive interfaces if I am not mistaken. All CD and DVD interfaces are the same.

 

Its a new standard, Quite rare so far for notebook optical drives
I have had a sata dvd writer in my desktop computer for a couple of years now



Alex

 

Question, is it possible to add a video card?

 

No there is no support unless you do something external made by another company. (if this is even made)


-James

 

Iam in need of a key for the CF-28 toughbook..there were several keys used
in the locks..I read eariler that to use the art of impression to make the key..not. this key cannot be made that way..the lock number is PTA 578
if anyone has a spare key to this lock or knows where I can get 1 email me asap.

 

Iam in need of a key for the CF-28 toughbook..there were several keys used
in the locks..I read eariler that to use the art of impression to make the key..not. this key cannot be made that way..the lock number is PTA 578
if anyone has a spare key to this lock or knows where I can get 1 email me asap.

 

If yours didn't come with the keys, I wouldn't bother trying to find one. They are expensive if you want to get a replacement.

 

Hacksaw -

Panasonic used a bilateral tumbler type cylinder in these laptops; it's nearly impossible to pick, but also the Access Key for them is nearly impossible to smith in the field. Heartland showed (when I was looking into this for myself) a very few #s still in stock, and those at $50 each, just for the key.

Another issue you may not be aware of with these; the "security" provided by this lockset was more for appearance than functionality. It does NOT lock the LCD closed as one would expect; rather it disables the power key and "locks" the battery door shut. Even THAT measure of security is easily bypassed with a butter knife; see our discussions on the subject here:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=2842082

Since the key is only available on the CF-28 Mk1 and it costs about as much as the laptop is worth, my interest in the feature pretty much shut down in a heartbeat. In the big picture sense, you'd prolly be better off saving the money towards a Mk2 or MK3 and using the goodies from your Mk1 to finish the newer model out. Not only do they have a better/faster processor; their architecture is a lot higher on the food chain than the Mk1.

Good luck,

mnem
Bulldozer chic. Sweet.

 

I discovered something while upgrading my CF-28, and thought this was about the best place to post it:

The Intel PRO/2200BG WIFI cards do not work correctly with just a single antenna connected; Reception is poor and the connection drops in and out. After adding a second antenna (and I suspect, although did not test, that it needs to be a proper antenna, a lead to an external RPSMA connector would probably not be sufficient.) everything works properly.

Also, if using this card under Ubuntu 8.10, selecting "disable wireless" in the network configuration will NOT turn off the radio on the card.

nine

 

That's another good reason why I use the 600mW Engenous cards!

 

I discovered something while doing google searches. This is the only site that has people that know anything about toughbooks. If you can't find the info here then it is not there to be had.

 

AMEN ... that's cuz its a small niche market that we all love ... no one really will understand us until they buy a Toughbook then they will understand

 

Did we ever decide that you can install a non-touch LCD into a CF-28 WITH a touchscreen.... I have a CF-28 that I was going to put up on ebay and the screen flickers... So I swapped in a non-touch LCD... The touchscreen works perfectly but the colors are skewed toward the blue spectrum. I can counteract this to some degree by adjusting the Gamma of the display... But I can't sell it it like this.... I have some other screens so I'll swap it out again... But I am curious....

 

I with you TB, I don't recall that nut ever getting cracked. It went back and forth for a while, but I don't think anyone got a definitive yes or no. Maybe now is the time?

 

Well... I did some searching and found this....

BUT.... I can't find the jumpers he speaks of and he never posted a picture....

 

Well! One of our forum member ( Greg B ) gave me one unit of cf-28 600Mhz part with 12' screen on which does not display properly or configure to 12" screen. According to him he bought this unit originally with 13" screen that he only need the 13" screen to swap to his cf-28 800mhz and it works fine after the swapped. Then he put the 12" sreen to this unit that has originally with 13" screen and it display half way means not configure to be exact.

Fortunately "Toughbook" reposted this topic and I realized I have to do something with this unit. I Just followed the instruction above by taking out the 0 ohm resistor to configure to 12" screen and it works like a charm. The display, display properly now.Here is the photo of the Jumper and a resistor that I have taken out from the Mbo.



ohlip

 

Teo saves the day again! Thanks... I looked all over and couldn't find it... But I was looking at the other end for me reason... The other guy said that it was close to the touchpad.

Thanks Teo...

 

Maybe the guy(pipe) refering to a directional area. My reference! is the half spher solder by using a magnifying glass.



teo

 

Teo, its bugging me... how do you pronounce your screen name?!?!

Is is "oil-ip"? or "ohh-lip"

 

I always think of Oh lip...

 

replacing kbd. fitted backlit rubberised kbd in place of white kbd. how is the backlighting enabled and/or controlled?

Craig.

 

Craig
Fn + F12


Alex

 

Also... Fn+F1 decreases brightness... Fn+F2 increases brightness. Fn+F12 should give you 3-4 different brightness levels.

One tip with the rubber keyboards... As I am sure you have noticed... The ribbon cables are way short. A lot of time when you put the cover back in place and fold the keyboard in place... When you boot it up you find that only some of the keys work. This is because the cables are so short that when you put the cover back on it pulls the biggest ribbon cable out just slightly.... The fix????

Take a small piece of packing tape and tape it over the first connector. (The one with the brown lever) Make sure it starts on top of the connector then goes over the ribbon cable and back onto the motherboard. Press it down well to make sure that it is well adhered. Then you can carefully button it all back up.

But my advice is to turn it on at that point prior to putting the hinge cover back into place.

 

You guys ROCK! Just go a CF-28 and I am just learning all the things I can change and do to it. Thanks, I may have missed it but where do most of you get your parts EBAY?? Thanks

 

Welcome to the forum parahawk and yes, for used parts Ebay is the most popular place to look for these sometimes hard to find parts
We also have a ToughBook Buy Sell and Trade Forum here
Its on the top of the page
You can post a WTB if you need parts
Your cf-28 is popular model


Alex

 

Thanks for the nice words of welcome. I am going to try a couple of the mods I have seen here. But I am going to get another 28 before. I do have a question. What do you think of the CF-18?

 

The cf-18 is a nice portable unit with a great screen,and new enough to have good battery life with used batterys
The smaller than standard keyboard takes some time to get used to

Alex

 

parahawk... What parts are you looking for?

Tomcat... How is the screen brightness of the CF-18 as compared to the CF-28? (Anyone can jump in that knows.)

 

Rick

I don't know what the specs are , but the cf-18 is noticeably brighter than the cf-m34,and cf-28
For the size it seems brighter than the cf-29 touchscreen and equivalent to the cf-29 non-touch
You were concerned about your non-touch cf-29 purchase, but I notice the brightness increase on the 29 without the extra touch panel



Alex

 

Thanks to Rick and Alex.... noticed it was lit up last night and the fn + f12 control works fine. Good that it's automatic with no config needed.

Yes noticed they are quite a bit shorter. Had no problem with the connectors since I'm used to tiny ribbon connections. Had to be careful when I screwed down the metal cover plate over the system board though.

Linked the pics of what i did into Rugged Computing on flickr.

Craig.