The OFFICIAL Panasonic CF-29 Toughbook Thread!

Newbie on the thread. Was going to ask but found my answer re: the mysterious wire. Thank you.

 

References to Post #433 & #442

Ladies and Gentlemen;

Hot off the presses. Just got access to some larger SATA drives for benchmarking.

I had access to several new larger drives.
A- Seagate 250GB - 7200 rpm - ST9250410AS
B- WD 320GB - 5400 rpm - WD3200BEVT
C-Fujitsu 500GB - 5400rpm - MJA2500BH
D- WD 640GB - 5400rpm - WD6400BEVT.

Fortunately, I have a second adapter so I could start the process.

So, Why start small, I grabbed the new WD 640gb SATA and stuffed it in the drive caddy. Stuck it in my MK3-J model and fired it up to BIOS.

Yup, it took it. Found the WD 640 GB HD in the BIOS.

Where will the benchmark top out then, Azrials "kidding" about a 1TB, Maybe.

Important Update: I just DESTROYED an adapter.

After all the checking I did about squeezing the HD back into the caddy, I missed the fact that with the 90 deg. brace in the top plate of the caddy it stresses the SATA adapter to the point that it will crack the top lip of the adapter causing the connections to break loose from the HD.
I repeat, remove the 90 deg. brace from the top plate. without the brace, it allows the ribbon connections to slip up in the corner of the top plate and keeps from stressing the connectors. EDIT

 

Bill..Since I haven't yet got my adapter. Maybe you can do a write up on installing the OS as the sata need a driver first or it must be included on the start of OS installation. I will use the recovery disk and I've got no problen on floppy drive as i have a bunch of it laying around. BTW, nice job and as I posted before it can be done without cutting the aluminum edge bracket of the caddy. Rep was already been given.


ohlip

 

I didn't go any farther than the BIOS to begin with on the 640gb drive. I wanted to get the message out.

As I edited in the posts, it was not necessary to remove the aluminum bracket and I had replaced the bracket back in my caddy. I was working from posted information that was not complete, guess work, supposition, conjecture and was in the untested gray area. After MrBungle originally posted the thought about this, ToughNut (Ron) was one of the original questioners about what kind of integrity would be lost with this Mod. This was what drew my attention. The resulting work helped resolve this question.

When I first installed the 160gb, I ran the M$ boot disk and partitioned for the sizes I wanted, (a 100g primary and 60g secondary on this drive) and then formatted the drive. Then I loaded my bootable XP Pro disk and the install went from there. Through the OS and then through the Panny drivers.

I don't have the restore disks for the Mk3 yet, I have bought them and they are on the way, so I can't speak about that route yet. The restore disks should do the same thing as my XP Pro disk did though.

I have not had a problem with any of the SATA's that I have used needing a pre-load of control software. Everything has been "plug and play" so to say. Just partition and format. Either with the manufacturer's "fast start" software or the M$ boot disks.

With the upgrading from the PATA drives to SATA drives and PATA no longer being produced, this is what got me curious about being able to continue to expand the capabilities and productivity of my Toughbook.

I took the information from several sources and constructively figured out what was necessary to do the job without losing the integrity that Panasonic had developed for these computers.

Important Update: I just DESTROYED an adapter.

After all the checking I did about squeezing the HD back into the caddy, I missed the fact that with the 90 deg. brace in the top plate of the caddy it stresses the SATA adapter to the point that it will crack the top lip of the adapter causing the connections to break loose from the HD.
I repeat, remove the 90 deg. brace from the top plate. without the brace, it allows the ribbon connections to slip up in the corner of the top plate and keeps from stressing the connectors. EDIT

 

I hate to doubt people w/o reason but ....
Does anyone here keep a list or at least a memory of ebay sellers to be wary of ?
This does apply specifically to our beloved toughbooks .



And
Whether all of you here know it or not you have been a valuable resource that can be found nowhere else in print or on the net .
I have a wealth of motorcycle experience that just might come in handy one day . Don't be afraid to ask



Oh crap ,
Forgot to ask . Are CD caddys as rare as I think or just hideously expensive ?

~kop

ok I think I'm done now tnx folks

 

Toughbook parts, prices and availability are cyclical. 6 months ago you could buy 1000 CF-29 HD caddies on ebay for $65 each... Now you have to bid out of sight to get one. 3 months ago you could buy CD Roms for $23 each on ebay... Now good luck finding them.

The way it runs is that you either need to buy in bulk when you can, pay the current prices... Or wait until a sudden cache is found and then the market will be flooded again.....

 

Greetings all,
This is my first post here as I've recently started using a CF29 as a mobile field recorder for recording steam locomotives. I keep reading references to this computer being capable of running a second battery but I have no idea where to install it, does anyone have instructions for this?

Thanks,
-J

 

Aside from purchasing a secondary battery to use with your unit Panasonic also has batteries that are inserted into the media bay (where your optical drive would sit).

 

There is a guy who has been selling adapters on ebay for about $40 bucks for a little while now. Since we have the sata adapter functioning, have any of you tried an ssd sata drive? Using the ssd you would have more than enough room in the caddy, thinking now we could maybe even create our own caddy since we dont need all that shock proof and sell the original.

 

You would still need a protective housing.... Not a good idea to shed the OEM parts that help you!

 

how long does this makie the inteier drive wondering if it will fit 18's dont know if some one already asked.

-john-

 

I doubt you would have room in the CF-18 caddy... It's an awfully tight fit there...

 

So has anybody else besides Bill done this. I spent about 3 hours and lost count how many times I took the caddy apart and no luck. I was trying to put it in my CF-29 MK3. I have a WD 160GB HD. I did remove the black jumper and I just checked the sata board to see if I damaged it and its ok .I just put my old HD back in to see if I messed up the cable or anything else but it booted up into windows so its still ok. The other HD did have windows 7 on it but I did a format on it before I started this . I just put it in a HD case to check it out and it shows 146GB (160gb) So did I miss something .

 

Blair,
I have a IDE WD Scorpio (1600BEVE) running in the 18mk3 that shows 149gb after formatting. The unit of byte to Gb conversion is something like;
160,000,000,000 / 1024 /1024 /1024 = 149.01 G

Can't account for your 146gb though. Perhaps another unformatted partition or a couple of unallocated gigs? Why were you swapping around HDDs again?

Ron in SG
Soon to go down the same slippery path...

Edit: I'll add the following since I'm always forgetting...
1 kilobyte = 1024 bytes
1 megabyte = 1024 kilobytes = 1,048,576 bytes
1 Gigabyte = 1024 megabytes = 1,073,741,824 bytes

Divide 160,000,000,000 by the 1 GB (1,073,741,824) = ~ 149.012 GB.

 

Ron
I have one of the "CoolDrives" ata to sata boards I am trying to get to work but no luck yet. I really don't need a bigger drive but my CF-51 only has a 40GB in it so I would like to put my CF-29 which has a 80GB in it and put the 160 in the 29. I would of put the sata board in the 51 but it has NO room at all.I am going to try it later on AGAIN but am working on 2 desktops that I have had sitting waiting on the bench for a week now so getting them done first and then the sata mod .

 

I need to tear mine back apart to look, but I am wondering how tough it would be to try and put the SATA Adapter inside the Toughbook? I know crazy idea, but it would solve the space problem!

I have never seen the inside of one, but could the CF-30 drive connector and mount be called into service? Now go easy on me, I have already admitted that this is just a wild eyed surmise!

 

Well after countless times taking out/installing the sata mod I installed it this time using only the bare caddy / 160GB / sata board just to see what I was doing wrong.Into the BIOS I go... 160GB .So I must be cramming it in wrong or something when I install it with all the foam because it's tight. I am running the harddrive erase overnight and when I get up I will install the restore disk and go from there.

 

May be dump remark, but is it not possible to put an 1.8 sata HD in it with the following connector http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.19736
that will make the fit in the caddy easier.

 

With the added adapter, combined with the less than perfect sata connection at this point I will be sticking with my Samsung ide drives



Alex

 

Hi All, I am new to the site and would like to say hi. I just obtained 3 toughbooks CF29HTM50BM.

I am in the process of installing dual opperating systems (win 98 and winxp pro)

has enyone ever been able to get a CF29 to operate running windows 98SE with usb support?

Does someone also have the wan nic card driver as well as the wireless driver and touchscreen driver to work in windows 98SE in the CF29HTM50BM?

Thanks in advance to everyone.

Ken

 

Ken, Welcome to the Forum.
This is the link to the FAQs and Stickies.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/sho...hlight=the+ultimate+toughbook+resource+thread

This will help you with any drivers questions.

 

I have not tried
I have customers that we duel boot w98se and xp on the earlier cf28 mk1 and mk2 for radio programing software
There is no drivers from panasonic other than w2000 or xp for these
You will have to search the internet for drivers that are not included with the w98 disk


Alex

 

Not sure who manages the Toughwiki site but I have an answer for the wireless question on at least the cf-29 mk5.

I have a CF-29PTWGZBM, and it has the antennas and the leads run though the screen, and connected down though to under the keyboard and to one side on the external antenna connection. But the was only one lead coming from under the keyboard to go to the MPCI. The slot is there and everything works if you add a card.

To go along with this does anyone know where to buy a second lead? I had to disconnect the external antenna to get both internal working and want to hook it back up eventually.

 

I got mine off Ebay. You can get them with the small connector on both ends or with the external connector on one. Should go for about $5-$7.

 

Hey Ken, I am not that big a glutton for punishment, but if I was I would use the Unofficial Windows 98 SE Service Pack 2.1 Final. I am sure that you must have a good reason!

Welcome to the forum!

 

Are you saying that the TNC connector on the underside of the CF-WEB273CBL mobile dock is for WWAN not WLAN?

 

Yup! If it is still on the original configuration, but you can change that pretty easy by just unpluging and pluging the way you want it. Either you want to use it for WLAN, WWAN and or for GPS antena extension. That simple process.


ohlip

 

Here's a good one for all of you who really like to push your Toughbooks. I am looking for a good, portable solar power source. It needs to fit into a small 2500 or 3100 CUI backpack with the Toughbook.

Suggestions?

 

There was a fantastic solar thread by an old member.... Lemme see if I can dig it up....

THIS is the BEST article on powering your laptops in the field. Terminus was/is a fairly hermit of a guy who lives off the grid in NM (Last I heard) that has been doing this a long time... So he should know. It may be overkill for your application but when the chips are down... You'd have power... And power to spare. The setup is costly but would work for many things.

 

The N.M. hermit guys write up was excellent. You need to read the whole thing as there are several gems.
I've been off grid for 15 years plus and am pretty close to a hermit myself.
I found we needed to change energy use habits. Never had a microwave so leave that out. No toaster 'cause it has a heating element. I have never had a T.V. in my house. Someone felt sorry for us and gave us one but I never brought it in from the garage. Not enough time to watch it.
Back to the subject I feel a little surfing for either folding or flexible solar arrays will give dbulin more than enough information to wade through. The kit type units would be my choice as I like to tinker.
1. How much power is needed?
2. Am I willing to carry it?
3. And then there are the dollars. This stuff ain't cheap.
4. You may need to take a siesta during peak solar hours in order to charge your battery....this is one of the change of habits similar to what I mentioned above.
5. And the idea of a solar poncho keeps popping into my head.
Good luck to you dbulin.

 

I like the solar poncho idea... Hunting for metorites in the desert while charging your laptop....

 

Thanks I think.

 

is there any easy way to get these things to boot from usb ?

~kop

 

When I was running my Sun surplus business, that's what I did to keep supplies of stuff in stock and try to keep a lid on prices. It's not easy from the VAR's point of view as I could have charged humungous prices for things like Sun 'spud' brackets and other basic parts, but that wasn't my policy.

It's not very often that we go looking for a specific item and find it straight away at a good price. Now I have my CF-29 I'm hunting for a new backlit rubberised kbd but the one place on Ebay that has them (rugged depot) is charging almost US$300 for them!

Craig.

 

Ok I did it again . F2 then ctrl + enter expands the list then the PNY 8gb thumb could be seen .
I knew I could figure it out . I was just lacking the proper ingredient .
Scotch !

~kop

 

Tomcat57 may have what you need. He did this morning.
He has one less backlit keyboard then he had.
Thanks TC57
Gork!

 

Hi all have spent most of the day reading almost all of the post on here I can tell there is a ton of wealth of knowledge on here I hope eventually I will be able to help add to it after i get my CF-29 I just bought off ebay. It is a model number CF-29HTM50BM (Thus the part of my S/N) I have a few questions, I know it has touchscreen and WIFI, but I was confused on the pana config website as to the other options it has or has ability to have. Second I picked it up for $265 on ebay includes everything but CD drive, OS, and battery. Does this sound like I got a good deal. Second if I buy a oem cd drive will bios be able to locate it and allow me to boot from my Windows XP cd to install windows, or will I have to try and pull the hard drive and put it in another computer to install windows?

 

On the bottom of the Toughbook Configurator page http://www.config.toughbook.com/ you will see the system's original configuration:

***SBC ONLY***Pentium M 738-1.4G LV (Centrino),13.3Transmissive touch XGA,512MB,40GB, WLAN802.11a+b+g, Win XP SP2, Tester I/F, EDGE(GC83), logo, asset tag, replaceable RJ11 jack

This is a retired SBC (formerly: Southwestern Bell Company, before the Bell breakup) unit that was used in the field as a line test unit with the Tempo VIP Sidekick tester occupying the media bay on the left of the system.

Look in the top PCMCIA slot on the right and see if the original Sony-Ericksson GC83 WWAN card is still in place (mine was ). If it is you can use it to conect to AT&T Broadband (if you are on AT&T with the LaptopConnect Data Plan).

You should be able to find an original Toughbook CD drive on eBay (or maybe someone here has one available to buy). Just be sure it is complete with the Toughbook caddy and is from/for a CF-27, CF-28 or CF-29 Toughbook.

When you have all the correct components start the system and F2 into the BIOS setup and make sure that the CD drive is placed before the hard drive in the bootup sequence, then the XP CD will boot the system so you can install the OpSys.

You may also want to try to locate a CF-29 Mk 3 Recovery CD set on ebay: it will make the install a LOT easier, as it will install all those trick little Panasonic utilities for you.

Hope this helps.

 

Awesome, thanks for the reply, with this being a removable cd-rom drive I wasn't sure if it would allow you to boot from it without the drivers being installed. Thanks for the info about the config of the laptop, so do you think this was worth the $265 I paid for it?

 

Well let me see , toughbook cd drive with caddy $93.00 http://cgi.ebay.com/Genuine-Panason...C_Drives_Storage_Internal?hash=item1c11585c6b + battery $66.50 http://cgi.ebay.com/6-6Ah-Battery-f...ItemQQptZLaptop_Batteries?hash=item3ef112808e + $35.00 Recovery Disk http://cgi.ebay.com/Panasonic-Tough...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2a05daf125 Total $194.50 + $265.00(CF-29) $459.50
Now your next question is do I need all this..... To load the OS you will need the media bay cd-rom, not just any cd-rom will work. Recovery Disk...no but it makes life a lot better , 25 minites and you are up and running with all the drivers installed...if you use a windows XP Pro disk you will be looking for the drivers and if this is your first toughbook 2-3 hours if you are lucky .Your CF-29 is a MK3 and the disk you need is CF-29 MK3-XP2M-TSW .
I have the same 29 as you and it's a great Toughbook .

 

As compared to (from Toughbook Configurator):

model number
CF-29HTM50BM
MSP: $3,631.00


Remember: Toughbook is a passion, and there is little consideration in costs of a passion.

 

It's not what you paid for it ,as long as you are happy with it is the thing. You can pay $200.00 or $1600.00 . We have a few members on here that rebuild them to better than new and can not be compared to ebays $200-$500 so called Refurbished .... You get what you pay for.

 

I've been offered a used CF-29CTKGZKA.

Has anybody come across this model before? The Toughbook configurator doesn't seem to know of it.

Edit - I worked it out from the model codes.

1.2GHz ULV Pentium M (centrino)
XGA Touchscreen
40GB disk
Floppy drive & ethernet
No WWAN
Windows XP Pro
Australian market power-pack

 

Correct the last digit (A) for Australia fouls it up
Pentium M 1.2GHz (Centrino), 13.3" Transmissive touch screen, 40GB HDD, 256 MB RAM, 56K/LAN, FDD, Intel PRO Wireless LAN, WIN XP

Alex

 

Could be another ex-Telstra system. My CF-29 (CF-29LTA47BA) is ex Tel$tra, as is apparently my CF-18 system.

I don't know of any places with exception of perhaps the Australian Army that use rugged computers very extensively in the field in the sort of numbers that would enable creation of special versions that don't appear in the configurator.

Craig.

 

I haven't recieved it yet will be here Thursday i do believe i will happy with it i am very excited, I am already making a list of mods I want to do, like bluetooth, gps a bigger hard drive, dvd burner, and the list goes on. Will this model of CF-29 handle bluetooth, and gps internaly? or will I have to go external, I was a little confused as to if it is gps and bluetooth ready or not. Thanks alot.

 

Welcome to the forum. In order to dig right in you really need to spend days reading through the CF-29FAQs and links and threads... Yes... You can mod in your own BT and GPS internally. But you need to read how to do it.

Always glad to have another enthusiastic Toughbook owner...

 

Hello ALL!

I am the soon to be proud poppa of a CF-29HT!
I will have the full model number once she is delivered.

The specs that I know are:

Pentium M LV 738 1.4GHz
512MB DDR
40 GB HD
CD_ROM
13.3" Touchscreen
M$ XP Pro

I got her HERE


I was in the market for a sub $500 netbook or smallish notebook. I had already decided that I wanted portability over performance. I got portability with a touchscreen too boot! My baby might be a little thicker, a little heavier, and a little slower than the other kids on the block, but she's tougher!
I have wanted a Toughbook for some time but never thought I would actually get one. I ran across one online within my budget and could not say no. It makes sense that there would be tons of these available after their lease but I never thought about it before.

Thank you all for the wealth of information contained within this forum. I have spent a couple of hours researching and have only scratched the surface!

Cheers

 

NTTD -

Welcome to the madness!

Just a word of warning; Toughbooks are like potato chips; nobody have have JUST ONE.

mnem
irreversibly contaminated.

 

No joke.

I have been trolling ebay for parts and upgrades and must resist the urge to get another one! Knowing now that I have an MK3 and what that is I keep thinking if I upgraded to an MK4 or 5 I could have more RAM, an SD reader etc.