The OFFICIAL Panasonic CF-29 Toughbook Thread!

Let me try to explain.... There is a difference between the plugging of a site to help people and the shameless plugging of a site... So much so that it looks as though YOU may work there and are promoting YOUR products. If that is not the case... Then fine... Please contribute... Ask questions and join in the learning, fun and general merriment. If you would have just said, "Hey... I just bought this cool laptop from XXXX... That would have been fine. But you mentioned them several times and it looks like you cut and pasted their advertising onto this website. If they want to advertise here they can contact the owner and go from there. I hope this clears up any confusion.

I would like to remind the other forum members that we do have people here from all over the world and they do not all know proper English or spell things perfectly... Heck... I know I don't use the spell-check all the time.

 

Yes Dad - I am Sorry - I will try to get along with others.

Seriously - point taken and noted - sorry it just rubbed me wrong and it was late -

 

Don't worry son... It rubbed me the same way... Hence the post in the first place.

Oh.. Sorry for the smiley there..

 

Hi,

I have a cf-29m, it looks like it is a base model, no dvd, nogps, no bluetooth. So It being a late model I know that bt was an option but was it installed and not listed in some models or is it only installed in units that ordered it.

Thanks

 

i believe it was only installed in units ordered with it.

another thing your unit does not have, atleast from panasonic, is wireless lan,

but you can quickly tell by removing the 4 screws above the keyboard, and lift that plate up, on the left side there will be a pcb about an inch long or so. that is the bt antenna

 

tbtech,

I have wireless lan, it is intel and works great. Is bt a hard install?

cf-29ntqgzbm is my full model.

Thanks!

 

will the cf-29 fit in cf-28 police type vehicle mounts like gamber? I would love a good vehicle mount for one.

Thanks

 

I have BT in my 29... It doesn't look too hard to install but it would be a bit pricy. (At about $250) Your best bet is to buy this BT card and stick it in the side slot. The door will close with the card in the slot....



The reception is still great even with the door closed! You can buy these from BOTEQ on ebay or www.boteq.com. They are the only ones I know that carry it. By the way... These are the same BT cards that fit into the CF-28 internal slot.

 

I followed TB's suggestion on the Billionton BT and agree with his assessment. I got first class BT reception for around $50 including shipping.

 

Excellent, I'm ordering one today.

Does anyone have any experience with these.. Panasonic Toughbook CF-P1 Smartphone . I can't find anyone selling them and no info on panisonics site.

 

Q? What kind of gps and brand that cf-29 have to the notebook internally?

 

Ummm... yeah - they were first released in Q3 2005 to less than stellar review; they originally came with a 200mhz Intel XScale processor & WinCE - high price coupled with lack of integrated connectivity & poor application support left them essentially abandonware in less than 2 quarters.

The new version runs Windows 2003 Mobile, but there is still little application support for the product; unless you know how to port apps over from other mobile OSes (google Hack Jornada) you'll most likely be terribly disappointed.

Symbol is already well-entrenched in the ruggedized handheld market; evidently noone sees the need to couple that functionality with a cellphone yet.

mnem
*Portable-ily Yours*

 

The CF-P1 is a PDA I think you mean the CF-P2 which is a smart phone I have only seen a few of them in the wild and I also could never find anywhere to buy them.

 

ohlip... I just installed one... I don't think it had the name on it. Just some numbers. It's all tucked away inside the laptop now. When I order the next one (Next week) I will write the numbers down and post them.

 

Are the docking pass through the same for cf 28 and 29? I'm wanting to know if the cf-29 will work in cf-28 docking stations used in police cars like those from ledco or so.. What else is compatable?? Panasonics website is almost usless for this info.

Sorry for so many questions but I have had this cf-29 for a few months and this is the only place that seems to have any info.

Thanks, guys.

 

Yes.. Generally the docks that fit the CF-28 also fit the CF-29. This isn't the case with the CF-27 dock though... At least without modification. But there is a thread around here as well as pics on Modly's site showing how to modify the CF-27 dock so it works with the CF-28 & 29... The docking connectors on the back of these laptops are all the same... For the most part and depending on how the laptops are equipped.

 

Hi all. First time poster here.

Slightly different subject to the recent posts, but still on topic of the thread.

I'm a recent convert to the ruggedised notebook, as I need one for a project that's upcoming. On eBay a few weeks ago I bought a CF-29 (CF29LTQGZBM) with two 80Gig HDDs and some other bits and bobs.

Now on one HDD, I have the GF's things and on the other, mine. I just change the drives out when each of us needs it.

The things is, this model has a touchscreen and this morning I found that it wasn't working. I usually use a Mac and this was the first time for few days I'd been near the 29. The lady has also not used the touchscreen on the 29 for a few days, but no joy with either drive inserted.

Device Manager sees the touchpad/screen and it's activated in the BIOS, just completely unresponsive. All other features are unaffected. It just don't work.

I don't to reflash the HHDs with the install/repair disks because a) I don't want to reinstall everything on both drives and b) I'm not too sure it'd help anyway.

I'd be really grateful for any advice/help.

Sorry if this is an issue that is dealt with in another thread, but I wanted to bring it to the experts on the 29 thread as I'm really hopeful someone out there can help.

Thank you all in advance.

 

Try to calibrate the touchscreen first.


Its sounds like a hardware issue, since you tried everything, drivers and calibration doesn't work either, even if you have the right driver.

ohlip

 

Also, reload your driver for the touchscreen. If for some reason, you no longer have them, go to the Panasonic suport site with your model number and download the correct driver.

 

Recalibration was one of the first things I tried. I should perhaps have mentioned that too. I get the usual red cross for calibration, but nothing - stylus, fingertip or anything pointy - will actually make the touchscreen accept it's been touched.

Pappy, the Panasonic download site: https://eww.pavc.panasonic.co.jp/pc/cgi-bin/itn/toughbook/dl01.cgi

doesn't seem to have my Toughbook model/mark listed.

...any help?

 

Try this site;
https://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/w...pport?langId=-1&storeId=15001&catalogId=13401


Also, do you know that you have to press the stylus to the screen and hold it there until the red X moves? You have to repeat that eight times, I believe.

 

Actually you have to press the center of the red X and then let go and then the red X moves to the next position.

I'm thinking you need to uninstall the touchscreen driver and then reinstall it.

Have you tried that?

 

I tried pressing the RED X... Jack Sparrow popped up & threw coconuts at me, then brandished a flintlock pistol while guzzling a crusty looking bottle of Rum...

mnem
* I took the red pill AND the blue pill... now we are unanimous... *

 

Well, not yet. As I said in an earlier post, the site I'm looking at for drivers doesn't seem to have my mode CF-29 listed. And would anyone know WHY the touchscreen would just decide to stop working?

I am rummaging on the web myself, but I've got three other things - all quite time intensive - that I'm running out of time on, so please don't think I'm being lazy, just rushed!

Pappy thank you for the Panasonic link, but that's a U.S. tech support page, I'm in the U.K.

Any links gratefully received.

 

Does not matter if UK, US, JP or CA. Drivers are the same.

Post your model number, maybe someone will rummage around for you to find the drivers.

 

The model number was posted in his first post...

I went here and found the exact driver you need straightaway...

https://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/w...mQsCpXzc6f9i7CdwSDXSklKEKktEpZjR 9sJbPN5qQg==

You may have to login in to the site... Or you may need to join. This is not something that you can do in a rush and expect things to work. Take a few minutes and download what you need.

 

raygun reminds me of me when I first joined the site. Not that I'm much different now. But when the lightbulb pops on; he's going to have fun and learn alot on the support sites.

 

Thank you for that, TB. I registered the Toughbook and followed the appropriate prompts to grab the .exe file. Although I did download the same driver a few hours earlier from the Japan Panasonic site - told you I was rummaging! Here's the link for the co.jp .exe. It's identical to the one I pulled of the site in the States.

However, I unpacked it and let it do its thing and I still have an unresponsive touchcreen, even after rebooting.

Again, just in case I'm missing something, and even though it was posted earlier, the model number is CF-29LTQGZBM.

I'm stumped.

 

Just to make sure we are on the same page... How are you installing it? If you are just clicking on the file... It's not going to install it. That just unpacks it. You must then go into the driver section to make sure where it went. (Or pay attention to where the unpacking program puts it)... Then you must go into Device Manager and reinstall the Mouse driver. Tell it you know where the driver is and show the way to the touchscreen driver. Let the touchscreen driver install. Then you must calibrate it. Then it should work fine.

Is this how you have been doing it?

 

Actually, the advice on installing was appreciated. Thank you. (sheepish grin)

However, when I tell the Device Manager where to look for the driver files (they were unpacked to c:\util2\drivers\mouse by the installer), I get a Hardware Update Wizard message telling me it can't continue because I already have "[no].. better match for my hardware than the software I currently have installed..."

Am I missing something or just being a plum?

 

Just a WAG [wild ass guess], but you might just go to device manager and uninstall the mouse and then re-load the drivers. You have nothing to lose...

 

That sounds like you are taking the automatic route rather than the manual route. That drove me crazy until someone put me on to the correct manner.

Once you are in the installation wizard; tell it that you know where the driver is AND you want to select which one it will load. You should end up in a screen displaying drivers available for that device. Pick the correct one that you downloaded and select continue and finish. You will still need to calibrate the touch screen.

Good luck!

 

Do the driver update in THIS ORDER:

Click No to HW Update, Click install from specific location, Click Don't search. I will choose driver to install, Click Have Disk, Click Browse, then browse to your driver folder, Select touchscreen driver, When it pops up warning dialog that driver is not specifically designed for your device or that Driver has not passed Micro$uck's driver validation, tell it to install anyways. Reboot. Rinse.Retest.

mnem
I am inherently disinclined to trust ANY warning from Micro$haft. Just sayin'...

 

Okay, maybe I'm being dense, but I am working nights at the minute, so I DO feel a little dense! However, I've twice now uninstalled the drivers in prep for installing the drivers I grabbed and been asked to reboot the 29.

Each time - before I get a change to run the installer for the 'new' drivers, the OS finds and installs the 'old' drivers. same net result - a Toughbook that has a touchscreen that mysteriously doesn't work...

Starting to lose it with this. ...and as we all know, throwing it out of he window wouldn't do a thing!

 

Try "update the driver" not uninstall.

 

I generally run the installer, uninstall the old driver, then reboot. If you uninstall then reboot, the only drivers available are the orginal ones.

 

A few dumb questions....

1. Are you SURE you have a touchscreen?

2. If you do... Is it enabled in the BIOS?

Not sure if you've covered this in prior posts...

 

In short, yes and yes. I was using the touchscreen up until a week and a half ago and checking the BIOS confirms that the unit does have a touchscreen and it is enabled.

Now, I'm new to Toughbooks and I must admit I'm finding it a little confusing as to what needs to be done once I have the drivers.

I've attached a screencap to this post - forgive the B&W, but I had to tweak the pic to fit to post it - to see if someone could point out to me what it I've actually got in the installer I downloaded from the Panasonic site.

Everything about this is odd, but it's also left me confused. The touchscreen was working, then it wasn't. That's the issue in a nutshell. I really want to get to the bottom of this so I can use the Toughbook to its full potential next week when I'm shooting my off-road stuff.

Can a grown-up help me out?

 

Again; as I outlined above - go to Device Manager, click on your current mouse device, click on UPDATE driver button, then do the rest of the items step by step EXACTLY as I outlined in my prior post. I did the reinstall on my own Mk3 as I made the list so I KNOW it's the right order.

mnem
Good luck with that...

 

Mnem,

I followed your install instructions to the letter. No joy. I guess it must be a hardware issue. I'll reinstall everything off the recovery discs and see what happens.

Meanwhile, here's what I do with mine. (Mod note: I hope I'm not exceeding any guidelines with these pics!)

 

(SNIP for brevity's sake)

I have no idea then; it may be a hardware issue or a driver version conflict...

You're not one of those guys with the upside-down "If you can read this, flip me over!" bumper sticker on your jeep, are you?

:laugh:

mnem
*ONLY in a jeep... or ON a jeep... or UNDER a jeep... or NEXT to a jeep...or...*

 

Oh, good Heavens, no, I can barely drive.

I film them though. I'm running a tiny media production business; shooting a pilot for a sports channel over here in the UK.

Thinking about this driver issue, when I got back from this shoot, I put the other hard drive back in so the lady can use the 29 again and I found that I had to reinstall drivers for the wireless card.

Is it possible that the machine might have somehow gotten out of sync with the board (missed a windows update or something) and that has caused the touchscreen to stop functioning whilst I had the drives switched out?

P.S, Anyone here into desert racing? I have a friend who's trying to get into the US side of racing... Never hurts to ask.

 

Well, Windows XP is pretty atavistic about its mouse drivers - if it cannot find the device whose drivers are installed, it immediately dumps those drivers and falls back to default drivers to try and make SOMETHING work. It does this DURING boot, while the black Windows loading screen is up...

mnem
Windows XP is the WORST OS ever to come out of Redmond... except, of course, for all the OTHERS.

 

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

 

Hi Folks!
Can anyone confirm to me the idea of putting a Sierra Wireless embedded card into a CF-29E laptop?

I would guess that a mini-PCI Express card slot is the first issue and I'm not certain that one is provided. The next issue would be the driver. Right now I use a Sierra Wireless AC860 in one of the regular PCI slots and that is fine, but I would like to make the cellular modem fully internal.
Any ideas on this?
Thanks!
Gordon Beattie, W2TTT
201.314.6964
[email protected]

The tri-band MC8780 and MC8781 PCI Express Mini Cards, built using the MSM7200™ Mobile Station Modem™ chipset from QUALCOMM, offer uplink data rates of up to 2.0 Mbps, and downlink data rates of up to 7.2 Mbps.

The MC8780 and MC8781 PCI Express Mini Card embedded modules offer connectivity to all three HSDPA/UMTS frequency bands (850, 1900, 2100 MHz) and all four EDGE/GPRS bands (850, 900, 1800, and 1900 MHz) used worldwide, allowing seamless global roaming on the best available network.

The MC8780 offers receive diversity for improved fringe performance in Europe and Asia, while MC8781 offers receive diversity for improved fringe performance on North American networks.

 

My laptop CF-29etkcwkm didn't come with a wireless modem installed in the sled with the GPS. I'm trying to find the em3420 module or a modern replacement, or a whole replacement sled, which ever is easier. Can anybody help out?

Thanks

 

Hey guys, im working on a cf-29FTTGZKM and can't seem to get the driver to load for the touchscreen after a clean install of XP. Device manager is telling me that the device could not start error code 10. The thing is, this toughbook is a federal model so I am not sure if the driver I am trying to use is the correct one as there are no drivers listed on the Panasonic site for CF-29F. I am using drivers for the CF-29E. All the other drivers went in just fine, video, sound, modem and so on. Any help would be appreciated.

 

Hi everbody, I hope you folks can supply a few answers to a new guy. I only recently discovered these laptops when I needed something to run some shaft alignment software in the field (wet, rough evvironment). I found a CF-29 in really nice shape although it lacks in a few areas. So, here is a list of my questions:

How do I tell which mark # it is? (Model is CF-29L3LGZBM)

Touchpad is slow, quite lame actually, is there a utility to tweak it?

Has Sierra EM5625 wireless modem, unable to find a driver, any ideas? I think this is for EVDO connection using a cdma cell network. Actually I don't need this device but would love to fit a GPS unit. Any info on that appreciated.

How many keyboard options are there? Mine seems regular, no rubber, no backlight. I also don't have a touchscreen but this is not important to me at the moment.

That's it for now, thanks for reading this.

 

Sudo,
Welcome to the Toughbook site. You're gonna find the best bunch of folks on the internet.

Search the CF-29 sticky FAQ, at the top of the opening page. Probably more information about your computer than you ever wanted to know.

Several folks, but especially, MNEM and Modly have put alot of effort into that sticky; which will answer most if not all of your questions.

Read that section, then come on back and join us in cussin' and discussin' the best notebooks ever.

 

Welcome to the forum! You can contact www.heartlandsi.com for that. They are the only authorized parts and repair facility in the USA. Their website has a phone number to call. You could/should download the service manual first for the part numbers and have your model number ready when you call. I always deal with Kara there but anyone who answers can help. You can buy the kit or you can have them install. I think you'd be looking at the $500 area for parts for that if you are starting from scratch.