The OFFICIAL Panasonic CF-29 Toughbook Thread!

Welcome to the forum!

You can visit any number of sites for that info. Such as this one... https://eww.pavc.panasonic.co.jp/pc/cgi-bin/itn/toughbook/dl01.cgi

You have an MK4 laptop.

The touchpad can be tweaked with Pointer Options under the mouse in control panel... Just slide it over to faster... It's one of the first things I do when I build them.

The cellular software is available online as well at one of the many Panasonic sites....

Good luck!

 

Hay... Welcome to the site....

I've never heard about a code 10 error.... But then I've never played with that model. Hopefully Zero or one of the others will chime in. They don't show that model on their list of available drivers. You Cord try the one above/below it to check....

 

The E should work fine. As far as I can tell the only difference between yours and the E was that the wireless LAN was removed right off the bat per fed request. According to Microsoft, a code 10 is driver related, either not installed correctly or not assigning right IRQ etc. You might try another source for the driver, like modly.

 

Hi Folks!
As the owner of a series 2 CF-29, I was wondering if anyone has found an embedded AT&T 3G data modem. I have used a Sierra Wireless AirCard 860 in the past and now have an Option PC card that supports HSUPA. The new card requires that the PC slot door remain open in order to fit.
There is support for these faster cards in the CF-30, but not the CF-29. I really don't care about support, but I do care about functionality, so if there is a way to get an HSUPA 3G card into an embedded slot, that would be very cool!

Any ideas?

One last note, my model number is CF-29EWPCBKM which means that I have the GPS above the battery.

There is one final option...reworking the door to expand it out by less than 1/4 inch to fit the Option card.

Thanks!
Gordon Beattie, W2TTT
201.314.6964
[email protected]

 

Gordon.... How about modding the card to fit into the bay wth the door closed. Or... Working on an external antenna for it....

 

Hi all,

i got a virus in my computer which is Panasonic CF-29CTKGZKM and it block me not to install or update any antivirus , so i need to format this laptop but my problem i don't have the drivers for this laptop , if some one can advise me to how get the drivers please do so
my email [email protected]
regards

 

rashica143

At the top of the Panasonic Discussion page you will see a thread titled "The CF-29 F.A.Q. - Read me before posting" Scroll down and you will find the links for driver sources

 

Hi Folks, just thought I'd say hi... and hit you with a curly one. I am a newie here...

I have a very abused but strong CF 29GC83... (the one that doesn't exist from a place that doesn't exist, the one that Panasonic is very very eager to help on). Apart from a few agency mods it is pretty much an early mark 4, apparently, though Panansonic told me it was a mark 3.

Anyway, had to deliberately destroy my previous hdd due to a field issue, and now need to put something new in. I have a brand new Samsung 500GB 8MB SATA Internal Hard Drive still in its bag, and this would be ideal for the work I need it for (human rights and independent media). BUT!!! as we all know, the caddy is a PATA

Does anybody know of any of very tiny bridge or that would allow me to fit this into the caddy, or if the connector on the 29 from the HDD to the computer is available for a SATA? Using this externally aint an option.

YOur help would be well appreciated..
CHeers

JUngleman....

 

As far as i know it does not exist and if it did there would be alot more talk about it.

As for now we are stuck with PATA drives on the cf-29 series. I though about the same thing you did but if it is possible you would have to design it and mod it yourself.

The area around the HDD inside the plastic protective cover is just too small to use any type of adapter. If you removed the plastic you might be able to work something out but then you will loose some of the shock proofness

If you find a way or if anybody knows a way please enlighten us as this would be awesome.

-James

 

Tell me more about this cf-29gc83 model you have it sounds interesting.


-James

 

HI James,
thanks for that. I had a feeling.. do you think it would be much to get a few made up? cos the new 500gb + hdd's are all SATA....

got the GC83 from a former job in a former life, they let me keep it after I gave them the old hdd. There were over 7000 of this series made, and most are finding their way onto ebay now, as the agency over ordered!!

I am sure you can guess the agency, as it has Electronic Countermeasure Kits in it (Ie the toughbook equivalent of tinfoil hats! - I am not kidding).

Anyway, I usually run a 160gb, 1.5 something or other GB RAM (max for CF29 anyway), WLAN, 1.4Ghz; DVDRW swapping with a long life battery, running GPG all over the thing and whole disk encryption, with a firewire for video (running Avid etc). The thing is over three years old and it still rocks (and bounces!). When I get back to the matrix and strap it on, I still get people staring! its kinda cool being able to stand on the thing just because I can!

I pulled out the GPS that was with it as I didn't trust it to only be one way given where it came from (I am a human rights worker now), and I run GPS externally, as I did with the Iridium antenna. But I can still plug in devices so it hardly matters.


cheers
Jungleman

 

You can't make the SATA wrk with a PATA (IDE) drive. It would increase the length and keep the door from closing. As we all kow... Panasonic has VERY tight clearances....

 

Dang dang dang..... I am sure if someone could engineer a bridge that mimics the current connector but as a SATA they would be loved forever.... they just don't make karge capacity drives in PATA anymmore :-(

thanks anyway

 

PATA drives are old school now. Most laptops that have the specs of the cf-29 and older have been destroyed or stop working. The costs of laptops has dropped so much over the last few years that people just keep upgrading to new ones leaving the old ones to die.

The all mighty toughbook just keeps going and are coming of lease in large quantity's now but they are far behind in computer times.

They are great notebooks and i wish they made the parts more widespread but ddr and pata are almost completely gone now.

But I agree about the sata connector. If someone could make such a thing they would be loved.

-James

 

http://www.cooldrives.com/2sahadrtoide.html

Maybe I'll buy one and see if I can get it inside my 29 caddy.

 

I bet if you trimmed down a little of the foam inside and cut the plastic a little bit you could get it in there.

Seems interesting.

-James

 

I just ordered one- for $30 including shipping I thought why not. It should be here Friday, the same day my other 29 with factory GPS should arrive. I'll pick up a 500GB drive and re install my Acronis dual boot image and give it a whirl!

I'll take pictures when the time comes to install.

 

I'll be waiting to see the outcome here....

 

ok so i have 2 questions. How good is the OEM Sony gps compared to a Sirf III? And i just bought a brand new cf29, ive seen alot of cf28 screen protectors but no 29. Do i needone? it actually looks like one is already in place. This was a never used 29 and still has all the foam and protective paper foam things on the keyboard so i dont know if Pana started with the 29 doing the screen protectors stock or what. Also why do some TB's come without the TB badge on the cover? I had to order one 3rd party. any insight would be awesome!

 

Hi fellow Toughbook lovers!

I have a CF-29M3QLZBM; it comes with no wireless by default.

It is supposed to be "wireless ready" whatever that means.

What do I need to do to convert it to a standard WIFI capable unit?

FWIW it has no telescoping antenna on the left side of the lid.

Can someone do the conversion for me?


COZ

 

The extendable antenna on the side is not required for wi-fi
Its for celular wwan
The 2 plastic covers on the top of the lid cover the wi-fi antenna's

I think that the antenna's should be there , so only the wi-fi card has to be added, and the drivers loaded.
Do you not feel capable of doing this yourself ?


Alex

 

It is EASY to add wifi to the CF-29!!! Just remove the screws around the outside edge of the bottom of the laptop. Then the various screws on the inner field including the 4 screws holding on the RAM Memory access hatch... CAREFULLY remove the speaker connection and pop off the back plate. You will see where the wifi mini-pci card slides into and the two antenna u.fl connectors that attach to it. It doesn't matter which goes to "main" or "aux"... Just clip them on and put it all back together.

For what its worth... I have bought many CF-29s and some that said they were wireless ready. The sellers didn't know that it had wifi because they didn't load the wifi software... So you may have a card in there and not know it! Look in Device Manager and see if you have anything under wireless and let us know...

By the time you pay for shipping, the part, the labor and then shipping back.... You could have a high power wifi card and an extra media bay battery! Do it yourself and SAVE. We're here to help!

 

I need a copy of the MK4 recovery disk for the CF29...does anyone have one that they could help me out with?

 

I was looking for the same thing too, but just downloaded the drivers off the Panasonic site. You can slipstream the drivers in with nLite or something similar so you don't have to manually install them next time around.

 

How do you slipstream them? I mean do you just include the main extraction exe? Or do you actually have them install automatically?

If we can make them install automatic that would be great then i can make my own recovery disks.

-James

 

Hi
I have looking for a service manual for my CF-29 and came across your link which is now dead, is it possable to get the hold of this manual via another link?
Rgds Davie

 

nLite allows you to add and strip components of a Windows install CD, so you can add drivers, service packs and security updates. I usually blow all unnecessary drivers and load only the ones needed for my computer. Plus a whole whack of other things like help files, the stupid dog/cat search thing... themes, etc. saves a significant amount of install space, and less things to load in memory = faster computer!

 

Ok- the adapter came and I bought a 500GB SATA drive. It won't fit (without destroying all the foam inside). If the foam is removed and it's all re worked, it'll fit) but super tight.

I have the set up still but I'm not using it (yet). I'm gonna look at getting a spare caddy to work with, I don't have a spare. But until I sell one of my 29's (it's on ebay now), I can't continue. I don't want to screw up the caddy I have in the 29 for sale.

I'll get this setup working...

 

We'll wait..... *taps his foot impatiently*

 

I am a newbie! Be nice.. I am also a gadget freek..
Too much time on my hands! Thats a good pun since i just had carpal tunnel surgery on both hands!
Ok I just bought a CF-29-FTGZKM from ebay.
What i can find on here is it is a federal model. no WIFI. Where and what do i need to put the wifi card in? Also will need hdd caddy. I have a drive but not sure what it is. I will have to get it out of my old laptop.
Thanks for the help. Lots of great info here, Also i looked for drivers, not sure is it a mark 2 or 3?
Bill

 

Its a mk-2 1.3Ghz model

 

Hi I am looking for a CF-29 Service Manual and the link you had is not working, any ideas where I could get hold of this
Rgds Dammad

 

PM me your model number please

 

Thanks!
I know I will be back soon for more help!
Bill

 

Anyone have an idea why the MP with a box around it (third LED from the right) blinks red on one of my CF-29's when in use compared to green on my other ones?

It still works perfectly fine, it just has a red LED instead of green...

 

Mine only shows red (solid) when the MP battery is depleted.

 

From the CF-29 User Manual:

The red indicator blinks:

Quickly save your data and power off your computer. Remove the battery pack and disconnect the AC adaptor, then connect them again. If the problem persists, contact Panasonic Technical Support. The battery pack or charging circuit may be defective.


Might want to perform the battery calibration to cycle the batteries...

fstik

 

Ludedude,
If you have a battery in the media bay it has died and will no longer take a charge. If you don't have a battery in the bay, I have no clue why it would blink red. Solid red means the battery is depleted and will turn orange when you supply power and it is charging.
CAP

 

It could mean that something has crossed or shorted on the internal connections. Take out the battery, hard drive and floppy/CD caddy and blow out all the connections inside. Or take the back off and check for crossed connections. I think it was Teo that sugested using an old tothbrush to light scrub all connections to make sure tht nothing is stuck between the pins. Depending on who owned the laptop before you... Who know what is inside the laptop.

 

It's actually a CD-ROM inside the bay. If I put that CD-ROM into another TB, it blinks green. If I take another CD-ROM and place it in "the red" bay, it still blinks red but the actual CD-ROM works perfectly fine. It's so weird.

I can 100% say that this TB has NEVER been opened by it's users until I've received it. I guess I'll take it back apart and see if I can find anything.

Thanks!

 

How about using a fancy new (no moving parts) flash drive in my CF-29 mk2? Would one of those fit?

 

coffey 7,
Tomcat has one, I think in his CF-30. There is no reason it wouldn't work, but if you search around here there seems to be some downside to these other than cost.
CAP

 

As the costs come down I would love to have a flash drive in my laptop.

 

Could anyone point out in the general area where the fuse is if the screen is really dim and not backlit? I can't for the life of me find the "SOC 63V, T 1A".




Thanks!

 

I don't that you can see it without taking the motherboard completely out... I hate to say. It is a very small white fuse about 3/8" X 1/8"... As a matter of fact... I have replaced several on CF-28 mobos but I don't think I have ever had to on the CF-29 mobo... BUt on the CF-28 it is near where the monitor plugs into the mobo.

Hope this helps.

 

What is a good brand of CF-29 battery to buy. I tried doing a search(on this site) but can't seem to find any info on the batteries. I am just looking for a main battery not the extra one. Or maybe a point in the direction of a shop that sells new ones. I heard toughbook say he gets them for $50. I have seen them for $70 on EBAY but who knows if they are any good. Thanks.

 

With the CF-28s... You REALLY have to worry about buying a used battery. I would feel fairly confident about buying a CF-29 battery used on ebay... Especially if the seller stands behind it. The CF-29 batts go for a little more than the 28s... I would go for a Panasonic battery NOT aftermarket for the CF-29.... Of all the CF-29s that I have bought... I have only ever cme across 1 bad battery. And it still gave 2 hours worth of life... Most I have had go for 4-6 hours...

 

Well, I'm a quitter. I've given up for now without destroying the drive and adapter. I don't have another caddy to use so I have the drive and adapter up on ebay for sale.

Hard Drive

ATA to SATA Adapter

Maybe I'll try again later on down the road when I have another caddy.

Anyone here want to pick these up and give it a try I'll just ship it all together.

 

Were you able to at least figure out if the BIOS detects the drive through this adapter? You can make the temporary connection with just the cable. If not then it is just an exercise in futility.

 

Hello, would you know if it is possible to upgrade my CF 29 from the Pentium M 1.3 to a faster processor also can I add more than the 1 .24 RAM that I have at the moment .

Thank You