Toughbook CF-28 Help!

I have a toughbook that has only a floppy drive and hard drive (no ethernet port or CD drive, just USB).

I managed to mess up the operating system and now I need to re-install.

Ideally I would like to install a new CD or DVD drive and a better motherboard (One that supports GB's of ram rather than MB's and can support USB booting)

I may need to get a new case also for the toughbook as hopefully the motherboard will support a ethernet port.

My main plan is to duel boot windows XP with ubuntu.

How can I get hold of these parts and install them?

 

Upgrading the motherboards is a pain and totally 'not worth it', due to prepostrous costs....
Would advise you to save some money, buy a new low budget notebook, with an i965gm/GL960, with a celeron - and upgrade that, it will cost nearly the same - but yield more benefits and less pain..

 

I'm moving this over to the Panasonic forum so the there's more chance of the Toughbook experts seeing it.

John

 

1: A CD/DVD drive is a piece of cake, they just pop in.

2: Don't bother thinking about upgrading your mainboard; it's not worth the hassle for what your going to do with it versus what you would gain. There are only 3 different ones for the 28s, none of which support GBs of RAM or Boot-to-USB. Ethernet can be added without upgrading the board; it just requires a card that pops in like RAM and a jack (and a cover sticker but that's just cosmetic) so if that's an absolute, there are plenty of people here who can help you out. The cases are all the same.

Basically, you're trying to apply Desktop computer rules/abilities to a Toughbook. Toughbooks were meant to have things added on, not mixed-n-matched. Sorry if this is a little terse but I'm trying to cut to the chase.

 

If you are looking for RAM in the GB range... You need a CF-29 not a CF-28. That being said... You didn't say what speed CF-28 you have... That makes a BIG difference. If you purchased a 600Mhz there is not much you can do to increase the speed. If you purchased an 800Mhz or 1Ghz you can max out the RAM and try to get a 7200rpm hard drive. This will help with the speed and put it into the "acceptible" area.

You can swap out the mobos in some of the 28s... But if you have a 600... You won't really beable to do this as they are slightly different than the others.

 

Ah good I have been waiting for your response because I cant seem to contact you

could you suggest a motherboard? i'll find out what mhz processor it is...


...its a well i dunno it's a PIII thats all I can tell you i'm afraid as I have no OS at the moment.

Could you tell me which hard drive and ram i should get for this upgrade? Oh and I need to get a cd drive (i think you said you could do multidvd slimline drives, I need to make this cd drive bootable)

 

Go here.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=210510
And let us know what model of 28 you have so we can help

 

model no: cf-28pcjazee

256mb of ram with a touchscreen and it is a 800mhz

 

its a 800 mhz

 

Changing the m/b in your mk-2 800 to a mk-3 1000 is not the same easy change as a desktop would be.
These are water resistant and have small conectors to change over.
I would upgrade the memory to 512, upgrade the hdd to a 5400rpm (the 7200 are rare and expensive) you propably have a 4200 stock.
Both easy changes
Hard drive is a 2.5 ide.
Do Not purchase a sata it will not work as most new laptop hard drives for sale now are.
Find a cd rom or dvd rom caddy for a cf-27 ,cf-28,cf-29
They are all compatable.
Put a wanted post in here or look to see whats for sale.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/forumdisplay.php?f=1047
If you find a motherboard at a resonable price and decide to swap ask and we can work you through it.

Alex

 

But how do I know which motherboard is compatible could you provide some links to the manufacturer etc so I can try and find them (i'm new to laptop upgrading and modding)

 

I’ve seen cf-28 Mk3 1000 avail with bad screens etc on the big auction site for about $150 to $200 .
You don't want to know the price from panasonic parts!
I agree with Toughbook on buying a cf-29
The prices on the cf-29s are not bad now.
The Mk1 cf-29 has a 1200 processer and go up to 1600 for the Mk5
Have brighter screens have built-in wireless,accept more ram ,and its ddr not sd ram as your cf28
Not very good value for the money or time to change over mother boards
Alex

 

Klain, Just in case you don't understand. The only mother board which will fit your CF-28 Toughbook is a Panasonic CF-28 Toughbook motherboard! Since you have a MKII 800mhz it is possible to replace it with a MKIII 1000mhz motherboard. With the prices of CF-28s dropping like the prom queens knickers, it is almost certainly not worth it unless you are into pain. Max out your ram and try to find a 7200rpm ATA/eide hdd. That's as good as it's going to get. Read the CF-28 FAQ and other threads here and you will find that some very smart people have "been there, tried that". Welcome.
Cap

 

If you want a 1 GHz CF28, sell your 800 and apply the $$ to the purchase of a 1000.