Using a Recovery DVD. CF19

Request for help with using a Recovery DVD on a CF19.

I bought a couple of CF19 Recovery DVDs from Panasonic UK. One for a CF19 MK4 and another for a CF19 mk7. (Windows 7 mk4 & Windows 8 mk7).

Neither of the DVDs seem to work so I just wanted to make sure that I am using the correct process. Or whether there is an issue with the DVDs.
(They do appear to me to be copied DVDs rather than the factory produced ones, with a printed sticky label on them. The back looks the same as a writable DVD to me).

I hook up a Panasonic DVD reader (CF-VDRR3TW) with the recovery DVD in it via USB. (Tried both the back and side USB sockets).
I go into the setup utility (F2) and on the Exit screen select the CD/DVD as boot overide. Toughbook then reboots and starts to read the DVD. After a while it gives the message "Reboot and Select proper Boot device or Insert Boot Media ...." and goes no further. Ejecting and reinserting the DVD makes no difference.

If I follow the exact same procedure with a standard Windows install DVD it boots into windows install straight away.

Its the same with the mk4 and the mk7. its as if the Panasonic DVD is not bootable.

The recovery disks read fine when not used as a boot DVD and contain following files/folders:

BOOTMGR (file)
version.doc (file)
version.dvd (disk image)
version.tpl (file)
boot (folder)
util (folder)

 

I would talk to the seller as they are not working for you.
I've used copies before...for a CF-29 there were 3 disks (XP) to load one each at a time and they worked just fine.

 

DVDs came direct from Panasonic UK.

 

Right, I saw that in your first posting. So contact them and tell them they do not look like original dvd's.
You said they had a sticky label on them and looked like copies. Aaaaand they are not working for you.
Any reputable company should support your purchase with an answer as to why they are not original and why they are not working for you.
Here's a listing with pictures of what an original dvd looks like:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Toughbook-...o-CF-19-MK3-MK4-MK5-MK6-MK7-MK8-/252811575004

 

Thankyou.

So could someone please confirm I am using the correct process to install/recover?

If so it must be the DVDs.

 

Do you have a link to where you bought them?
Many people come up with web site names that have Panasonic in them that sound very official.
Panasonic does not use stickers. Panasonc does not use Ebay either.
Panasonic always has them as RECOVERY dvd not backup dvd.
Will the DVD boot in a different computer? Not a CF 19.


This is an official CF 19 mk4 RECOVERY dvd.

 

In situations where I am having troubles booting from external media,
I boot into BIOS.(Hit F2 when booting)
Go to the last page,
Manually select the media I want to boot from under BOOT override.
Hit enter and boot from the media I selected.
This works for oddball usb sticks and DVD media for me.

 

Thanks Shawn.

Looks like I am using the correct install process then.

DVDs definitely came from Panasonic UK (based in Cardiff) as I bought several other parts at the same time. Phone number etc is the same as on the Panasonic website.

Thanks for the picture - I'll email customer services with the two pictures for comparison.

Part numbers are slightly different too: your picture DFQM8575MA; my DVD DFQM8574MAE

 

The ones you linked are not the real ones. At least mine do not look like that. The give a way is where they say it's a mk3 or mk4. The Panasonic dvd is boxed in where this one is not . Check out the picture of Shawn's.
I have seen UK recovery DVD like this one you posted from Panasonic UK before. Maybe this is how they do it over there. Maybe make it from a master copy ??

 

Maybe Panasonic UK does things differently. Maybe it's different because it was a retail purchase and not bundled with a new PC.
I dunno.
But on my hard drive, I did find a high resolution image of a CF 52 recovery disk.

 

It may well be made from a master copy and they just copied the data without making it bootable.

I remembered I have a Vista recovery DVD for a CF19 mk3 that looks like the "genuine" ones mentioned above. Tried that using the same process and it boots into "windows is loading files" straight away.

Definitely an issue with the DVDs.

Thanks for all the help. I'll get onto Panasonic tomorrow and keep you posted.

 

Update on this....

Apparently Panasonic UK only have one copy of each Product Recovery DVD which they copy when requested.

They must have burnt the copies they sent me as non bootable versions. Tested replacements are on the way to me.

Seems very strange way for a manufacturer to go on. if this is the process, its a pity they don't just provide images to download as other laptop manufacturers do.

 

Thanks for the update...
Wonder why they would make a non bootable recovery disk.
Strange for sure.


Sent from my CF-M34

 

OK.

I've received the repalcement DVDs and they still don't work.

So when booting as above I get the messaage "insert proper boot device" then if I take out the copy DVD and put in an original silver one that I have for a mk3 (vista) it will start "loading windows". Can't be the hardware or method, it must be the DVDs.

Panasonic want me to send in my CF19 with the supplied DVDs so they can try it.

I should have asked before - is there a source to download an image that I cvan compare to the DVDs Pana have sent me?

 

I am impressed that they want to go the distance to solve the problem.
Asking for your machine to figure their problem is a PITA for you but great that they care enough to solve a relatively minor issue as a recovery DVD.

My first guess is they burned the DVD too fast.
Second thought is the DVD reader you are using has an issue with that brand DVD media.

Good news is that odds are they will reload your machine to factory specs and flash any firmware update they may have and not released.

 

Geraout, I'm one of the least software-savvy people here - which is probably why I've seen the "Reboot and Select proper Boot device or Insert Boot Media" message too.
I bought a CF-31 recovery disc from a UK ebay seller specialising in Toughbooks.
Took me a while to work it out but it was the boot order setting - extremely non-intuitive way of moving stuff up and down the order - and enabling it or not IIRC.
That's all I've got I'm afraid - memory doesn't work as well as it used to but I did get it to boot eventually. Can't remember the process I used now, just the frustration of all the restarts.
Definitely boot order/enabling issue though.
And even when it worked it took longer than I've known OS loading ever to have taken before.

Late edit: Just looked in bios and it's set to 'compatible' with disk first and DVD drive second with the other four options disabled.
I would most likely have set the DVD drive as first and disk second at the time I think - with me it's always guesswork though

 

Make DVD bootable just depends on the iso file. The iso is the entire dvd image they use to burn copies.
No real"make bootable" options like a usb or HDD.
Bad media or burnt too fast.

 

That's my guess too but I have used many brands of cd's and DVDs in the Panasonic external DVD player and never had a problem. As long as I had it as "first boot" and HDD as second boot it always worked.

 

Put one of the unbootable dvd's in your reader.
Get some sort of software that creates an iso of a dvd.
http://www.imgburn.com/
http://www.magiciso.com/tutorials/miso-makeiso.htm


Attempt to create an iso on your HDD.
If it creates it without an error (I bet it won't)
Use that iso to create a new dvd at slow speed using quality media.


By the way--did you try booting the second dvd of the set?