Utilizing Panasonic restore Disks

Hi all,

I am fairly new to this forum and enjoying every bit of it. I recently purchased a CF-29, toughbook, Mark 3 off of ebay and it came preloaded with Windows XP-pro and most drivers. I also just got hold of a set of Panasonic Restore CD's for the CF-29, MK3 from e-bay ( http://cgi.ebay.com/Panasonic-Tough...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item27b0eaec9c) and I was wondering what the procedure is to restore this unit to factory specs?

My CF-29 has a XP-Pro COA on the bottom so do I just reformat the computer and then boot off of the CD and install or what?

Thanks

Dan..

 

If you have the correct restore discs, it will actually wipe your HD and copy a complete disc image to it with all the correct drivers and registry settings intact.

Just pop the disc in the optical drive, fire it up, and press the spacebar when it prompts you to boot from CD. You shouldn't need the COA at all during the process; it is installing an OEM version of XP.

mnem
Restored.

 

Thank you I was hoping that it was as easy as a Dell laptop.

 

Shhhh!

We have Dell haters in our midst...

mnem
*Points to his Sig*

 

HeHe got ya!!!

 

Did someone say DULL????

There is NOTHING easier than loading the factory restore disks! Seriously... A 8 year old can do it. Plus it also give additional options for you if you ever need to wipe the drive...

BIG PLUS??? NO BLOATWARE! Just a Users Guide and Important Tips icon... Read them both.... twice.... You'll be surprised at what your new Toughbook can do! And you can actually use it to beat a Dull to death!

 

Place the first CD into the drive, then boot from it and follow the on-screen directions.

You will need the COA numbers off the bottom of the unit during the installation process.

When you finish it will just as delivered from the factory.

Welcome to the "Wonderful World of Toughbook."

ps: Did your unit still have the Sony-Ericsson GC-83 card in the PC Card slot? If so, are you going to use it with AT&T Laptop Connect Data Service?

 

Huh? I've used the restore discs on a CF-18 Mk5, CF-29 Mk5, CF-19 Mk2 (XP and Vista) and CF-30 Mk2 (XP and Vista) and have never had to input the COA. AFAIK, it's never required with the factory restore discs.

Glen

 

No unfortunately my CF-29 did not have the card in the slot. The retainer bracket is there and the antenna pigtail still has the protective tape on it so I don't think that is was ever used with an AT&T card.

 

At one point all the CF-29HTM50BM had the ATT GC-83 card but most were removed when they were refurbished guess they didn't want any to get past them with a working SIM and thus give you free internet service.

 

I may have an old GC-83 for sale if you want it.... Unlocked and ready to go.......

 

Mine still had the card in it, but the SIM card was removed. Just installed my SIM from my Sierra AirCard 881 and logged on to my AT&T Laptop Connect account.

It's great not having the PC Card door open with the Sierra card sticking out.

 

I am looking at getting an antenna cable to allow the use of the Sierra AirCard 860 in place of the GC-83.

Hello 3G!

May have to fab one up though, as I don't think the Toughbook ever came with the Sierra card installed in the PC Card slot like the GC-83 Sony-Ericssom card.

 

As stated... If using the correct Recovery Disks for your model... You WILL NOT be asked for your COA.

If you are doing a fresh installation using a standard XP Pro... You WILL need the COA as well as to load all the drivers... In their proper order.

 

Well, Rick, all I know is that I did use the correct Mk3 Recovery Disk set and it did require the manual entrance of the COA info off the bottom of the system.

YRMV

 

TC, this is really unusual. I've done recovery to the 18, 29 & 51 and not once was I required to input the COA keys.

 

If you've updated the BIOS, the OEM restore disk MAY NOT recognize it as the correct model for the recovery media; I've run into this issue with some HP models.

mnem
reset.

 

That could be it, as I updated the BIOS to the latest version as I got the machine up and running (bought w/o drives and used extra floppy drive while awaiting the 5400rpm 80GB drive and caddy also bought off eBay).