What rugged toughbooks have parallel (db25 printer) ports?

Long time lurker but just joined because my CF-29 Mark 4 has given up the ghost. I bought it years ago because some programs I have, and still use, require a parallel port (for a security dongle) to work. I'm a mechanic by trade and used it for tuning engines primarily but also diagnosis of automotive systems. I have looked at various sites in Australia (where I am located) and it seems the supply of cf-29 toughbooks has dried up here. So I am looking for another rugged toughbook that has a parallel port and just need to know what models to look for.

A little bit more information on my current, now deceased, cf-29. It has 2 hard drives, 1 with FreeDOS and Windows 7 and another (SSD) with Windows 10 that I swap about as required. If possible I'd like to be able to get a laptop that has native SATA connectivity as well as the parallel port but the SATA connectivity isn't as important as the parallel port.

Any and all suggestions gratefully received.

 

You may need to stick with a CF29 to get a parallel port.
I will contact a fellow member who more than likely has nice one.
@SHEEPMAN!

 

Thanks Shawn

 

Yeppers. A Very nice Mk4....LTQGZBM 180 hours.
Samsung 160HC, 1.5 ram
Linux Mint LMDE
Custom GPS on WWAN corner.

There's another one around here. A N3*****. 2 Gb ram. Let me look for it.

Here's a LBLGZBM 13,300 TOUCHSCREEN 2 G ram.....still looking. EndEdit

 

Sheepman has nice stuff, but if SATA is important enough, there are USB to parallel port dongles too. Just another option, but usually the dongle is about 6 to 8 inches long. Hanging out of USB port may not be what you want. Also some brands work better than others.

 

@SHEEPMAN! I'm interested in the Mark 4.
What's the LBLGZBM 13,300 TOUCHSCREEN 2 G ram?

Just as an aside I like Linux and even have my own distro called Cobber, that is being tested on a few machines. In my, very limited toughbook, experience the cf-29 does pretty well with Linux.

@ theoak2 sata is a wishlist item simply because my cf-29 was slow on Windows 7 with the IDE but it went really well with Windows 10 on the sata SSD. There are adaptors, which I used in my cf-29, but things like that add extra failure points. I have tried USB to parallel adapters before and for Kalmaker (the program which has the security dongle I need it for) I couldn't get them to work. This was a few years ago (about 10) so I am open to suggestions if the technology has been improved.

 

I have heard of that issue before with various dongles on USB converted ports.
That's a CF-29LBLGZBM. You need to learn Jeffspeak. Sheepman = Jeff.

 

Yep, never been able to get one to work. Have read people say they do but when asked make and model details become very sketchy.

Hmmmm, ok mental note to self learn jeffspeak.

 

The LBL is a non-touch converted to touchscreen. Non touch come with 256 onboard ram v.s. 512 for touchscreen units, enabling the use of two GB ram for the non-touch MK 4/5's.
1. New touch-panel eliminates issues with de-lamination. TSPCB added.
2. Very clean with backlit-chiclet keyboard. (BLKB)
3. No WWAN...single pass-through probably wired to WLAN????

My written verbiage has deteriorated as the planet converts to text/speak. Also I don't explain everything clearly as I figure the search box is right up there /\.

The MK5 continues to elude me. It might be in a box somewhere.

 

@SHEEPMAN! How much have you got on these items you have listed so far and the mark 5?

 

Might want to start a private conversation to work out the details.

 

Tried that, can't find any PM function. Thought it might not be available for people like myself with less than a certain number of posts.

 

Click on his name and look for. " Start a new conversation"

 

I started a 3 bway convo for you 2 guys

 

Thanks Shawn.

 

Just thought I'd post that the CF-29 units I purchased from Sheepman arrived yesterday and I picked them up this afternoon. I am currently typing this up from my new CF-29LTQGZBM

 

May I ask here?

You wrote, USB-parallel adapters could have mixed up ports?
Would ExpressCard-Parallel Adapters would work flawlessly and within DOS?

 

What specific adapter?
Does that manufacturer have DOS drivers?

CF 29 does not have Expresscard slot.
CF 29 has PC Card Type II x 2 or Type III x 1

 

I am rethinking what OSes I have on my system. Now that I have 4 drives I'm flush for choice but I don't want to swap them out just to use another OS.

On the 1st machine (my tuning machine) I must have FreeDOS for Kalmaker, I'd like to keep Windows 7 and 10 as well and am wondering if I should triple or quadruple boot (with Linux) on the SSD. When I get the hard drive dock for the DVD drive (ordered and paid for before I started this thread) I'll be able to have a 1,2,or 3 TB D:\ drive for FreeDOS and Windows usage. I suppose could use a USB stick for running Linux if and when I needed to use it.

The 2nd machine (a spare or it may end up on a flowbench I am building or maybe even a dyno) will most probably have Windows 7 or 10 (one or the other but not both) and Linux in a dual boot configuration.

 

I got bit a few times by Windows writing over the bootloader. I dual boot with two caddies....one for each system.
On this CF-31 I have Windows as I might sell it but I run it on MX-17 Horizon via live USB and avoid Windows like the plague. Upgrading LiveUSB in this view.

 

I didn't know MX was still going.
Windows over writing the bootloader does occasionally happen but Super GRUB Disc is easy to use and saves the day. I have a 256 GB flash drive with a variety of tools installed on it from PenDriveLinux in my IT toolbox.

 

I just tried to install Cloudready by Neverware on one of the CF29s and it wouldn't install, I'll try it on the other one later today. It may be my usb drive (getting a bit old) but I doubt it. Up until today I have never had a failure installing Cloudready on any machines I have tried to put it on but I do know there are 32 bit machines that have difficulty with it.

In other news I have downloaded well of 1GB of updates for the Windows 7 install that come with the 2nd machine. That broke a display driver so I had to uninstall display and video hardware in Device manager and reboot the machine. Once the reboot finished Windows was fine and it installed a driver. I then went and downloaded the native Panasonic drivers using Panasonic's download manager and have been installing them as I go along.

I must say I really like the backlit keyboard in one of the machines, the other machine has the ordinary keyboard.

I'm going to keep my old CF-29 for parts so that if any goes on either of these 2 I have spare parts to fix them.

I shall do a fresh install of Linux later today so that I have 1 caddy that I can swap between the machines. Once that is done I'll be 99% setup. 1 machine for my tuning, and the other for my workshop tools.

 

get wsusoffline to download and save those windoze updates.
Install them all at once. I have them saved on to a USB stick.

 

Good idea Shawn.

 

Been nearly a month since I've posted an update.

The cf-29s are going gangbusters, I really like the backlit keyboard compared to the regular keyboard. My net access has been on and off so I haven't been able to download and install a couple of OSes yet but am working on that now before the rain starts and causes disruption again. Getting Debian Buster (current Testing) without non-free firmware because it simply will not install with non-free firmware available. I'll install the network firmware later. Will give Cloudready another attempt as well.

Apart from that I just need to put my installs of FreeDOS, Windows 7, Windows 10 onto the SSD and I'm done. Screenshots will be posted as soon as everything is done.

A plug for Sheepman (Jeff), he has been a gentleman (and also a good conversationalist) and has gone over and above my expectations in our dealings.

 

Thanks mate.

 

Some pics after installing Linux on one of the CF-29s. This setup is Cobber testing which is built off Debian Testing (currently Buster) and "adjusted" for Oceania (I am more than happy to build an International version). DE is MATE (pronounced mah-tay but I pronounce it M8), top and bottom panel with bottom panel set to autohide, Brisk menu instead of traditional menu, Moblin icons (with some names modified by me so they would work on modern systems), full time and date on clock, modified Clearlooks-Phenix theme (modified version called Cobberlooks)

ToDo: install Clearlooks Red Berries, further modifiy Cobberlooks to use natural colours like aqua and also pastels.
EDIT: Forgot to add that the Moblin icons need to be changed from png to svg so that are all equal in size and scale better when changing things like panel sizes. Moblin was initially designed for mobile phones not for laptops or computers so icon size and scaling didn't matter much but it does now.

Enjoy!

 

I just found out why my old cf-29 gave up the ghost. I swapped my SSD into one of the new cf-29s (the one with the backlit keyboard) and it no longer works either. I have swapped an IDE drive back in to check but nothing. There must be something wrong with the SSD, or the IDE to SSD convertor cable. Hoping there is a fuse or something inside the cf-29 that may have blown and can be replaced easily.

 

Could be the converter board itself is bad and shorted out. That blows the fuses.
Fuses are probably about 4mm long or LESS.
I would replace the cable and SATA converter board.
Maybe test everything with a usb to IDE adapter and USB hub.
Easier to replace the hub or usb to IDE adapter than a motherboard.

 

Just tested the SSD in another machine that doesn't require the adaptor and it is working,

I have to go out and get some feed for my horses, will be back later to keep working on this.

 

Thanks Shawn, where abouts are the fuses located?

 

On the motherboard somewhere near the IDE connector.

 

I've got the base of the cf-29 and can't see any fuses underneath so I am assuming (often the wrong thing to do) that they are on the top side of the motherboard. Will have a look later.

 

try doing a Google search on ( fuses on a cf-29 motherboard ) and check out the pictures. that should give you a better idea what you are looking for. Better still...Oh Jeff...where are you

 

Get me a good quality photo of the motherboard.
A camera better than a cell phone is needed.

 

I have a board here somewhere. There's a fuse near the hdd connector on the corner. F11 or F12 or something. Let me grab a board...........................................where's the flashlight............be right back.

 

Thanks for the help gentlemen, I realise it is probably the middle of the night there so don't go missing out on your sleep for this.
I still have 1 toughbook that is operational, if the fuse is the problem with the other 2 I'll have 3 after I fix them.

Is there such a thing anymore?

 

oops that's a cf-30................................................got side-tracked....................back soon.

 

A man like myself, getting side tracked.

 

I have a MK3 with the bottom off. That silver bit where the battery and hdd meet plugs into the top (keyboard side). I'm thinking there is a fuse near the silver bit. (on the top)
I'll jump over and look at a MK4/5 manual.

 

Well here it is...be aware this is a MK3.

The fuse I was remembering was on top near where the silver bit fits. (top=keyboard side) Label F2 T 5A

 

Hmmmm, this is going to be difficult.

 

A little bit of an update. Before I purchased the toughbooks off Sheepman I purchased a caddy for a 2nd HDD. It arrived yesterday. Last night I fitted it following the instructions that come with it and it didn't work. Moral to the story is if it seems to good an easy to be true it most probably is. I'll just use a usb (albeit a huge one) as my extra drive.

 

CF-VHD2830 if you can find one. For IDE drive. Correct fit in media bay.
I see 3-4 new ones in U.K.

Built for CF-28, fits 29.

 

Thanks Sheepman as always you are a willing guide in the world of toughbooks
I looked up the part number and found some on ebay from the UK, I will have to save up for it (I've got a grand total of AU$3.49 in my bank account right now ) but now I know what part number to go for I'll go for the factory option.

Cheers mate.

 

I used to have a non oem ide 2nd drive adapter. Might still have it.

 

Here ya go with a CF-29 MK5.

 

Does it fit without using the old DVD drive housing?

 

Nice.
I tried 2 different drives in the adapter, a 320GB sata and a 1TB sata. Neither worked in the machine but work outside the machine.When they were in the adapter the machine locked up. I couldn't get into the BIOS with the adapter in place.

I've since read a couple of threads on here about doing this same thing. I'll look at it again later and see if I need to change anything on the adapter. My gut feeling is it is just a cheap brummy unit.

 

Mine require an OEM DVD shell.
SATA will not work as a 2nd drive. I have tried the 2nd drive when I owned a 29.
The BIOS gets confused.