Win XP on a CF-53?

I posted about a year ago that my employer was upgrading all us techs who had CF-29's to CF-53's. Well, I was at the bottom of the list to get a new comp and mine is due by the end of September. Other techs have been having a lot of issues getting certain software packages to run on Windows 7 (stuff required for our job). So I was wondering if the CF-53 ever shipped with Win XP installed? I'd jut take out their hard drive and put in one of my own (love those caddies for swapping drives). If not, anyone downgraded to XP from 7? Any issues with the drivers working?

 

I don't think Microsoft gives us a choice now...its W7 or nothing. If your software will not run on W7 then its time to upgrade it too...Microsoft knows that and that is why they bring out new window every few years....$$$$$$$$ in there pocket

 

You can also consider a virtual machine or depending on what version of windows you have you can download for windows 7 (xp mode) Pretty much just a virtual machine in it's self. If you want to see if XP will work right get the specs from one of your co-workers and start researching the hardware they use and xp drivers. Some may have to be non-panasonic generic drivers.

 

I was told that with a CF-53 there would be the option for XP.
I also had the option to get XP recovery drives. Mind you that was november 2011 and I don't know if M$ changed anything, but the site with drivers from panasonic does show them for the 19 mk5, but not for the 53 mk2:
The Driver List of Official Support Download Center | TOUGHBOOK | TOUGHPAD | Panasonic Global Notebook PC

 

Back about 6-8 months ago I was reading some where that Microsoft told all manufactures that they would not be shipping out no more Windows XP and that all new computers would have W7 on them. I think it was on Dells blog or zdnet...someone was mad because they wanted XP but they could not get it on a new laptop.

 

XP drivers are available for the CF-53 Mk1. Depending on the difference in hardware, you may be able to use those on a Mk2.

 

Here you go The Driver List of Official Support Download Center | TOUGHBOOK | TOUGHPAD | Panasonic Global Notebook PC

 

And remember we have used some windows 7 drivers to get 7 to work on older toughbooks. Say Mk3 19 driver on a 52 or 51. This may also work in reverse for the Misc driver for XP.

 

I have just encountered my first Win7 incompatibility issue with a piece of software (an obscure little GIS conversion application from the Corps of Engineers). They suggested a fix which worked perfectly:
"Windows 7 users have had success by:
- Right click on the [xxxxxxx].exe file
- Cick on "Troubleshoot Compatibility"
- Click on "Try Recommended Settings"
- Click in "Start the Program"
Might be worth a try, before this approach, clicking on the .exe file I downloaded did nothing. After this method it installed and is running perfectly.
CAP

 

Wish I could do that with some people!

 

I guess I was not perfectly clear. I have another hard drive. I have Win XP pro. I have a valid COA. I know the computer will be 32 bit (because of our 'special' software 64 bit just won't work). I was just wondering if anyone has installed XP on a CF-53. Having EVERYTHING work as Panasonic shipped it is not as important as the core Win XP operating system. Thanks for all the great replies.

 

BSOD

Won't even boot from my XP Pro CD :-(

 

I have had some problems with that before on some thinkpads. What options do you have in the bios for hard drive? May have to be put in IDE or compatibility mode. The hard drive being in ACHI mode can do this.

 

I'll look into that. I wasn't sure what was going on as I was trying to install a 240 GB SSD. It acted like it was going to work but then the BSOD. The Panasonic web site has nearly 50 Win XP drivers for the CF53 so I know it can be done. I'll keep plugging away with it and let you know what I find.

 

Did you go to this page and follow the instructions? Or did you even get that far before the BSOD?

In the case of clean installation of Windows XP For CF-53J/L/M(mk2 Std.)

 

Looks like just what I need. To be honest, I don't know how far along the install got. I know it said "starting windows" then just stopped @ BSOD. I'll give this a try overthe weekend.

 

Update:

Win XP runs great on the CF53. The boot disk had to be created on the computer before I swapped hard drives. Once I booted to the XP cd, I had the floppy drive hooked up USB and pressed F6 when directed. It loaded a few more screens then loaded the driver off the floppy. Once installed XP installed perfectly.

The 'how to' pdf for loading in the Panasonic drivers was a great guide, but I had to load them out order so my wifi would work to download all the windows updates (and there were tons of them). Anyway, 2 days later the computer is up and running great with all the equipment in device manager showing as operational. All the necesary XP drivers are available from the Panasonic web site so if anyone else wants to give it a try, go into it knowing it works.