best upgrade options CF-19 F MK2

I have a cf-19 I got for my auto shop. it came with windows vista basic business. i\I want to beef her up best I can to make her lst as long as i can but not slow a sa dog. i thought it was older HD making it boot up in 3 hours, not really but its slow. So i got newer modle,same thing at best. So I am going to post everything about her and hopefully one of you TB gufus can say this this and this and this will be best....bios, where, memeory how much what kind, etc etc...I dont think windows 8 is an option for this girl, or is it? if so i would LOVE to do that!
CF-19FHGXAM- IS THAT THE MK1 2 OR 3 OR WHAT DRIVER TO USE LOOK FOR, I ALWAYS GET THE MK THINGS MIXED UP, WHICH ONE IS SHE?

THERES A STUICKER BELOW THE CF-19 WITH : AVO123456789 WITH AND 8HKSB87654 ON THAT IF THAT MEANS ANYTHING

I HAVE ALL THINGS WORKING ON HER, THE TOUCHSCREEN AND THE PEN AND ALL THE FRONT BUTTONS. there is 2 ! yellow in dmanager ill post them later....ones pci data acqusition and signal controller other is just unknown

HARD DRIVE IS 1 GIG WD CARVER I THINK IT WAS - I AM GOING TO BUY AN SSD TODAY, THAT WILL HELP

MEMOREY IS 3.00 GIGS A 2 AND A 1, GONNA GO TO 3 AND 3 OR 2 AND 2 OR 4 AND 4 ONCE I LEAVE THIS THREAD IMA LOOK FOR MEM MAX AND DO THAT. (ITS 4) yes i can only use 3.xxx with 32 bit but id rather have 3.xxxx outta 4 then 3.0 outta 3.0 since i have 3 2 gigs sticks here that will fit, so mem is/will be 4 max...4096

ITS WINDOWS 7 32 BIT ULTIMATE, ID LOVE TO USE 8.1 IF I MAX MEM AND HD WITH SSD ILL IT WORK?

CPU IS A INTEL CORETM DUE U7500 1.06 1.07. CAN I UP THAT IF SO TO WHAT TOPS?

i guess i am asking can i use windows 8.1 on this cf-19 mk1 i belive. if i use 4 gigs ram, with this cpu(can i upgrade if so to whats tops forthis?) with a 512 ssd drive. with that ram that ssd an best cpu or this cpu will 8.1 work well, not blaze just well. most all my automotive programs now are all touch based, hence the need fortouch. now windows 8.....again not looking for grapichs games aetc etc just a good solid semi normal speed 8.1 touchscreen...will it work folks? if so whats the bet way to max her out....

 

Start here.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/panasonic/746328-cf-19-guide-f-q.html

 

If you make it - let me know.

 

I ran Windows 8 on a MK2 CF-19 similar to yours (CF-19FHGXAM several years ago after following these instructions:
Upgrade to Windows 8.1 from Windows 7 - Windows Help
but did NOT like the results. The FAQ thread Shawn posted above will get you started.
Your Toughbook you posted above, the CF-19FHGXAM is a MK2, and many people have put Windows 7 and/or Linux on that model with great success. The addition of a SSD will be the most bang for the buck.
You will want to optimize the system once you get everything working properly (many links on this), and you will want to make a back up copy/clone of your system. Good luck, and let us know how you make out!

 

It's vista that has slowed you down. After updates it likes to put things back to how it thinks it should be, not how you want it. Just a install of windows 7 would work wonders. For Raw speed a SSD would work well to speed things up.

For vista try this. (bring up task manager and see how many processes are running first)

Update everything you can including SP2.

Look for un-needed programs and delete them, if it's a sometime used program every blue moon look for a portable version ( PortableApps.com - Portable software for USB, portable and cloud drives )

Download and install Ccleaner https://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/download

Run Ccleaner to clean the pc in general, clean the registry and edit start up programs.

Then go to black vipers site on what services do and what you can disable.
Black Viper’s Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Service Configurations » Black Viper | www.blackviper.com

Download and use the UWT ultimate windows tweaker, it puts all of vista/7's hidden settings in a easy to use interface.
Ultimate Windows Tweaker v 2.2, a Tweak UI for Windows 7 & Vista

If you think it needs more tweaking than that I can dig out the old black book on what to turn off.


Option B if you want to try a newer version of windows and since you have that extra hard drive download windows 10 preview. It's free to use right now. If it goes like some of the previous test releases go if you sign up, you will get a email when it is released for a discounted price. But only if you sign up for the program. You don't have to sign up to download and use it.

Download Windows Technical Preview ISO - Microsoft Windows

Both 32 bit and 64 bit versions are there with the key to use on that page.

I haven't personally tried it yet but my oldest boy has it on his desktop and is kind of mixed about it. It has a few driver issues with some of the hardware he runs.

 

I have the exact model of the CF-19 that you have. It is a Mk 2 version as others have said. I am running Windows 7 32bit, and everything works perfectly. Win 7 also properly supports TRIM for SSDs Here is what I did;

0. I have a total of 4 gb of ram, of which Windows uses about 3.24 gb. I also upgraded to a 240gb SSD. You don't need the fastest SSD out there, as the CF-19 bios limits transfer to SATA I speeds. You can use the latest and greatest, but it just won't transfer data any faster than SATA 1 speed. However, the SSD speeds up Windows 7 substantially over a traditional harddrive.

1. I did a clean install of the Vista that came with the computer, using the original DVD. If you don't have one, they are pretty cheap from Panasonic.

2. I did an over the top install of WIndows 7 over Vista, using the in-place upgrade process. During the install, it will tell you that one (as I recall) of the Panasonic drivers is incompatible with Windows 7, and it says to uninstall it prior to proceeding. I did that. A lot of people recommend doing a clean install of Windows 7, but the over the top installation preserves drivers and other Panasonic apps, and avoids going thru the painful install process for each of them.

3. Windows 7 will install, and then you install the Windows 7 version of the driver you uninstalled from the Panasonic website. You use the driver from the first version of the CF-19 (Mark 3 or 4) that supported Windows 7. It will install properly.

4. Allow Windows 7 to do all of the updates. There will be a bunch of them.

5. You can search the Panasonic website for later versions of the drivers on your CF-19 specifically for WIndows 7 from later versions of the CF-19. You just have to make sure that the drivers match the hardware on your laptop. This is optional, and if it operates to your satisfaction without doing it, don't bother.

6. Once you are sure Windows 7 is operating to your satisfaction, you can delete the old Windows backup files that were created during the upgrade from Vista. CCleaner can help with this process.

I upgraded the WLAN card from a 4965 ag_ to a 4965 agn. There is a thread by me on this site about it. No other card, and I tried a bunch, will provide dual band wireless n coverage. Most won't even allow the computer to boot. You don't even have to update the driver to make it work.

Use ONLY drivers from Panasonic. Do NOT use generic drivers from the hardware component manufacturers website, especially for sound. They WILL create issues. If you don't use the Panasonic provided sound driver, it will allow you to mute sound, but not turn it back on. They only way to reactivate sound then is to take the bottom off the laptop, and disconnect the bios battery. DON'T DO IT!!

All controls and buttons operate as they should. Touchscreen works flawlessly.

I don't see any advantage in going to Windows 8, and I have other laptops with it. Windows 8 is optimized for use with a multipoint capacitive touchscreen. Your CF-19 has a single point resistive touchscreen. As others have said, Win 8 brings its own issues, such as certain buttons not working.

I use my CF-19 with a variety of automotive applications, as well as for general use. It is idea for use in the shop, and you will appreciate how truly rugged it is.

Since the CF-19 supports both PCMCIA cards, as well as Expresscards, I installed a USB 3 Expresscard. Nice upgrade for the computer. Many of them use Renasas chipsets, and the driver disk usually has out of date drivers. You can search for newer drivers that correct a lot of USB 3 related issues. I also got a PCMCIA parallel port card for the rare occasions when I need one.

I also added GPS and a WWAN Gobi card to mine. Certainly not necessary, but nice to have.

Be sure to turn off Defrag once you install your SSD.

I use Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) for virus protection and Spyware Blaster for protection from malicious websites and spyware. MSE integrates will with Windows 7 and is pretty unobtrusive.

Feel free to ask me any questions you might have.

Jon

 

So are you saying that all your front buttons work too ?? That is the problem we have with the MK2.

 

2jonlowe
Total nightmare! )
And never use your laptop more than 15 minutes per hour or you can loose your vision ))
And there is voltage inside and outside - beware )
P.S. When you are going to press keys - use Panasonic certified fingers only.

 

Yep, all buttons work, just tested them again. Maybe it was my method of upgrading from Vista to Win 7. Never had an issue with them.

Here is the post where I did it back in 2012, post # 78:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/panasonic/431682-cf-19-windows-7-install-8.html



Jon

 

I can confirm that JonLowe's method works, as I followed the same directions back 2-3 years ago, going from Vista to Windows7. You must have the Vista Bios, so if it has the Vista coa but was sent with XP, you'll have to flash the bios for Vista, then install the Panasonic Vista Recovery disk, and THEN upgrade to Windows7 as JonLowe said above.
All buttons work. Ask Sadlmkr, I just sent him two MK2's with 100 hours with Win7 on them.

 

Good point about the bios. I'd forgotten about that. Glad someone else made it work.

 

Very us full gadget to have around.

Plug it in car only when you will be using it. Other wise it will run down the battery...

Mini ELM327 V1 5 OBD2 II Bluetooth Car Auto Diagnostic Interface Scanner Tool | eBay