WTB/WTT - CF-18 Parts for starting out

Hi, I just got my toughbook cf-18 off of eBay for a steal but it needs a bit of work... Being jobless and with very few options I only have around $85 to play with and I need to get this toughbook running so I can at least start my technician company and complete more of my college courses. I would be ever so grateful if anybody can supply me with at least one of these 5 parts.

HDD Caddy- with or without cable.
Battery- that at least holds an 80% Charge.
LCD Screen- The one I have has a busted back light and dead pixels.
Stylus- This is the MK5 with the Digitizer.
Rubber Keyboard- This keyboard is in pretty bad shape as it is...

The Critical components are the LCD Screen and the HDD Caddy. Again, any help in getting replacements on my budget would be greatly appreciated. I am starting my classes in 3 weeks and I need to get this PC ready for them as well as to bring in some income to my family. Thanks in advance!

 

I am at work right now and have a CF-19 busted screen that I just changed out but the light in it was fine. I think they will interchange I will have to find out.

For a cheap Caddy and your price range you options are going to be very limited.

You can boot from USB so you can use a flash drive for now as your hard drive. If you do Linux no problem, if you install windows you will have to mod the installation. By default windows checks all USB's then turns them off while booting. It's why you can install but it won't boot from a USB device. You have to mod the registry to not do this. Google it.

You can boot and run a Linux live or custom re-mixed cd/dvd from a external usb drive. You can also do a BartPE disk for running windows on usb cd/dvd drive.

You can get just the caddy cable EXAMPLE: NEW Panasonic Toughbook CF-18 CF 18 LCD Cable HD HDD | eBay
Then make your own metal caddy, get a silicone sleeve, or just get some foam for it. You don't won't to totally foam it just think 1" blocks ever so often to keep it into place. You will have to take the back off of the Toughbook to plug everything up and get it right.

For the stylus for the price you have you might have to go with this for now.

New Axiotron Digitizer Pen Modbook & Tablet PC by Wacom | eBay

Generic pen, but it works, won't fit in the original holder.

What is your full model #?

 

It will be cheaper to buy the cable with the caddy. You are going to pay $10.00 more if not..
A quick search on ebay for the cheapest prices as you can see is out of your price range. You really would be better off selling yours and getting one down the road when things are better for you . The last owner sold all the money parts as you are finding out now . The members on this forum are a great bunch of guys who like helping out any one with a Toughbook but what you are asking maybe a little too much or too little. With only $35.00 to spend....The lowest I paid for one thing on your list is $42.00 and I am cheap.

$50.00...HDD Caddy (no HDD)
$47.00...Battery- that at least holds an 80% Charge.
$?????...LCD Screen
$15.00...Stylus Digitizer (very good price)
$165.00...Rubber Keyboard

 

Well, I got the CF-18 for only $50 and everything that's in it works besides the screen. I got it with the realization that rebuilding it will take a while. The toughbook meets all of my major requirements though, Tablet, Linux, Easily Modifiable Wifi antennas, Hazard proof, etc etc...
I was just wondering if any members of the forum had any spare parts I could get for a deal or trade for, I have 5 other laptops including a Working Toughbook CF-47.

Also, wouldn't it be possible to boot off of an SD Card from the Card reader? I have a 64GB and a 128GB SD Card laying about somewhere.

And my extended model # is nothing too fancy, CF18NDHZXVM

 

Ok thats not bad then, here's the info on your 18.

 

I already knew that though thanks for the MSRP, I thought it was less. However I am not going to sell this laptop as it is more valuable to me as an asset rather than selling it. I just got back from a maintenance call that took 2 hours when having the TB working would have only taken 30 mins.

Can I boot off of an SD Card however, cause if so, I can get it running within 1.5 weeks. :3 Just want to know if anybody else has tried before.

 

I would say no since that is not a option in the BIOS but as ador said above you can use a USB thumb drive. I would ask this question in the regular part of the forum.

 

To answer my own question and to inform others, There is an IDE to SD Card adapter that would work well if wrapped in a shock absorbing material and placed into the bay. Amazon.com: 44-Pin Male IDE To SD Card Adapter: Electronics

Would anybody have any spare Laptop IDE to 44-Pin IDE Connectors they would be willing to sell me? does not need to be OEM.

This is actually an Interestingly Cheap way to make IDE and SATA SSD Drives, would not have as much speed as most CF and Standard SSD's but it would be durable and low Power use. so it's a plus for me. So that Adapter with a http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-SDHC-...5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1331351268&sr=1-5 Would be a sub $50 SSD for any IDE notebook. only if you don't need much capacity. XD
I would recommend backing up often however since most SD Cards are not meant to take all of the wear and tear running an OS could do, but the EXT Filesystem should not cause as much damage that a Fat system would do.

 

yes I have heard. of a overseas member doing this...I think it was a CF-29. Not sure how it will worked. Keep us posted if you do this

 

I put a voltage tester so some of the components at the end of the inverter and I am getting power, so NVM on that bit.
There is an alarming amount of evidence that water damage caused all the mayhem in the screen portion. Lot's of corrosion residue on and around the wire conduits and much of the tape having no adhesive. Obscene amounts of corrosion built up on the screws... Kinda seems like the gasket around the rim failed by the looks of it... Wonder where i can get a new gasket from, Time to check the E of Bay once again.



<<<NEVERMIND THIS: Crap upon reading the service manual I think that the Inverter PCB might also be bad, does anybody have any spares of any kind? I am finding it hard to locate them on ebay.>>>

 

I have not done any IDE to SD card adapter, BUT I have done three IDE to COMPACT FLASH adapter in three CF-28's. They worked fine. I have them lined up again to go into a CF-M34 right now.

Just look up for a guide on tweaking the OS for SSD/flash memory use to cut down on the writes/re-writes. Stuff like disabling the page files helps out a lot on that.

 

I've got more now, just posted my current TB budget at that point and selling my toughbook is out of the question. I just want to fix this one up and get it running.