Need help reviving CF-19 MK3

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KaiBosh
Posts: 4
Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2012 12:34 pm

Need help reviving CF-19 MK3

#1 Post by KaiBosh »

Hi folks,

I'm a Mac user - but please don't hold that against me - and I don't know much about PCs. I'm hoping someone can advise:

A few weeks ago I was shown vids on YouTube of someone running over a ToughBook with a Jeep, chucking it on the floor and leaving it out in the rain - and was amazed to see it still going! Being a clumsy sort of person, I thought it would be sensible for me to get one.

Then a few days ago I unknowingly bought one as part of a job lot of old office gear and when I found it I decided to keep it for myself.

It's a CF-19. It is a little bit battered on the underside and has no stylus or DVDs. It was very dirty but I've taken it apart as far as I can and cleaned it thoroughly - it's now looking pretty good! It has no operating system but has a Microsoft COA and serial number underneath for Vista.

I have two problems:

One, I cannot get a replacement recovery DVD from Panasonic UK in Cardiff. I emailed them the model and serial numbers and they said it was a MK3 and that the Windows licence was a downgrade (or something similar) and despite the Vista sticker the unit had in fact originally shipped with XP Tablet Edition. The guy was really friendly and wanted to help but the machine is discontinued and they don't have recovery DVDs. He suggested I keep an eye on Ebay but there's nothing on there at the moment.

The other problem is booting from an external drive. I haven't bought one yet but a friend of mine who works in a computer shop looked at it for me and said the BIOS is password-protected and it cannot be set to boot from a DVD drive.

It's a lovely-looking paperweight currently but it would be nice if I could actually get it working.

Sorry for all the vague assertions, I'm a n00b. Any advice at all would be very gratefully received.

Thank you!

KaiBosh

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Rob
Toughbooktalk Founder
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Re: Need help reviving CF-19 MK3

#2 Post by Rob »

1) We need the full model number. Please provide that.

2) I MIGHT be able to get you recovery DVD's for only $25.

3) If you have a BIOS password you're out of luck. Nothing we can do there.

4) I can potentially image the unit's hard drive and send it back to you with an image loaded, you pop it in and go.

5) Although the unit does have a Vista Business COA, it would have come with Windows XP as Windows Vista just sucks! On top of that, Panasonic doesn't like Vista either. If I do re-image the drive it would have XP on it, NOT Vista.

Thanks
~Rob - Vice President - Rugged Depot~
~Cell: (630)/300-8877~
~Owner - Toughbooktalk~
~Fully rugged Toughbook user since April 18th 2005~
~FZ-40ACAAHKM - Primary Toughbook / Workstation as of 7/29/22
~Win10 Pro (Win11 DG), Intel Core i5-1145G7 (up to 4.4GHz), vPro, 14.0" FHD Gloved Multi Touch, 16GB, 1TB Samsung SSD, Intel Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, 4G EM7690, GPS, Quad Pass (BIOS Selectable), Mic and Infrared 5MP Webcam, Standard Battery, TPM 2.0, Emissive Backlit Keyboard, Dual Batteries, USB A + HDMI + Serial X-PAK, Shoulder Strap, Flat~
~AT&T Business 1GB Fiber 1GB/1GB business static line~
~Gamber & Johnson Platinum Partner~

http://www.toughbooktalk.com
http://downloads.toughbooktalk.com/
http://www.rugged575.com - 300' UHF GMRS Radio Repeater
http://www.crete600.com - 310' UHF Linked GMRS Radio Repeater


~Emergency preparedness starts with reliable communication systems above all. Pretend the internet and cell phones didn’t exist, how will you communicate? If you’re interested in learning more, ask me!~

KaiBosh
Posts: 4
Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2012 12:34 pm

Re: Need help reviving CF-19 MK3

#3 Post by KaiBosh »

Hi Rob,

Thanks very much for your help! Imaging the hard drive would be brilliant - I'd rather not buy DVDs and an external DVD drive if I can help it and that approach may not work anyway. The full model number is CF-19KDR01CE.

It looks like you may be the man to talk to regarding getting a replacement stylus too? Maybe some extra RAM? I read you can't upgrade the processor on these things. Airmail from London England to the US is cheap, too.

Let me know if you can help me out and any other fixes or upgrades you would make if it was your machine.

Thanks again, I really appreciate your help.

KaiBosh

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Rob
Toughbooktalk Founder
Posts: 3575
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2009 8:23 pm
Contact:

Re: Need help reviving CF-19 MK3

#4 Post by Rob »

1) I can upgrade the RAM to 2GB total for $40, and 4GB total for $70.
2) Re-image = $65
3) Stylus - is this a Dual touch? If it is and you need a digitizer pen it will cost $55, if it's just a touch only unit and you just need the plastic stick, it's only $25.
4) Processor is soldered on.
5) Airmail back to England = $75 = priority mail, express mail = $110
6) If it was my machine I would also have GPS, emmisive keyboard and a fingerprint scanner. They are $100, $300 and $200 accordingly :D. I am insane, I do have the latest and greatest, and I do own this site too, so I HAVE TO HAVE IT :).

If you are getting this much work done, it really would be best to send the entire unit. Others can vouch for me here that I do great work too :).

Thanks
~Rob - Vice President - Rugged Depot~
~Cell: (630)/300-8877~
~Owner - Toughbooktalk~
~Fully rugged Toughbook user since April 18th 2005~
~FZ-40ACAAHKM - Primary Toughbook / Workstation as of 7/29/22
~Win10 Pro (Win11 DG), Intel Core i5-1145G7 (up to 4.4GHz), vPro, 14.0" FHD Gloved Multi Touch, 16GB, 1TB Samsung SSD, Intel Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, 4G EM7690, GPS, Quad Pass (BIOS Selectable), Mic and Infrared 5MP Webcam, Standard Battery, TPM 2.0, Emissive Backlit Keyboard, Dual Batteries, USB A + HDMI + Serial X-PAK, Shoulder Strap, Flat~
~AT&T Business 1GB Fiber 1GB/1GB business static line~
~Gamber & Johnson Platinum Partner~

http://www.toughbooktalk.com
http://downloads.toughbooktalk.com/
http://www.rugged575.com - 300' UHF GMRS Radio Repeater
http://www.crete600.com - 310' UHF Linked GMRS Radio Repeater


~Emergency preparedness starts with reliable communication systems above all. Pretend the internet and cell phones didn’t exist, how will you communicate? If you’re interested in learning more, ask me!~

KaiBosh
Posts: 4
Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2012 12:34 pm

Re: Need help reviving CF-19 MK3

#5 Post by KaiBosh »

Aargh! I wasn't expecting this beast to cost me another $900. I can buy a complete second-hand unit for half that...

In order to save some cash I will have to just spend the minimum to get the machine going.

1) Have I currently got two x 512Mb in there?
2) Yes please.
3) How do I tell if it's a Dual touch?
4) OK I think I'll leave that alone then!
5) WOW - Airmail UK to US up to half a kilo is £5 - about $7. Delivery in 5 days. I would be happy to wait a similar amount of time for the return journey if it's less expensive.
6) It has GPS already, I don't know what an emissive keyboard is and don't need a fingerprint scanner - phew! Saved myself 600 bucks.

I'm happy not to have everything - just the basics will do for me!

Thank you

KaiBosh

User avatar
Rob
Toughbooktalk Founder
Posts: 3575
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2009 8:23 pm
Contact:

Re: Need help reviving CF-19 MK3

#6 Post by Rob »

It SHOULD be Dual touch based on my old configurator I have on file here. Without having the laptop here it's going to make testing it VERY difficult as I don't have a Mark 3 Dual touch in stock at the moment (I only have a touch model) :(.

The shipping price for the whole unit is based on a value of $1500. That's about what they are worth so we have to insure it for that amount.

Okay, so if you'd like please send the drive to me, I CAN image it, but place no gaurantees on the touch screen. You absoultly CAN get it to work, but you will have to mess around with it on your end once it's re-imaged

My info is below:

ATTENTION: ROB - Toughbooktalk
Proton Computers Inc.
720 S. Main Street
Lombard, IL 60148

$65 for the labor + $20 return shipping = $85. - This is payable via Paypal.
~Rob - Vice President - Rugged Depot~
~Cell: (630)/300-8877~
~Owner - Toughbooktalk~
~Fully rugged Toughbook user since April 18th 2005~
~FZ-40ACAAHKM - Primary Toughbook / Workstation as of 7/29/22
~Win10 Pro (Win11 DG), Intel Core i5-1145G7 (up to 4.4GHz), vPro, 14.0" FHD Gloved Multi Touch, 16GB, 1TB Samsung SSD, Intel Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, 4G EM7690, GPS, Quad Pass (BIOS Selectable), Mic and Infrared 5MP Webcam, Standard Battery, TPM 2.0, Emissive Backlit Keyboard, Dual Batteries, USB A + HDMI + Serial X-PAK, Shoulder Strap, Flat~
~AT&T Business 1GB Fiber 1GB/1GB business static line~
~Gamber & Johnson Platinum Partner~

http://www.toughbooktalk.com
http://downloads.toughbooktalk.com/
http://www.rugged575.com - 300' UHF GMRS Radio Repeater
http://www.crete600.com - 310' UHF Linked GMRS Radio Repeater


~Emergency preparedness starts with reliable communication systems above all. Pretend the internet and cell phones didn’t exist, how will you communicate? If you’re interested in learning more, ask me!~

KaiBosh
Posts: 4
Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2012 12:34 pm

Re: Need help reviving CF-19 MK3

#7 Post by KaiBosh »

Thank you Sir, check yr email :)

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