CF-29 SD Card Reader Compatibility thru Different Models

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fj1289
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Joined: Mon Dec 05, 2016 1:12 am

CF-29 SD Card Reader Compatibility thru Different Models

#1 Post by fj1289 »

Short question - Can I take the SD card reader/PCMCIA slot from a CF-29 mk5 and install it in a CF-29 mk3?

Long version: I bought 2 CF-29's about a year and a half ago. I use them as tuning computers (one is a spare) after going through three "soft" laptops (2 to drops and one maybe to dust or heat). They were both fairly stripped but did have a clean install of windows XP. While on a recent work trip I purchased another CF-29 - this one with a CD-R/DVD and an SD card reader with the PCMCIA slot. I got it running on a version of Ubuntu. I returned a couple weeks later and grabbed a couple "parts only" CF-29s with CD-R/DVD's and SD card/PCMCIA. The CD-R/DVD's swapped right in the mk3's as expected. Now to add the internal SD card readers to the mk3's.

fj1289
Posts: 6
Joined: Mon Dec 05, 2016 1:12 am

Re: CF-29 SD Card Reader Compatibility thru Different Models

#2 Post by fj1289 »

Follow up question - will I need to partially disassemble the tough book to replace the PCMCIA unit? I assume I need to go in for ok the bottom?

Thanks
Chris

fj1289
Posts: 6
Joined: Mon Dec 05, 2016 1:12 am

Re: CF-29 SD Card Reader Compatibility thru Different Models

#3 Post by fj1289 »

Well, I think I've answered my own question.

After tearing into the mk5 parts computer I've discovered the SD card reader is not part of the PCMCIA unit - it just shares the real estate behind that cover. The SD card reader is its own board with a small ribbon from the mother board. I assume the SD card reader is specific to the mother board. It also appears to be specific to the computer chassis too, based on the cutout for the SD card.

Now to figure out how to get the mk3 hard drives to work in the mk5 computers. I have seen some posts on that. More searching ...

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Shawn
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Re: CF-29 SD Card Reader Compatibility thru Different Models

#4 Post by Shawn »

It has been quite a while since I owned//disassembled a CF29.
I don't remember enough to be of any help.

What OS?
Life will beat you into submission.

fj1289
Posts: 6
Joined: Mon Dec 05, 2016 1:12 am

Re: CF-29 SD Card Reader Compatibility thru Different Models

#5 Post by fj1289 »

Thanks Shawn

The two mk3s are still running windows XP. The mk5 was purchased with no OS. I used puppy Linux initially (both Wary and Lucid) but eventually installed Ubuntu 10.04. 10.04 was the latest ISO I could get on a CD (no DVD writer).

The primary tuning software is available in both windows and Linux versions. Some of the other software I need is only available in windows versions (primarily software for the two different wideband oxygen sensors I use).

Will I be able to successfully reinstall windows on the mk5 (purchased with a blank hard drive) using the serial number specific Toughbook recovery disk available from Panasonic?

How hard is it to install WINE in Ubuntu and run random windows software on it?

Thanks,
Chris

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SHEEPMAN!
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Location: TDR-HQ California

Re: CF-29 SD Card Reader Compatibility thru Different Models

#6 Post by SHEEPMAN! »

Define hard? :)

It depends. Some work fine, others not so much or at all.

I've run Netflix on wine and several others.
MS Streets and Trips failed but I didn't try very hard.

Set OS up with all updates and give it a shot.

Reading to shrink the learning curve is key. Just remember you may be the only one doing it with these machines.....doesn't mean it can't be done.

For MK3 I like MX14 Linux. Mint and Ubuntu are pretty hungry. You can do the install from USB on a Mark 4 or 5 and use it in the MK3....or MK2 or MK1. (29)

For wine they recommend the package maintainers version to insure dependent files are installed.

wine has a pretty nice wiki. (wine HQ?)
Fair for you/ Fair for me.
I chose to NOT be organized.

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fj1289
Posts: 6
Joined: Mon Dec 05, 2016 1:12 am

Re: CF-29 SD Card Reader Compatibility thru Different Models

#7 Post by fj1289 »

Thanks - looking up MX Linux now.

I found the winehq.org site earlier. Good to know it is the go-to site. After I get a little deeper there I may be back with some very entry level questions on how to go about adding/installing it.

Thanks,
Chris

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SHEEPMAN!
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Re: CF-29 SD Card Reader Compatibility thru Different Models

#8 Post by SHEEPMAN! »

If I miss it send me a PM.
Fair for you/ Fair for me.
I chose to NOT be organized.

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fj1289
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Joined: Mon Dec 05, 2016 1:12 am

Re: CF-29 SD Card Reader Compatibility thru Different Models

#9 Post by fj1289 »

Installed MX16 on the mk5 and got both of the tuning programs up and running on it.

Two issues now - the usual touchpad and touchscreen issues. The usual fix for the touchpad doesn't work. The temp fix "set m 8 1" works fine but the "options psmouse resolution=400" fix doesn't work.

Also tried to calibrate the touchscreen with the "xinput-calibration" but it fails to install.


MX16 Linux is a bit different to work with - but getting it figured out.


Getting WINE installed and seeing if the other software will run is the next steps.

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SHEEPMAN!
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Re: CF-29 SD Card Reader Compatibility thru Different Models

#10 Post by SHEEPMAN! »

For the touchscreen use http://github.com/downloads/tias/xinput ... 1_i386.deb
Let MX install the .deb
Fair for you/ Fair for me.
I chose to NOT be organized.

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