Toughbook CF-18 clean OS install issues on new HD

[AnnmarieD]

I have a Toughbook CF-18 that I use to surf the internet and read my e mail. Not much else. It was given to me and I have enjoyed it mainly for it's small size and it's wireless capabilities. It is a few years old.

Recently the HD became corrupted.

I removed the HD and using the info on that I purchased a new one. I also purchased a Pioneer external CD/DVD drive in order to reinstall Windows XP Pro Tablet onto the new HD since of course it has no CD drive of it's own.

I installed the new HD.
I hooked up the external CD drive with Recovery CD 1 in it, booted up and received the error message "model not supported".

I made sure that CD was the top device listed in the boot menu of the BIOS.

Since I am not a model and I do not need support I assumed it was the CD drive it was referring to.

Having built and re built many a desktop I have a few internal CDs in my parts stash as well as a little kit that makes them IDE to USB capable.

I hook one up to the Toughbook and get the error message "media test failure - check cable"
"exiting PXE ROM"
"operating system not found"

I tried this with 4 different CD drives including the one from the computer I am using right now.

Now, from reading through the threads in this forum (which were very informative BTW ), that this machine can use any CD drive - not only the one Panasonic says, and that the error message is common since of course there is not operating system on a clean HD.

What the heck am I doing wrong? I have been working on this for 3 days and am ready to throw it against the wall.

[Toughbook]

Welcome to the forum!

You have the wrong recovery disks! You can load XP with a regular Win XP Pro CD and use your key on the COA on the bottom of your laptop. You can download the drivers from Panasonic.

[AnnmarieD]

These are the recovery discs that came with the laptop. They specifically read CF - 18 Recovery Disc 1, 2 & 3. And I assume they are the tablet addition.
If I use XP Pro then no tablet features.

And the drivers from Panasonic would be for what reason - I am a bit confused. For hardware specific to the notebook?

[ohlip]

Ann..., TB..probably right you have the wrong recovery cd's. Will you pls post your model no. just like CF-18XXXXXX at the bottom of the unit and also what MARK the recovery cd's? There are mark I, II, III of cf-18 if I am not mistaken. You can not loose the tablet features of the unit if you can download and installed all the drivers from panasonic after installing win xp pro just to make sure you download the right one for your unit.


BTW, don't throw it on the wall, its bad. Throw it to my way.

ohlip

[AnnmarieD]

CF-18BHAZXKM is the model of the laptop
On the CDs the mark - I think this is what you are asking for since they all start with MK is MK1-XT1M-W. That is on all 3 CDs, but CD ROM 1 is marked above that as DFQX3667MA, CD 2 is DFQX3667MA2 & CD 3 is DFQX3667MA3.
The wrong discs were packed in with the Toughbook?

Now let's say I happen to have a less than genuine XP Pro disc - will that do the trick? All the machines in my house run various forms of Vista except this Toughbook. I beta tested it for MS and they sent me the 32 and the 64 Ultimate Editions free.

[ohlip]

Originally Posted by AnnmarieD

CF-18BHAZXKM is the model of the laptop
On the CDs the mark - I think this is what you are asking for since they all start with MK is MK1-XT1M-W. That is on all 3 CDs, but CD ROM 1 is marked above that as DFQX3667MA, CD 2 is DFQX3667MA2 & CD 3 is DFQX3667MA3.
The wrong discs were packed in with the Toughbook?

Now let's say I happen to have a less than genuine XP Pro disc - will that do the trick? All the machines in my house run various forms of Vista except this Toughbook. I beta tested it for MS and they sent me the 32 and the 64 Ultimate Editions free.

Hi! it seems like you have the right recovery cd's for your unit. Dumb Q? are you sure this unit have not yet been tampered?

Ok! last thing before you run to seup again load the default settings and then adjust usb cd rom first prioity again. Let see what happen.


ohlip

[AnnmarieD]

I am pretty sure the unit wasn't messed with though one can never be sure since it was used by another person before me. How can I tell? If this is a new HD and I am using the correct CDs would it make a difference? Were can I see the tampering if any?

Also, I tried resetting the BIOS back to default and then back again to CD. No luck on that. USB is not listed though.
CD, floppy, HD and LAN.

If I got my hands on XP which one would I need?

This is all very odd. I have been fixing desktops for years and first attempt at a laptop is a mess.

[ohlip]

Tried a retail version of xp prof. let see again what happen but I am pretty sure it will work as long as your cd rom work also and then download all the drivers from pana.. site and installed it. Good luck and more hair pulling



ohlip

[AnnmarieD]

I know the CD ROM works because I used it on my desktop right up until the other day when I uninstalled it for this fiasco. So that is a given.
What I am wondering is maybe the TB does not "see" the USB connection from the CD ROM to the TB?

I will have to hunt down an XP Pro disc and then use the CD key from under the TB.

Question? Do TB ship with an actual Windows XP Pro Tablet Edition CD?

I just tried an XP Home restore CD that came with my Dell desktop a few years ago and no go. Zippo. Nada.

Is there a way I can attach the TB to my Dell Desktop and install XP from there? Computer to computer?

[bacardi_queen]

So, if someone doesn't mind telling me, what do the recovery disks do? I own a Toughbook CF-18, and I'm in need of reformatting my laptop. I got this laptop about 3 years ago with JUST the charger included. Are these recovery really necessary for reformatting?