In this post I’ll try to gather all possible drivers and solutions for touchscreen equipped Toughbooks.

Almost 60% of all questions about touchscreen enabled Toughbooks (CF-18, CF-19, CF-28, CF-29, CF-T2, CF-T4, CF-T5) are about touchscreen driver.

The “PS/2 Compatible Mouse” in Device Manager actually covers both the touchpad and the screen, and appears as a fully functioning device right after a new install of XP – there’s no separate device for the touchscreen itself. You have to replace this default driver with the official one from Panasonic here, unhelpfully and simply called “mouse driver”.

Download the mouse driver, extract all the files (Panasonic’s .exe file won’t run on anything but a compatible Toughbook, but 7zip can extract the files by itself), right-click the mouse in Device Manager and point it to Fidmou.inf instead.

Solution #0 CF18 MK1 Win XP

Download and expand mouse-touchscreen driver for MK1 (CF-18BXXX). Follow driver update procedure described earlier in this guide.

Solution #1 CF-T1/T2/T4 CF-18 MK2 Windows XP

Download Toughbook touchscreen driver package #1. Extract and follow driver update procedure described earlier in this guide.

After update, you might need to calibrate the screen. To start calibration procedure open folder where extracted drivers are located and run application named calvin.

Solution #2 CF-T5/T7, CF-18 MK3/MK4/MK5 Windows XP

Download touchscreen driver package #2 (newer version). Unzip and run ftsetup.exe. Restart computer. Run calibration utility if needed.

Solution #3 CF-18 MK4/MK5 Vindows Vista

Download and extract touchscreen update for Vista.

Found this on eBay. Note seller ID. I’ve seen many abused Toughbooks, but this one beats them all.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Panasonic-CF-18-Rusted-Busted-ASIS-SEE-THE-PRICE-AB620_W0QQitemZ230423371432QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLaptops_Nov05?hash=item35a64d9ea8

Each letter in Panasonic CF-18 model number corresponds to a specific option installed.

MK1 – (first generation) 18B
MK2 – 18D/E
MK3 – 18F/G/H
MK4 – 18K/L
MK5 – (last release) 18N/P

Here is an example extended model number:  CF-18DDAZAMM

CF -
18 – series 18

First character is the CPU & presence of a built-in Wireless card:

B – Pentium 900Mhz (Centrino) / 802.11b+g
C – Pentium 900Mhz Ultra Low Voltage / No wireless
D – Pentium 1.1Ghz ULV (centrino) with builtin B&G wifi
E – Pentium 1.1Ghz ULV / No wifi (Federal Only)
F – Pentium M 733 1.1Ghz (centrino) / 802.11a/b/g
G – Pentium M 733 1.1Ghz /no wifi (Federal Only)
H – Pentium M 733 1.1Ghz (centrino) / 802.11b/g
K – Pentium M 753 1.2Ghz (Centrino) / 802.11a/b/g
L – Pentium M 753 1.2Ghz / no wifi (Federal Only)
N – Pentium M 753 1.2Ghz (Centrino) / 802.11a/b/g + TPM 1.2
P – Pentium M 753 1.2Ghz / no wifi /(Federal Only) / +TPM 1.2

Second character is the screen options:

C – 10.4 XGA high Bright Digitizer / backlit keyboard
D – 10.4 XGA High Bright Digitizer
E – 10.4 XGA digitizer + black cabinet
F – 10.4 XGA tablet (hazardous locations)
H – 10.4 XGA High Bright Touchscreen
J – 10.4 XGA High Bright Touchscreen / backlit keyboard
K – 10.4 XGA High Bright (Hazardous Locations)
T – 10.4 XGA Transflective

Third Character is HDD/RAM options

A – 40GB HDD / 256RAM / dual ant conn
B – 40GB / 256 / dual ant conn
C – 40 / 768
D – 60 / 256 / dual ant conn
H – 60 / 512 / dual ant conn
K – 40 / 256
L – 40 / 512
N – 40 / 256 / dual ant conn / smartcard
Q – 60GB / 512 / dual ant conn / smartcard
1 – 40 / 256 / dual ant conn / haz loc
2 – 60 / 512 / dual ant conn / haz loc

Fourth Character is WWAN (Builtin Broadband) options:

F – GPRS (Cingular)
G – Edge (Cingular) (AT&T GPRS prior to Pent M733)
H – GPRS (T-Mobile)
J – CDMA 1xRTT Verizon (no voice)
K – EVDO (Sprint) (1xRTT prior to Pent M733)
L – GPRS (Cingular)
M – EVDO (Verizon) (1xRTT prior to Pent M733)
Z – none
3 – special order

Fifth Character is extra goodies options:

A – 802.11 + GPS
B – 802.11 + Bluetooth
C – 802.11 +GPS + Bluetooth
X – base model
Z – none
1 – secured HDD Door

Sixth Character is Factory OS Options:

B – XP Pro SP2
D – Win 2k
K – XP Pro
M – XP Pro Tablet PC
R – XP Tablet MUI
V – XP Tablet 2005
X – XP
Z – no license

Seventh and final Character is origin of release:

M – N America
E – not N America
F – ”
G – ”
P – ”
S – ”
T – ”

Source.

Many people are getting confused when dealing with digitizer equipped notebooks like Toughbook CF-18 or CF-19.  In this post I will try to collect extensive information on this topic.

There are two types of tablet screens: touch screens and active digitizers. Touch screens respond to the touch of your finger or stylus and the cursor jumps to whatever point is touched on the display.  Active digitizers sense the tip of the stylus as it approaches the screen surface and display a pen/mouse cursor.

The advantage of the touch screen is that you can use your finger or any pen device for data input. The disadvantage is that there is no “cursor tracking” which can make it difficult to work with applications where precise cursor placement is needed. The advantage of the active digitizer is that it makes for very precise cursor placement, but if you lose the pen you’re out of luck as the display does not respond to touch of any kind.

This is why Tablet PC manufacturers are now moving to displays that combine both touch and active digitizer capability. These displays are referred to as Dual Mode screens. They work like a touch screen until they sense the proximity of a digitizer stylus. When the stylus approaches, touch input ceases and and the pen cursor starts. When the pen is pulled away, the screen once again responds to touch.

Active digitizers generally appeal to tablet PC users and those who do a lot of inking because of the palm rejection, smoother quality of the ink, and handwriting recognition. It does require a special pen, as you said, which makes it ideal for note-taking and for people who either prefer stylus-based (vs. finger-based) interfaces or hate fingerprints/smudges on their screens.

A passive/resistive digitizer (aka the common touchscreen), while not as good for inking, is more versatile because just about anything can be used to interact with it. This makes it ideal for use in the car (mounted to the dashboard or something), among other places. (Source.)

======

Which is best?

If most of your data entry needs involves tapping on a check box or selecting a drop down combo box, a touch screen tablet is sufficient.  If  most of your data entry needs involves text entry via the pen stylus and requires the handwriting recognizer to convert your handwriting to text, then the tablet with the active digitizer is the better choice. (Source.)

With a recent introduction of SATA drives, please make sure you are getting the old fashioned ATA-6. In our case it’s Western Digital 250GB, 5400RPM, 8MB Buffer, man. part number WD250BEVE.

In order to make a smooth upgrade it will be handy to have an external USB hard drive enclosure kit (around $8) and Power Quest Drive Image 7.0 or higher CopyWipe freeware program. There are many similar programs available.

First, connect new HDD using USB enclosure kit. Once recognized by Windows, go to Control Panel->Administrative Tools->Computer Management->Disk Management. The new hard drive will be shown as an unallocated space with approximately 232GB of space available.

Right click->Create new partition-> Follow wizard prompts.

I made 2 primary partitions 120GB each. One for operating system, another one for data.

Now it’s time to launch CopyWipe. I used Window version. The interface is very simple. Choose drive to copy, destination drive but don’t forget to pick “Copy MBR” at the last screen.

It took 60 minutes to copy a 60GB HDD.

Note: I also had success with Western Digital 320GB HDD, man. part number WD320BEVE.

HDD Caddy. Connector side.

Finished assembly.

Buy CF-18 caddy with 320GB hard drive form Tough Depot.

(913) 685-8855 from 7:30am – 5:30pm CST.

Toughbook Restore Disk

The Toughbook Recovery disks as well as just about any part you may need can be obtained from Heartland Services. They are the only authorized repair facility in the United States.

You must have the part number of the part needed as well as the full model number of the laptop that needs the part. You can reach them at (913) 685-8855 from 7:30am – 5:30pm CST.

If you need a part number, ask! We will try to help you. You cannot order the parts (strangely enough) online with Heartland.

Prices for recovery discs are in $20-30 range + shipping.

Update. Unfortunately you will need exact part number to place an order. Below are part numbers some model. Please contribute in comments if you have information on your Toughbook.

CF-18 Recovery Disks (Set of 3 CDs)

• CF-18 MK1 Windows XP (CF-18BHKZXKA, etc) — p/n DFQX3714MA1, code MK1-XP1M-TGW
• CF-18 MK2 Windows XP (CF-18DHB22KA, etc.) — p/n DFQX3799MA1, code MK2-XP1AM-TSW
• CF-18 MK4 Windows XP — p/n DFQX4003MA3, code MK4-XP2M-TSW
• CF-18 MK4 Windows XP Tablet — p/n ?? , code MK4-XPTM-TSW

CF-30 Recovery Disks (1 DVD)

• CF-30 MK2 Vista Business — p/n DFQM8357MA, code MK2VBM

CF-W2 Recovery Disks (1 DVD)

• W2 MK1 Windows XP — p/n DFQX3691MAU, code MK1-XP1M-W

Ubuntu Linux 6.1 on Panasonic Toughbook CF-18

Ubuntu Linux logo

Summary: Installing OEM GPS Kit in Panasonic CF-18.

IMPORTANT! This is not a manual. If you decide to follow these instructions, do it at your own risk!
The kit was ordered form Heartland Inc., which provides warranty service for Panasonic computers in United States.

Cost: $354

This is what we have got:

We were warned, that kit comes with neither technical information, nor support from Heartland. “No problem” we replied. We can disassemble and assemble back Panasonic laptop in a complete darkness in 5 minutes.  So, GPS kit… How hard that could be?

Here is the content of the bag:

After sorting all parts out we got hope that almost no parts will be left behind.

To get inside, we needed to remove Dimm Cover and Bottom Cover. First removed four screws marked blue. Disconnected a speaker cable, removed RAM module.

CF-18 dimm cover

Now we have removed 13 screws marked red and carefully remove the Bottom Cover.

CF-18 Bottom Cover Removed

Assembling antenna

Antenna assembly includes parts #5, 8, 10 and one #13 pad.

CF-18 GPS antenna place is located on the right side.

Remove plastic cover

Insert antenna cable.

One more pad #13. Antenna assembly attached by two screws, part #14.

Antenna installed

Board and receiver with cables attached.

Together.

GPS kit installed

Activation in BIOS

GPS Monitor v1.0

Once GPS was installed, System Manager showed new COM5 port (can be different in your configuration). We used GPS Monitor v1.0 for initial tests. Cold start took about 2 minutes outdoors.  Than we went back inside.  The screen shot above was taken indoors. The reception is exceptional.

That’s it. Microsoft Street and Trips 2008 worked very well. Unlike GPS Monitor, it automatically picked correct COM port with GPS data stream.

WinFast Navigator and many more useful GPS programs: http://www.semsons.com/support.html

Last updated: Nov. 26, 2009

Each set of drivers is compatible with particular model only. Use our Toughbook Model Locator to decide which driver package you need.

• CF-18B (MK1)
• CF-18D/E (MK2) Fixed
• CF-18F/G/H (MK3)
  – Windows XP Professional SP2 30MB
• CF-18K/L (MK4) – Windows XP Professional SP2 30MB
• CF-18N/P (MK5)

In order to reduce download size, MK3 and MK4 packages contain no drivers for Intel PRO Wireless. These drivers and utility program can be easily downloaded from Intel website directly.