Bluetooth and other questions

[wyrm73]

I just got my 30 in the mail yesterday and Windows is not seeing anything for bluetooth despite the auction claiming it has it. Looking up the model (CF-30CTQAZBM) with the old configurator tool and ToughWiki, it does not. I ran the model number through the search feature on the Panasonic configurator web site, and it says it does have BT. Which is correct? I emailed the seller and he is insisting that it does have BT and to check the BIOS to make sure it is not disabled. I plan on doing this tonight when I get home, but my only question on that is will it let you enable features that are not installed? More to the point, I don't want to think I have it just because BIOS lets me turn it on. Where can I physically look to check for sure? I know the location for a 29, but this is my first attempt with a 30.

Never one to leave well enough alone, when all of this is sorted out I will be installing the 4GB memory that should arrive today and a 128GB SSD. I assume the caddy disassembly is fairly similar to the 28 and 29. If not, what pitfalls should I be on the look out for? And for the memory, I know one stick is accessible from the bottom panel. I am assuming the other requires removing the keyboard and top access cover?

[rusty503]

I just got my 30 in the mail yesterday and Windows is not seeing anything for bluetooth despite the auction claiming it has it. Looking up the model (CF-30CTQAZBM) with the old configurator tool and ToughWiki, it does not. I ran the model number through the search feature on the Panasonic configurator web site, and it says it does have BT. Which is correct? I emailed the seller and he is insisting that it does have BT and to check the BIOS to make sure it is not disabled. I plan on doing this tonight when I get home, but my only question on that is will it let you enable features that are not installed? More to the point, I don't want to think I have it just because BIOS lets me turn it on. Where can I physically look to check for sure? I know the location for a 29, but this is my first attempt with a 30.

Go into BIOS and see if the option is there to turn on and off BT. If that option is there, you DO have it. If the BT is not installed, you will not have that option. The BT antenna is under the keyboard bezel on the left side. If it is there trace back the coax cable to your BT card.

Never one to leave well enough alone, when all of this is sorted out I will be installing the 4GB memory that should arrive today and a 128GB SSD. I assume the caddy disassembly is fairly similar to the 28 and 29. If not, what pitfalls should I be on the look out for? And for the memory, I know one stick is accessible from the bottom panel. I am assuming the other requires removing the keyboard and top access cover?

No, both sticks are accessable from below. Remove the RAM cover and you can get to both.

If you can open a cf-29 caddy, you can open the cf-30 caddy.

[toughasnails]

If you only have XP SP1 installed you will need to update to SP2 which has the drivers for the bluetooth . Check this thread out, it's for the 29 but I had the same problem with my 30. Just update it and it should find it (UGX) and install it.
http://www.toughbooktalk.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=127

[toughasnails]

If you are going to install a SSD then you should check this out http://thessdreview.com/Forums/ssd-opti ... de/209.htm . This is a great site and these guys know there stuff. My 30 starts up time is around 27-30 seconds . I am guessing you are going to put XP on it ....if you are looking at W7 then there is a few things you will need to do before hand.

[wyrm73]

It came with Win 7 installed, but I plan to do a fresh install to keep the Micro$oft licensing folks happy as well as optimize for the SSD. I read through the threads on installing Win 7 on a Mk1, so I am pretty confident with that portion. I had already checked out that SSD link the other day- very helpful read. I am more focused on the reliability side of the SSD, but the performance will be nice too. And optimizing an already fast drive will be even better. After working with non-Toughbooks in a rugged environment I am: #1 sold on Toughbooks forever, #2 convinced SSD is worth every penny since we lost about 10% or more of the standard spinning hard drives within the first year in the field .

[toughasnails]

I think we have the same 30 so when I get out of work this AM (3:00) I will check mine out. I do not remember anything in the bios and when I installed W7 it installed the bluetooth for me. Do you have the wifi switch on the front right on ? If its off so is you BT.

[wyrm73]

I forgot to check the switch entirely as the one on my 29 is for WWAN only. I will NOT post if it was that simple. I will make up some song and dance about some broken part or something.....ANYTHING......

[toughasnails]

I just hope it was that easy and yes it happened to me once...I took it to the camp one weekend and could not figure out why no wifi

[wyrm73]

Almost as bad- the bluetooth was just disabled in BIOS. The memory is a no show, so that will go in tomorrow. For now the SSD is installed and Win 7 loading as I type. Thanks for the help guys. So anyone in the market for a well cared for CF-29 Mk IV?

[toughasnails]

That's great news, you will love the 30 and it runs windows 7 great. Alex got me to download some program that times your start and I am around 27-30 seconds its called bootracer. http://download.cnet.com/BootRacer/3000 ... 83804.html