CF-52 Wifi Issue

Hi,

I have a CF-52 with a wireless card fitted under the L-shaped hatch on the bottom of the unit however it is not available when powered up.

I am worried it may be a BIOS issue as all the correct drivers are installed and even the switch doesnt change anything.



In the BIOS there is no option to turn WIFI on either which is why i think it is a BIOS issue. The details are:



Model - CF-52PFNBVPE

BIOS - V3.00L12 M30

Controller - V3.00L11

Firmware - 6.0.30.1203



Can someone confirm if they have the same details and if they have the WIFI working.



PLEASE NOTE - I have turned the swith on and off and tried turning the laptop on with the switch on and off as well, no difference. Wifi, bluetooth and wireless switch are all disabled in panasonic pc information viewer.

Reply 1 : CF-52 Wifi Issue

Can anyone help with this issue as it it really bugging me now. Panasonic support say try the switch even though i said it is definately not the switch or drivers!! THEN they give me a parts suppliers email address in Wales who only provide parts, no tech support at all!!



If no one can help, could some one please point me in the right direction to someone that may be able to or where i can get a BIOS update/dowwngrade for my model?



Thank you.

Reply 2 : CF-52 Wifi Issue

Is it the original wifi card? The bios will only recognize certain Intel cards. I have an Intel card I stick in the Toughbooks just to be able to see the options in the bios. Once I turn it on in the bios, I can swap in whatever card I want. I use atheros cards.



My cf 51 won't recognize an Intel 5100 card. The 51 came with a 3945 originally.

Reply 3 : CF-52 Wifi Issue

It is an Intel



Model - 622ANHMW

Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6200



We get our laptops direct from suppliers so it should be OEM. How come this doesnt work?

Reply 4 : CF-52 Wifi Issue

CF-52PFNBVPE





Processor

Intel Core i5-520M (2.4 Ghz, Intel Smart Cache 3 MB)



Memory

2 GB, DDR3 SDRAM (4 GB Max.)



Hard Drive

160 GB



Display

15.4" Active Matrix (TFT) colour LCD 1280 x 800 pixels (WXGA)



Connectivity

Intel WLAN Advanced-N 6200 AGN

Bluetooth, SD Card Slot, TPM V1.2 Security Chip, Firewire IEEE 1394a



Multimedia Pocket

Supplied with DVD/RW



Opertating System

Pre-installed with Microsoft Windows XP Professional (SP3) downgrade with Windows 7 Professional license).

(Both XP Pro and Windows 7 Professional recovery DVD’s included).



Warranty

3 year limited warranty, parts and labour (Return to Panasonic) See Service Brochure link for full details

Panasonic Toughbook Service Brochure



Other

WUXGA Versions Available See here



Price EUR: 0.-

Warranty (years): 3

Reply 5 : CF-52 Wifi Issue

Is this still under warranty? If so, you may want to just contact Panasonic.



Otherwise I would try a different 6220 card.

Reply 6 : CF-52 Wifi Issue

I have tried to get an answer from Panasonic but they said to take it in, however i am out of the country for 6 months and this is not possible.



Its not the 6220 card, i have several laptops here with the same issue. I recon it is something to do with the BIOS version as the company i work for may have locked this function down by changing the BIOS.



I have tried all drivers and the hardware switch but it still doesnt give me the option to turn on wireless in the BIOS. The device is recognised in device manager when the driver is installed so this is why i think it is a modified BIOS issue.



Do you know where i can get a BIOS flash from as they dont have any CF-52 BIOS downloads on the Panasonic support page so i cannot confirm if i have the OEM BIOS installed.

Reply 7 : CF-52 Wifi Issue

I see. The wifi may be locked out by your company as it is their laptop. They may not want surfing on company time or for security reasons. Security is why the federal models do not have wifi. It may be locked out via the TPM chip (if that is possible) In that case you can not "fix" it.

Why not try a USB or Expresscard wifi device? I personally would rather go that route and leave as few tracks as possible. Your employer may not have a sense of humor if they found out you modified their equipment with a bios flash.

Reply 8 : CF-52 Wifi Issue

It is work that wants it doing. I have put a clean install of Win 7 x64 on to see if that cleared the issue but it didnt. I have enabled and disabled and run all the combinations in between on the BIOS settings to see if that changes anything and nothing. There arent any switches on the motherboard which would disable the wireless card and the antenna cables are connected correctly.



All of these point to the BIOS being the issue. Can anyone confirm the standard CF-52 Mk3 BIOS version and where they are available from and also if they can think of any other issue.



Has anyone else had a similar problem?

Reply 9 : CF-52 Wifi Issue

You may want to read these posts.



CF52 wifi issues.



CF 52 wifi issues



CF--52 Wifi







Some info from the Panasonic FAQ on the CF52.



Could it be that simple that the radio is turned off in software?



Are you using an official recovery disc? I am pretty sure Panasonic will send you one free for such a new laptop. It really would be a good idea to have one. The front switch won't work without all of the drivers installed. wswitch and misc are needed.