How to Flash BIOS on a CF-73
The Basic Input/Output System, or BIOS, is software code stored permanently on the computer with the purpose of controlling interactions between the different parts of the computer. Computer manufacturers have the ability to modify the BIOS code on their products, and they often do if problems are discovered after the computers have gone to production. The Panasonic Toughbook CF-73E has a BIOS update available that resolves issues with the computer not functioning properly when the hard drive is removed and with running the 3DMark 2001 benchmark. Additionally, the BIOS update adds support for smart cards.
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Instructions
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1
Insert a blank disk into the Toughbook CF-73E floppy drive while the computer is running. Click the "Start" menu and select "My Computer."
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2
Right-click the floppy drive icon and select "Format" from the context menu.
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3
Click the "Create an MS-DOS startup disk" check box and select "Start." Windows will create a bootable floppy disk.
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4
Click "OK" when the formatting process is complete. Remove the disk and label it "EC."
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5
Insert the second floppy disk and format it in the same manner. When the formatting process is complete, remove the disk and label it "BIOS." Re-insert the "EC" disk.
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6
Open a Web browser and navigate to the download page for the Panasonic Toughbook CF-73E BIOS update using the link in the Resources section. Click the "73m1bl14.zip" download link and save the resulting file to the desktop.
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7
Right-click the file "73m1bl14.zip" and select "Extract" to extract the archive to the desktop. You should now have two text files on the desktop containing information about the CF-73E BIOS upgrade and two more archives, "ECV1.00L14.000.zip" and "BIOSV1.00L14.000.zip."
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8
Extract the file "ECV1.00L14.000.zip." You should now have three new files, "73110140.rom," "ecup.bat" and "pec6k7.exe."
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9
Click the "Start" menu and select "My Computer." Double-click the floppy drive. Copy the three files in Step 8 to the "EC" floppy disk. When this process is complete, remove the "EC" disk and insert the "BIOS" disk.
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10
Extract the "BIOSV1.00L14.000.zip" archive. You should now have the files "BIOSUP.BAT," "BU73M1.EXE" and "V100L140.731." Copy these three files to the "BIOS" disk.
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11
Insert the "EC" disk and restart the computer. The computer will boot from the floppy disk, loading MS-DOS and displaying an "A:" prompt.
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12
Type "ecup" and press "Enter." The program will perform the first part of the BIOS update and will return to the MS-DOS prompt when it is complete.
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13
Remove the "EC" disk and insert the "BIOS" disk. Press the keyboard shortcut of "Ctrl," "Alt" and "Delete" to restart the computer and boot from the "BIOS" disk.
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14
Type "biosup" at the "A:" prompt and press "Enter" to complete the BIOS update.
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Tips & Warnings
Make sure that your Toughbook CF-73E is connected to a power outlet before beginning the BIOS update. A loss of power during the BIOS update can result in the computer becoming unusable.
