Keyboard lights on CF-52

The backlit keyboard on the CF-U1 is set to on by default from the factory. To turn the backlight on and off the key combination is Fn + Z.

Please note the keyboard icon printed under the Z key.

I'm not sure if yours is the same layout as the CF-53 I use. But my F12 button has a picture of a button with light on it. I use FN-F12 to adjust the brightness of the keyboard. Mine goes through 5 brightness levels before returning to off and starting over.

For the Panasonic ToughBook CF-52 series of Notebook PC's, it's a little tougher to remove the Keyboard, than per se other models.

1) With all repair on laptops first remove ALL power.
Remove the AC adapter (Charger), and Battery.

2) Next you should follow Anti-Static Precautions. A little more on this as to why as you read, but you'll also see you will be very near the Processor.
A Processor is the most susceptible hardware component in a computer, to Static shock.
(It's close to the Keyboard Lid Plate under the Keyboard)

Anti-Static Precautions:
Your body carries Static electricity.
Static can fry out (Short Circuit) the delicate hardware components inside a computer.

The best method is to buy, and wear an ESD wrist strap, and connect it's alligator clip to a good ground source. (Electro Static Discharge. About $5)

The next best method (Debatable) is to place a large metal object on the table, and touch it before disassembling the laptop, and occasionally during.
(Metal serving dish, metal knickknack, etc.)

3) Components to be removed in order; [Straight from the Service Manual]

A) Power, as mentioned

B) The HarDDrive and it's mounting kit.

C) The DVD optical drive

D) The Tilt Panel Assembly
Simply the top outer cover along with the LCD screen that is mounted to it.
The part you tilt up and look at.

E) Keyboard Lid Cover

F) Keyboard

4) Use a multi-compartment container for the various screws you will remove. Mark each container for the area the screw/s come out of.
DO NOT mix them up!

[Some screws look very similar to other screws, plus they are S-M-A-L-L.
Put a screw in the wrong hole, and it may seize halfway in.
Cannot remove it without damaging the laptop, and cannot screw it all the way in.

You can substitute using a multi-compartment container, and use a clean egg carton instead.
Label each egg holder]

Make drawings, and notes if you wish. A guide to return to in case you are interrupted.

5) This is a link to the Service Manual for the Panasonic ToughBook CF-52 series of Notebook PC's.
It is for a CF-52EKMxDxM, but will work for all CF-52 series models, (Manual is free),

http://www.tim.id.au/blog/tims-laptop-service-manuals/#toc-panasonic

Page 24 for the Disassembly Flowchart
Page 25 for removing the HarDDrive, and it's mounting kit, plus the DVD optical drive.
Page 26 for the Tilt Panel Assembly
Page 29 for removing the Keyboard Lid Plate, and Keyboard.

I'm here for additional questions please post in a Comment.

Regards,
joecoolvette

Go to ebay and type in your laptops model + keys or keyboard in search box to get plenty results. Good Luck

Hi,
You can download the drivers from the following website. Select Driver chipset in the first drop down for motherboard drivers.

Yes, different CF 52 have different motherboards depending upon the processors and video cards in the configuration.

Thanks for using Fixya
proton

Connect an external keyboard to your laptop. If the external keyboard works properly that means the keyboard of your laptop is defective and you have to replace it. If you get the same problem with the external keyboard reinstall your operating system (it could be a virus).

On the Panasonic Toughbook CF-51 there is a key located on the top right next to the F12 function key called "NumLk" or Num Lock.
Press this key once and the embedded numeric keypad is enabled.
Press it a second time and it is disabled.
How do you know if it is enabled or disabled?
Simple: Observe the LED above the keyboard. If the second light with the square symbol and the number "1" is lit up, then the NumLock is enabled. If that LED is not lit up it is disabled.

Good Luck.
From Richard, Montreal Based Panasonic Canada Authorized Toughbook Dealer since 1989.

Hi,
You can get the service manual , by registering the product on the pansonic toughbook website
https://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/TCCAccountSetUpStep1?langId=-1&storeId=15001&catalogId=13401


Thanks
proton

Here you , this is a step by step disassembly guide with pictures

Its for a Toughbook CF-50 but it should be similar as theres not too much difference in the model number

http://www.machinaelectronics.com/store/library/article.cfm?f=key_type_k17

Hit "FN" and the "NUM Lock" key together to unlock it.

I believe thats the combination.

Let me know.