13 Jun
2006
13 Jun
'06
6:03 p.m.
Hello All. I've recently acquired a Compaq Portable III (286, cool gas plasma
display) and am having some problems with the hard drive. After powering up, the system
says to insert a diagnostic disk in drive A. If I choose "Resume" by hitting
the F1 key, it will boot PC-DOS just fine from the floppy drive (1.2 MB, 5.25")
although it complains about the time and date not being set. The system doesn't show
a C drive, however, and FDISK also says there is no hard disk. Here is my question - do I
need these diagnostic disks to setup the hard drive on this system? Or is the hard disk
just dead? Does anyone have a copy of the disks? Thanks for any help. John Reeve
13 Jun
13 Jun
6:37 p.m.
John D. Reeve wrote:
Hello All.
This machine works like the old AT's did with Cmos batteries. when the
batteries lost the disk setup and time information, you had to boot them
from a floppy to set the time again, and to set cmos
back up again.
The portable 3 has a much larger table of possible drives. If you have a
standard model, it may have a drive type or 3 or 20, if memory serves.
you can still get the disks from the softpaq library on ftp.compaq.com/pub
these entries in the pub/allfiles.txt are your best bets, depending on
whether
you have 5 1/4" drives, or 3 1/2" drives (360k or 720k).
also the setup utility took two diskettes
SP0316.ZIP ftp://ftp.compaq.com/pub/softpaq/sp0000-0500/sp0316.zip
457K 20 May 92
TITLE: COMPAQ DIAGNOSTICS 8.00 REV. B SOFTPAQ SP0316 052092 360K DISKETTE
VERSION: N/A
LANGUAGE: N/A
PRODUCTS AFFECTED: N/A
OS: N/A
SUPERSEDES: N/A
SP0308.ZIP ftp://ftp.compaq.com/pub/softpaq/sp0000-0500/sp0308.zip
443K 23 April 92
TITLE: SOFTPAQ DIAGNOSTICS 8.00 REV. B (DP256) 042192 SP0308 720K DISKETTE
VERSION: N/A
LANGUAGE: N/A
PRODUCTS AFFECTED: N/A
OS: N/A
SUPERSEDES: N/A
14 Jun
14 Jun
8:21 p.m.
jim stephens wrote:
This machine works like the old AT's did with Cmos
batteries. when the
batteries lost the disk setup and time information, you had to boot them
from a floppy to set the time again, and to set cmos back up again.
Mine still boots properly to HD after all these years. *MY* problem is
that I've lost the keyboard! The DIN is a normal 5-pin, but it is so
far recessed that I can't get any of my regular keyboards to physically
fit into the plug.
Any suggestions? Any idea where to get a replacement, or at least
keyboard with an enormously long plug?
--
Jim Leonard (trixter at oldskool.org) http://www.oldskool.org/
Help our electronic games project: http://www.mobygames.com/
Or check out some trippy MindCandy at http://www.mindcandydvd.com/
A child borne of the home computer wars: http://trixter.wordpress.com/
8:40 p.m.
Jim Leonard wrote:
jim stephens wrote:
Any suggestions? Any idea where to get a replacement, or at least
keyboard with an enormously long plug?
they show up on ebay, or course. I may have a parts machine I can part
out the keyboard from.
Most lunchbox machines had the type of din connectors that didn't have
much meat around the
connector, so you could probably find one of those. also an
appropriately shaped PS2-Din
converter will give you a sprig to extend it out.
I had an extension cord that worked quite well, and just used it to a
regular AT keyboard.
Jim
15 Jun
15 Jun
12:59 p.m.
On Wednesday 14 June 2006 08:21 pm, Jim Leonard wrote:
jim stephens wrote:
Maybe a keyboard extension cable would help here? I use a couple of them in
my setup here, both the 5-pin DIN...
--
Member of the toughest, meanest, deadliest, most unrelenting -- and
ablest -- form of life in this section of space, a critter that can
be killed but can't be tamed. --Robert A. Heinlein, "The Puppet Masters"
-
Information is more dangerous than cannon to a society ruled by lies. --James
M Dakin
This machine works like the old AT's did with
Cmos batteries. when the
batteries lost the disk setup and time information, you had to boot them
from a floppy to set the time again, and to set cmos back up again.
Mine still boots properly to HD after all these years. *MY* problem is
that I've lost the keyboard! The DIN is a normal 5-pin, but it is so
far recessed that I can't get any of my regular keyboards to physically
fit into the plug.
Any suggestions? Any idea where to get a replacement, or at least
keyboard with an enormously long plug? 
13 Jun
13 Jun
6:39 p.m.
At 05:03 PM 6/13/2006 -0500, you wrote:
Hello All. I've recently acquired a Compaq
Portable III (286, cool gas
plasma display) and am having some problems with the hard drive. After
powering up, the system says to insert a diagnostic disk in drive A. If I
choose "Resume" by hitting the F1 key, it will boot PC-DOS just fine from
the floppy drive (1.2 MB, 5.25") although it complains about the time and
date not being set. The system doesn't show a C drive, however, and FDISK
also says there is no hard disk. Here is my question - do I need these
diagnostic disks to setup the hard drive on this system? Or is the hard
disk just dead? Does anyone have a copy of the disks? Thanks for any
help. John Reeve
Usually, there is no onboard bios setup code-- you had to have the blasted
diag disk. The big mistake many people make is using a non-Compaq hard disk
tool to partition the hard disk. Compaq creates a small dedicated partition
on the hard disk and stores the setup disk there, and sometimes the
diagnostic.
If the setup code is present, you can access it by watching the screen
after the POST. At one point, the cursor will jump to the upper right
corner of the screen, and sit there for about 2 seconds. If you hit the
magic key when the cursor is sitting there, you should get the
setup/diagnostics menu, if the Compaq Diagnostic partition is still present.
The magic key is, hmmm, I forget. I think it's F10. Might be F1. ESC? Don't
think it's DEL.
If there's really no hard disk, then you'll have to download the disks from
the HPaq (Hp, formerly Compaq) web site and use another PC to build the
disks. They make you jump through numerous hoops-- download a zip file,
unzip it, sometimes to discover the zip file had multiple zip files in it,
run the program, which asks for a blank floppy...
When looking for the software, use the PC model number, not "Portable III".
There's a model number like 5166-10 or something (well, that's for a
Pentium II) but you get the idea.
[Government]Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a
few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate
it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it. -- Ronald Reagan (1986)
--... ...-- -.. . -. ----. --.- --.- -...
tpeters at nospam.mixcom.com (remove "nospam") N9QQB (amateur radio)
"HEY YOU" (loud shouting) WEB ADDRESS http//www.mixweb.com/tpeters
43? 7' 17.2" N by 88? 6' 28.9" W, Elevation 815', Grid Square
EN53wc
WAN/LAN/Telcom Analyst, Tech Writer, MCP, CCNA, Registered Linux User 385531
7:18 p.m.
Tom Peters wrote:
At 05:03 PM 6/13/2006 -0500, you wrote:
Really? I know that some vendors (e.g., HP) do that on NEW
machines but didn't think that was the case "way back when".
I.e. my 386/25 deskpro wasn;t like that. I thought all of
them relied on a "setup floppy". I know I had such floppies
for the deskpro and my portable 3...
Hello All. I've recently acquired a Compaq
Portable III (286, cool
gas plasma display) and am having some problems with the hard drive.
After powering up, the system says to insert a diagnostic disk in
drive A. If I choose "Resume" by hitting the F1 key, it will boot
PC-DOS just fine from the floppy drive (1.2 MB, 5.25") although it
complains about the time and date not being set. The system doesn't
show a C drive, however, and FDISK also says there is no hard disk.
Here is my question - do I need these diagnostic disks to setup the
hard drive on this system? Or is the hard disk just dead? Does
anyone have a copy of the disks? Thanks for any help. John Reeve
Usually, there is no onboard bios setup code-- you had to have the
blasted diag disk. The big mistake many people make is using a
non-Compaq hard disk tool to partition the hard disk. Compaq creates a
small dedicated partition on the hard disk and stores the setup disk
there, and sometimes the diagnostic. If the setup code is present, you can access it by
watching the screen
after the POST. At one point, the cursor will jump to the upper right
corner of the screen, and sit there for about 2 seconds. If you hit the
magic key when the cursor is sitting there, you should get the
setup/diagnostics menu, if the Compaq Diagnostic partition is still
present.
7:47 p.m.
New subject: Compaq diagnostic disks -- more info --
Tom Peters wrote:
At 05:03 PM 6/13/2006 -0500, you wrote:
<snip>
[Government]Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a
few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate
it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it. -- Ronald Reagan (1986)
The portable III is the model that will find things. This and the
portable III 386
are both movable AT's. Pre phoenix bios or whoever came up with the
bios setup screens.
It is a brick w/o a working CMOS and or a floppy drive that can read the
setup and diagnostic disk.
I didn't mention that the advanced diagnostics disk for the AT will work
as long as you have drive types that are from 1 to 15 after you replace
the battery.
Removal of the 6 Torx screws on the back will expose the battery pack
if memory serves, but you will probably have to rig a way to hook up
different than what they have on board, as I doubt that any "new old stock"
batteries would be any more useful at this point than the one in your
system is.
Jim
14 Jun
14 Jun
8:05 a.m.
On Tuesday 13 June 2006 06:39 pm, Tom Peters wrote:
If the setup code is present, you can access it by
watching the screen
after the POST. At one point, the cursor will jump to the upper right
corner of the screen, and sit there for about 2 seconds. If you hit the
magic key when the cursor is sitting there, you should get the
setup/diagnostics menu, if the Compaq Diagnostic partition is still
present.
The magic key is, hmmm, I forget. I think it's F10. Might be F1. ESC? Don't
think it's DEL.
It's F10 on the one here...
--
Member of the toughest, meanest, deadliest, most unrelenting -- and
ablest -- form of life in this section of space, a critter that can
be killed but can't be tamed. --Robert A. Heinlein, "The Puppet Masters"
-
Information is more dangerous than cannon to a society ruled by lies. --James
M Dakin
8:21 p.m.
Thanks Tom and Jim. I tried pressing the magic keys and nothing happened,
but did find the diagnostic disks online in a 360K version. My next step
will be to find an IBM compatible that actually has a 360K floppy drive, to
make the darn things! I've tried getting the Compaq to make them itself,
but the 1.2 Mb drive pretty much refuses to do it. Cheers, John
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Peters" <tpeters at mixcom.com>
To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts"
<cctalk at classiccmp.org>
Sent: Tuesday, June 13, 2006 5:39 PM
Subject: Re: Compaq diagnostic disks
At 05:03 PM 6/13/2006 -0500, you wrote:
Hello All. I've recently acquired a Compaq
Portable III (286, cool gas
plasma display) and am having some problems with the hard drive. After
powering up, the system says to insert a diagnostic disk in drive A. If I
choose "Resume" by hitting the F1 key, it will boot PC-DOS just fine from
the floppy drive (1.2 MB, 5.25") although it complains about the time and
date not being set. The system doesn't show a C drive, however, and FDISK
also says there is no hard disk. Here is my question - do I need these
diagnostic disks to setup the hard drive on this system? Or is the hard
disk just dead? Does anyone have a copy of the disks? Thanks for any
help. John Reeve
Usually, there is no onboard bios setup code-- you had to have the blasted
diag disk. The big mistake many people make is using a non-Compaq hard
disk tool to partition the hard disk. Compaq creates a small dedicated
partition on the hard disk and stores the setup disk there, and sometimes
the diagnostic.
If the setup code is present, you can access it by watching the screen
after the POST. At one point, the cursor will jump to the upper right
corner of the screen, and sit there for about 2 seconds. If you hit the
magic key when the cursor is sitting there, you should get the
setup/diagnostics menu, if the Compaq Diagnostic partition is still
present.
The magic key is, hmmm, I forget. I think it's F10. Might be F1. ESC?
Don't think it's DEL.
If there's really no hard disk, then you'll have to download the disks
from the HPaq (Hp, formerly Compaq) web site and use another PC to build
the disks. They make you jump through numerous hoops-- download a zip
file, unzip it, sometimes to discover the zip file had multiple zip files
in it, run the program, which asks for a blank floppy...
When looking for the software, use the PC model number, not "Portable
III". There's a model number like 5166-10 or something (well, that's for a
Pentium II) but you get the idea.
[Government]Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a
few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate
it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it. -- Ronald Reagan (1986)
--... ...-- -.. . -. ----. --.- --.- -...
tpeters at nospam.mixcom.com (remove "nospam") N9QQB (amateur radio)
"HEY YOU" (loud shouting) WEB ADDRESS http//www.mixweb.com/tpeters
43? 7' 17.2" N by 88? 6' 28.9" W, Elevation 815', Grid Square
EN53wc
WAN/LAN/Telcom Analyst, Tech Writer, MCP, CCNA, Registered Linux User
385531
13 Jun
13 Jun
7:13 p.m.
John D. Reeve wrote:
Hello All. I've recently acquired a Compaq
Portable III (286, cool gas plasma display) and am having some problems with the hard
drive. After powering up, the system says to insert a diagnostic disk in drive A. If I
choose "Resume" by hitting the F1 key, it will boot PC-DOS just fine from the
floppy drive (1.2 MB, 5.25") although it complains about the time and date not being
set. The system doesn't show a C drive, however, and FDISK also says there is no hard
disk. Here is my question - do I need these diagnostic disks to setup the hard drive on
this system? Or is the hard disk just dead? Does anyone have a copy of the disks?
Thanks for any help. John Reeve
The CMOS is probably dead in your machine. It uses a proprietary
battery SOLDERED to the PCB. Long term, you will want to remove
this and replace it with something newer (unless you want to
claim "factory orginal" status). I used a set of 3 NiMH AAA
cells behind a diode (because I had a few hundred of them
at the time :> )
The case disassembles easily -- but be careful of those LONGGGGG
capscrews and any lockwashers down at the bottom.
Once the back skin is off, there are several obvious screws holding
the main board in place. Plus, a shield over the lower portion
of the board. The trickiest part is the little "jumper board" (?)
that connects the memory board to the main board (lower left corner
IIRC).
Disconnect all of the cables for floppy, hard drive, serial port
connection, display adapter, etc. The battery should remove pretty
easily with a couple of thruhole solder connections (dispose
of responsibly). Your machine may or may not have a plastic
"clip" that wraps around the batter. Keep it as it is handy
for securing a new battery assembly to the board!
I soldered a little two pin pigtail to the board to mate with
the two pin connector on my 3cell battery packs -- overkill as
I haven't had to replace it since! :>
You need to download the SETUP, INSPECT, TEST set of floppies
from the Compaq web site (archive). If push comes to
shove,
I *might* have the images here but I don't think they are
"standard" floppies in that I am not sure they have the same
format as a regular DOS floppy (though, come to think of it,
I think I backed mine up with WinImage so they *must* be
readable).
Biggest pisser will be if your floppy drive is flakey.
I don't think you can substitute a 3.5" drive -- I don't
think they were designed with that in mind.
You can also consider hacking the BIOS ROMs to support a
different disk. I stuffed a 600M drive in my portable 3
(though have never used any significant portion of that...
I just use it as a dumb terminal to capture configuration
and diagnostic output from my PBX). Email me offlist if you
would like some help doing so...
6607
days inactive
6609
days old
10 comments
6 participants
participants (6)
-
dgy＠DakotaCom.Net -
jwstephens＠msm.umr.edu -
reevejd＠mchsi.com -
rtellason＠verizon.net -
tpeters＠mixcom.com -
trixter＠oldskool.org