RagingSamster
2[H]4U
- Joined
- Jun 6, 2003
- Messages
- 3,097
I'm hoping to scratch some heads in here and would like any info you may have on the Compaq Portable II probably the sexiest most capable monochrome luggable out there (circa 1986)
Here's the project:
I have had it working, unfortunately the hard disk went south (2 hard drives in 20 years, awesome MTBF!)
I need help turning this array of nostalgia into a working and functional desk clock.
Currently the computer will boot to DOS 5.0, first machine with a factory 3.5" w00t!
It currently will not recognize the hard drive and I've tried a few. Back in the 80s PCs were still in the toddler stage and Compaq along with IBM wanted to control access to the hardware. They accomplished this by using setup/diagnostic disks. The setup disk allows you to install and configure peripheral devices. Looking through HP's archive (the owners of Compaq) I was able to find the "Compaq Portable II Personal Computer Maintenance and Service Guide" in PDF Format *Yay for anal-retentive behemoth tech corporations*
This machine was decked out for it's day - the standard 512K of ram just wasn't enough for this bad boy, no way. This came with the optional 640K. Also the PC was just made for gaming it came with compaq EGA graphics.
Where do we go from here? After obtaining the proper diagnostic diskettes I will install a new hard drive (new to me) and attempt to load Windows 3.1 (not workgroups - I don't have 1MB or a network card.) and then the most sought after product of it's day - Berkeley Systems After Dark for Windows. All on a 9" green phosphor screen.
Here's the project:
I have had it working, unfortunately the hard disk went south (2 hard drives in 20 years, awesome MTBF!)
I need help turning this array of nostalgia into a working and functional desk clock.
Currently the computer will boot to DOS 5.0, first machine with a factory 3.5" w00t!
It currently will not recognize the hard drive and I've tried a few. Back in the 80s PCs were still in the toddler stage and Compaq along with IBM wanted to control access to the hardware. They accomplished this by using setup/diagnostic disks. The setup disk allows you to install and configure peripheral devices. Looking through HP's archive (the owners of Compaq) I was able to find the "Compaq Portable II Personal Computer Maintenance and Service Guide" in PDF Format *Yay for anal-retentive behemoth tech corporations*
This machine was decked out for it's day - the standard 512K of ram just wasn't enough for this bad boy, no way. This came with the optional 640K. Also the PC was just made for gaming it came with compaq EGA graphics.
Where do we go from here? After obtaining the proper diagnostic diskettes I will install a new hard drive (new to me) and attempt to load Windows 3.1 (not workgroups - I don't have 1MB or a network card.) and then the most sought after product of it's day - Berkeley Systems After Dark for Windows. All on a 9" green phosphor screen.