Duke.Togo

Been working a little more on this as I get the original Compaq Portable fixed (it's all back to life, and surprisingly its 20MB MFM HDD still works with no errors). Since the TEST doesn't work with MS-DOS 6.22, I wanted to make a 3.5" version of the setup disk. Not sure what I'm messing up, but can't make it bootable. The original setup disk is bootable (has IBM DOS on it as hidden/system files). I've used the attrib command to make all the files visible on the original, copied everything to the 3.5", but no go. I know I am rusty on my DOS skills, so does anyone know something that I am missing here?

Also, in case it helps anyone else you can copy the setup disk files to a 3.5" or HDD with another form of DOS than what boots those disks. The setup program runs fine in MS-DOS 6.22, but the TEST program reports incorrect DOS version. I haven't played with SETVER to figure out what it wants as I'm using Norton Utilities and it is much more comprehensive than the Compaq Test program anyway. The ROMREV program from the setup disk also works just fine in DOS 6.22.

Yeah, looking at the Service Manual there are two cards - an ISA card and a special card that pops onto the back of the board. I'll have to look into alternatives at some point. I'll pull the sound card out if it gets in the way. I just tossed it in because I had it already. I'm not really looking to game with it, more as a tool to help with work on some other older machines. I've not had a practical way to create non-PC disks besides Apple II before.

Got my parts in and did some work to get it all together. Besides the obvious 3.5" floppy, did the CF2IDE with a 512MB card. Autodetected at 307MB but just used Disk Manager anyway. Loaded up DOS 6.22 in case I can get my hands on a RAM expansion. Compaq made 2 different versions, and if you had both you could get up to 4MB. Probably too hard to track one down, so I'll look at another ISA card at some point. Found a PNP SB-16 compatible that the software configuration works but doesn't set the CONFIG.SYS up, but I'll take care of that myself and test. Ran NU and things check out well. I'll be putting this to work with the 360k drive to write some non-PC disks like TRS-80 and TI/99. Tested on a TRS-DOS disk and worked great.

That's the issue. I haven't used Winimage, but unless it can expand the existing image for 1.44, it wouldn't help as I already have 360k setup disks. Since the machine will only boot from A:, having the 3.5 in that space just makes life more convenient for me.

A little more work tonight. Got the new battery in, and tested 1.44 support. 1.44 works great. I'll have to hunt around for a 1.44 MB version of the setup program. Unfortunately, you can't just copy the files over.

With only 640k RAM onboard, I like the idea of keeping slots free. If the HDD is dead, I'd prefer to just use that spot, but if not I can find a spot for something with some double-sided tape around a 3.5" drive. The DOM looks interesting as well. I don't think the clearance is there to attach it directly to the card, but I could snake the IDE cable somewhere and tape it down.

@bluejay What CF2IDE device did you go with that worked? Be interested in more concise instructions on what you did. Made more progress. I pulled the dead FDD and examined it. Turns out there was a bad capacitor on the board. Got it replaced and the drive works perfectly now. Unfortunately, it is 360k and not 1.2MB, but when I ran the configuration program it did list 1.44 as an option, so I'm going to try rigging up a 3.5" as a B: drive to see if it works. Make it easier to get stuff started. The HDD doesn't want to boot or give me a directory, and I hear the heads seeking but I don't think it's spinning up. I may try to lubricate the stepper motor and see if that gives it any life. If not, oh well.

OK, did some swapping and the 360k drive from the Portable I works properly with the Portable II, so it's the drive and not the card. I'll get the drive out to check the electronics soon. Also, amazingly the original diagnostics disk works great. Once I have the replacement battery in I'll be able to get it booting from the HDD (assuming it works) to at least be able to progress. Other hardware tests pass normally.

Yep, a battery is one of the replacement parts on the way.

I thought about a dirty drive, but it doesn't try to spin up and no seek light at boot, so something electronic somewhere.

I don't know if they are interchangeable, but that's a good idea. I'll try that tomorrow. Yeah, battery dead on the Portable II. No battery on the Portable I, so I'm assuming it is an XT compatible with no RTC. Will find out when I can power it up. Once I get the Portable I up and running, I'll probably finish recapping them both. The PSU in the I is a bit janky, and I would assume the II isn't much better.

I already cleaned the card edge connector and the ISA slot. Tried multiple slots. The floppy disk light doesn't come on during POST after the HDD light does like it's supposed to, so it doesn't seem to be initializing. Tested voltage at the connector and was good. Could be that the drive itself is completely dead, and once I recap the PSU for the Portable I if the FDD works in it I will swap it over for testing. If I need some disks made, I'd be fine with paying for copies if they can be made. The Portable I has what looks like a full-height 360k floppy and a HDD. The Portable II has what looks like a half-height 1.2MB floppy (seems like an odd size and not fully half-heigh though and not standard, although I haven't removed the cage to check yet) and a HDD. Of course I can't verify without setup disks, which I need a working drive to fix. Anyway, parts ordered, will update after I dig further.

I just acquired a Compaq Portable and Portable II from my work when they were clearing out some storage. Floppy controller failure on the II, and bad caps in the PSU of the I. I'm ordering some parts, but I have a feeling I'll be needing to come back here for some help. The II had original setup disks with it, but won't know if they are still alive until I can get the controller working. I'm thinking a couple of the tantalums have died, so ordered some up. Glad to see success here!