Compaq Deskpro 386s/20

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March 11th, 2002, 08:42 AM
Splatster

Compaq Deskpro 386s/20

When I start up this old relic all that I get is a screen that says;

08192 KB OK

162-System Options Not Set-(Run Setup)
Insert DIAGNOSTICS diskete in Drive A:

(RESUME = "F1" KEY)

I went to Compaq site downloaded Diagnostics onto floppy, unzipped it put it in A: drive and pressed F1 and this is what I get:

Non-System disk or disk error
Replace and strike any key when ready

This computer has been sitting for sometime, could the problem be the CMOS battery?

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I must be a newbie, I bought a Compaq!
March 11th, 2002, 08:58 AM
davidgsmith

Hi,
Don't think it's a battery problem yet.

'Non System Disk' error says the floppy is not bootable.
Thos older Compaqs were 'very' proprietary!

Check your CMOS/BIOS to see if your hard drive is set up there.

Boot with a boot disk from any OS and from the A:\ type: dir/ and see what's on the hard drive.

Let us know, if we find out what OS is on there, we may get it booted for you.

Dave

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Check Ledger 2001 *** Help others less fortunate.
March 11th, 2002, 10:01 AM
Splatster

Okay I just booted with my Boot disk (WINDOWS 98SE) and I get:

Starting Windows 98

The compression driver cannot be set up correctly
Get a version from your vendor that is compatible with this version of Windows.
Press any key to continue....

Then I hit Enter

Type the name of the Command Interpreter (e.g., C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND.COM)
A>

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I must be a newbie, I bought a Compaq!
March 11th, 2002, 10:46 AM
davidgsmith

Hey,
guess I was wrong about 'any' OS.
Get a DOS 6.2 boot disk at www.bootdisk.com
and do it with that.
Dave

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Check Ledger 2001 *** Help others less fortunate.
March 11th, 2002, 11:04 AM
Splatster

David...went there clicked on DOS 5.00 To 6.22 Win 95/98/Me Bootdisks By w0rm and the page cannot be displayed.

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I must be a newbie, I bought a Compaq!
March 11th, 2002, 11:43 AM
Splatster

Okay finally got the MS-DOS 6.20 Bootdisk and also MSBACK62.exe

Still getting the same message with both floppies:

162-System Options Not Set-(Run Setup)
Insert DIAGNOSTICS diskete in Drive A:

(RESUME = "F1" KEY)

Non-System disk or disk error
Replace and strike any key when ready

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I must be a newbie, I bought a Compaq!
March 11th, 2002, 11:55 AM
Splatster

There seems to a problem with the CD-ROM when I insert a disc into it doesn't seem to pull it in and when I try to push the eject button it is stuck. Could this be why I'm getting these errors?

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I must be a newbie, I bought a Compaq!
March 11th, 2002, 12:31 PM
AlaricD

A lot of those older Compaqs required a specific boot diskette to enter the CMOS setup.
Try Frequently Asked Questions Desktops

and
Downloadable Support Diagnostics, Inspect & Setup Utilities for Obsolete Compaq Products

Good luck installing Windows 98 on that machine-- it's a 386SX-20. This spells "s l o w", as it is only single-word external (internally it is 32-bit, but the connection to the data bus is only 16-bit.) Also, unless a 387SX is installed, you will not have a math coprocessor (neither the 386DX nor SX had an FPU in it, the S and D refer to Single or Double Word eXternal). Finally, the maximum amount of RAM for that particular unit is 16MB, which is the minimum for Win98SE and scarcely enough to run Win98SE very fast even on a Pentium II 450.

You could try running SETUP /NM to attempt to install Win98, but Win95 would be a better choice as the machine (since it has 8MB) would meet the system requirements already, more or less.
<A HREF="http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q138349" TARGET=_blank>Windows 95 Installation Requirements (Q138349)
</A>

The requirement for a 386DX is probably more for speed reasons than anything else-- the 386SX and DX use identical instruction sets. (FPUs are available for either processor, but are not required by Win95.)

------------------
Am386DX-40 + Cx387DX-40
32MB, 128KB cache
(2) 540MB HD's
8x CD
2MB Video
SB16 PnP
DR-DOS 7.04
Win3.11 w/ Win32s
--
Just because it's unusual doesn't make it a virus!
Ping is NOT an acronym!

[This message has been edited by AlaricD (edited 03-11-2002).]
March 11th, 2002, 04:53 PM
Splatster

Thanks for the input Alaric but I have already tried your suggestions and keep getting:

08192 KB OK

162-System Options Not Set-(Run Setup)
Insert DIAGNOSTICS diskete in Drive A:

(RESUME = "F1" KEY)

I went to Compaq site downloaded Diagnostics onto floppy, unzipped it put it in A: drive and pressed F1 and this is what I get:

Non-System disk or disk error
Replace and strike any key when ready

Anyone have any ideas?

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I must be a newbie, I bought a Compaq!
March 11th, 2002, 06:17 PM
chris wolf

the fact that it's telling you to run setup in the first place probably means that the cmos information has been lost. contrary to what was said before, a dead cmos battery is very likely considering how old the machine is.

the diskette with the utilities needs to be bootable, which is why you're seeing that message. extracting SP0308.EXE to the diskette does not make it bootable, and SP0308.EXE doesn't even need to be on the diskette. open the zip file and extract SP0308.EXE to the desktop, then run it and follow the instructions. after it's done, run QRST.EXE (also on the desktop) and follow the instructions.

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yes, i still use the i386dx-33.
no, i wouldn't trade it for a pentium iv.

[the mob]

[This message has been edited by chris wolf (edited 03-11-2002).]
March 11th, 2002, 09:45 PM
Robert M

Hey Splatster,

I just read the instructions for creating a diskette from the sp1363.exe file.

This is not the name of your downloaded file but in any case the instructions talk about downloading the file to a directory on the hard drive, inserting a blank formatted diskette, and executing the file. I presume this creates the bootable diskette. You seem to have downloaded your file directly to the diskette instead.

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I never say thingy.

[This message has been edited by Robert M (edited 03-11-2002).]

[This message has been edited by Robert M (edited 03-11-2002).]
March 11th, 2002, 10:16 PM
Splatster

Hey guys I gonna try and leave the computer plugged in for a day or two and see if the CMOS battery will charge.

Chris, I can't get to the desktop all I have is a screen with the above mentioned info on it.

Robert, I did d/l the boot disk to floppy and then unzipped it back on to the same floppy. I'll try to do it the way you mention and see what happens.

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I must be a newbie, I bought a Compaq!
March 12th, 2002, 02:21 AM
chris wolf

Quote:

I can't get to the desktop all I have is a screen with the above mentioned info on it.

i was referring to the windows desktop of the machine with which you downloaded the file - in other words, the machine you're most likely using to read this; i'm well aware that the 386 isn't completely functional.

you need to open the zip file and extract SP0308.EXE somewhere (i recommended the desktop because it's easy to get to). then run SP0308.EXE and follow the instructions on the screen. after it's done and has exited, run QRST.EXE (which should now be in the same directory [the desktop] as SP0308.EXE) and follow the instructions on the screen to create the diskette(s).

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yes, i still use the i386dx-33.
no, i wouldn't trade it for a pentium iv.

[the mob]

[This message has been edited by chris wolf (edited 03-12-2002).]
March 12th, 2002, 07:54 AM
davidgsmith

Also, leaving the computer on will not charge the battery.

Have fun!
Dave

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Check Ledger 2001 *** Help others less fortunate.
March 13th, 2002, 11:41 PM
Splatster

Sorry it took so long to get back. I had to acquire a 720k floppy. Well I run the QRST.EXE and here's what happened.

Disk Controller 1, Fixed Disk 1
Error 1702-02
Fixed disk-Failed read test
Exceeded hard error limit

Disk Controller 1, Fixed Disk 1
Error 1716-09
Fixed Disk-Failed conditional Format test
Failed to format a track

Disk Controller 1, Fixed Disk 1
Error 1703-07
Fixed Disk-Failed write/read/compare test
Fatal error while writing

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I must be a newbie, I bought a Compaq!
March 14th, 2002, 06:44 AM
Vernon Frazee

Could be because of an improper hard drive installation (not wired correctly, screws to tight), failing power supply (not enough power to the hard drive), flaky hard drive adapter (or controller), incorrect hard drive setting in CMOS Setup or simply a dead hard drive.

One of the easiest ways to test it would be to hook up another compatible, known-good hard drive. If it works you know everything but the original hard drive is OK.
December 7th, 2002, 11:08 PM
Robert M

You may need to enter the BIOS/CMOS setup program.

To enter the BIOS/CMOS program requires the user to wait for the cursor to go to the upper right hand side of the screen when starting up and using the F10 key on the keyboard.

On some Compaqs using the F10 key when the Compaq logo is displayed will get you into the setup program.

Once in the program, record the settings for your hard drive and floppy drive and post those settings back here.(If there are any)

Or, try to correct the settings there by yourself....just be sure you
write down the previous settings before you modify anything.
Be careful not to change anything until you read the instructions.