Hi, folks --
> Recently, I rescued (barely!) a Compaq Portable II from complete
> destruction...
Try:
http://www.compaq.com/search/
where I searched for "Portable II Softpaq" (without "s), and found:.
http://www.compaq.com/support/portable/out_of_production/PortableII.html
(among others). Download the appropriate Softpaq, run it to make the
SETUP Floppy and boot the SETUP floppy to enable the right type of floppy
drive.
> Only a few months ago, this machine was used in my
> hospital for "simple spirometries" (whatever *they* are)
A spirometer measures the volume when you blow. (This checks how well your
lungs work.)
> they RIPPED off the top of the machine and PRYED out the corner of it
> to extract the card.
Ouch!
> Much to my surprise, after I started it up (actually the second
> time; the CGA card wasn't properly connected), it worked just
> fine!
A real Survivor!! <BG>
> If I can get the floppy drive enabled,
Don't forget to set the floppy jumper on the higher of DS0/DS1 or DS1/DS2
and connect to the end of the cable (after the twist). That sets the
floppy as B:, but the twist reverses it back to A:. (If there is no
twist, set the floppy jumper to the lower of DS0/DS1 or DS1/DS2.)
Check that there is a termination resistor chip installed (A: only.).
> I've decided I'm going
> to cover the top of the machine with a clear plastic board so
> that people can actually see the inside of a working old SurvPC.
> I'm also going to remove and/or repair the piece of the case that
> was damaged.
1/4 inch "Plexiglas" (polymethyl methacrylate) makes good case tops.
Not as scratch resistant as glass, but tougher. You or the supplier
can use a hot nichrome wire to soften it along a line to make a rounded
fold. If you want to make right angles, file the edges flat. Then you
can use a squeeze bottle with a needle tip to apply a little chloroform
along the joint. Use just enough so that it sucks in between the
pieces. You can see when you have enough, as the joint goes clear. Too
much will mar the surface. Let set overnight.
> P.S. -- Before I sent this message, I tried a few other things,
> but without success. I found, downloaded and prepared a few
> SETUP and DIAGNOSTIC disks from the Compaq website, but these
> will not initiate at bootup without the floppy drive enabled.
> Some Compaqs will go into CMOS settings while holding <F10> at
> bootup, but not this one.
It has to be the *right* SETUP disk.
As a last resort, temporarily change the physical configuration
(e.g. switch off, remove some RAM, pull the modem, whatever is
handy. Boot, with SETUP disk in A:, enable A:. Switch off, replace,
reconfigure whatever.)
The hospital may have disabled the floppy by removing one or more jumpers.
Check with the floppy manufacturer's website. They might also have
retired the machine because they just wore the floppy to bits. :-(
If you can reach it from another system (data AND power), you may not need
to remove the floppy drive to test it.
Boyd Ramsay
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
To unsubscribe from SURVPC send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with
unsubscribe SURVPC in the body of the message.
Also, trim this footer from any quoted replies.
More info can be found at;
http://www.softcon.com/archives/SURVPC.html
