I have recently accquired a Compaq LTE 286, I just have the laptop and the adaptor. I have NO floppies. I switched it:

00640 KB OK
*4 BEEPS*
167 - RTC Lost Power
162 - System Options Not Set - C (Run Setup)
Insert DIAGNOSTIC diskette in Drive A:

(RESUME = "F1" KEY)

*AS I HAVE NO DISKS I JUST PRESSED F1*

*4 BEEPS*
Non - System disk or disk error
replace and strike any key when ready

I am not a computer pro so i haven't the foggiest on how to cure this problem, I just want my Compaq up and running! Please help!!!

Try this and also the search function of this forum:

http://www.computing.net/windows31/wwwboard/forum/10221.html

Hi ham,

It has lost it's 'setup' info, probably because the battery went down.

As a minimum, you will need to get a boot floppy disk.

You can get them at bootdisk.com and other sites.

But before you go through all that, you ought to think about what programs you'd like to run. If you'll be content with text based word processing, spreadsheets, appointment books etc, go ahead.

Anything more demanding will be an exercise in frustration.

M2

Mechanix2Go@Golden-Triangle.com

Thanks for your help guys,
I don't know what boot disk to get for this pc as i know nothing about it's history, does anybody know which DOS it runs? Or do i need some other kind of boot disk?

First and foremost this Laptop has lost it BIOS configuration, therefore read the previous post I pointed out, in there is the link to the Compaq/HP download for the Configuration File. This file is self executing and requires two blank formatted 1.44mb floppy disks

Run this laptop from the mains adaptor and boot with Disk1 you created, it will allow you to set the BIOS settings, once this is done then it is time to install an O/S.

OpenDOS7.01 or DRDOS 7.03 are free for non commercial use and can be downloaded from:

http://horde.planetmirror.com/pub/drdos/

you need the Lite version without the Netware Networking, these come with a Texy file explaining how to create a disk set.

Once you have a set of DOS diskettes you can boot from the first disk etctetc.

When up and running get it on the Internet with DOSLynx?? http://www.mwpms.uklinux.net

END OF STORY

HP now own Compaq and support for the LTE 286 is discontinued.

However as far as I can remember the LTE Lite Series Setup & Diagnostics Diskettes will work with your version.

http://h18007.www1.hp.com/support/files/LTE/us/download/8421.html

Both disks are also bootdisks I think and should gain access to your harddrive if this is still possible.

Please reply with a message to let us all know we are on the right track...

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SoftPaq for that machine should be sp0308.zip and should be located here:

http://h18007.www1.hp.com/support/files/obsolete_diagnostics.html

As stated before, the BIOS settings are now lost (likely due to a dead BIOS/CMOS battery). You'll have to replace the battery first and then configure the machine with the SoftPaq disk(s) for the settings to hold. While Windows 3.0 would run on that machine (maybe 3.1 in real mode if it has enough RAM), my vote for a GUI would be Geoworks 2.0 (or NewDeal Office). Includes a good word processor and spreadsheet. Later versions of NDO included a graphical web browser and that pretty decent on a 286...

Thanks for the help. I got the SPO308 of the web link and loaded it up, i got the following message: Bad or missing Command Interpreter. As for Replacing the battery (!) is there no way i can re charge it from the adaptor? Surely Compaq didn't expact LTE 286 users to buy a new battery each time it ran out?!?!
Thanks

You did extract the files to 720K disk(s) first, right?

BIOS/CMOS batteries on all machines are not rechargeable. They are used to hold the time/date functions and keep the BIOS settings in low-current EPROMs. If they last better than 5 years (which would be much less than the age of your machine), then you're quite lucky. Most of them are a type of coin or watch battery, with some of them being similar to a 1/2 "AA" and a few older ones being cubic or an actual battery pack of AA or AAA type. The rechargable battery pack you're thinking of is what powers the machine when AC is unavailable.

2 more things...

By extracting, I mean that you have to unzip the files to an empty subdirectory, and then run the executable to write an disk image to the floppy (sorry for the confusion the above may have caused)...

Also, if you did extract the images, you may have a bad floppy drive, which would first have to be repaired/replaced (good luck on finding a replacement) and then install the BIOS battery, and finally use the floppies to setup the machine.

Sure you want to go that far with this machine?...

There is another battery??? This may just seem like pure ignorance but i had no idea there was another smaller battery! where is this located?
Thanks

Obviously, somewhere inside the unit itself. I'd advise you find someone who has previously replaced one before attempting the job yourself, since some laptops can basically fall apart in your hands when you try to open them up. Here's a location to find out what battery you're looking for (bottom picture):

http://www.batterysavings.com/site/1/Modelselect/7/62/1069693/Laptops_Compaq_LTE_286.aspx

You might also want to look at this (sounds like someone had successfully found the battery you're looking for---maybe you could contact them...):

http://www.computing.net/dos/wwwboard/forum/14714.html

Also try this link for a photo of the battery:

http://www.batterysavings.com/site/1/Product/7/62/19757/B-301/1/a.aspx

To open the case you need to remove three small phillips screws: 1 inside the rechargeable battery cover near the display hinge, 1 inside the modem connection cover near the display hinge, and 1 on the back of the unit within the FCC label. You will need a jewelers type screwdriver to remove these screws as they are quite small. After removing screws, place the laptop upside down, and gently pry up the bottom cover from the rear. You may need to urge the cover to open at the snap-together points. The BIOS battery will be visible from the bottom, inside a battery holder. You need to slide the battery to remove it from its holder. Should be type CR1220, about $3 at Radio Shack. Re-assemble in reverse order.

As far as the setup disk, the 308 version only allows you to enable or disable the fixed disk. You cannot choose the disk type. Mine defaulted to type 2, but it is a type 54 and I cannot change it. The last setup version, 2054, doesn't work on my system, gets to a certain point and just stops working.

Here's another site for setup files:

http://h18007.www1.hp.com/support/files/diags.html