Hi - I have obtained a 2nd hand Compaq Armada 4131T laptop. This laptop has some sort of add-on docking/cd unit that attaches to the bottom (compaq part # 218073-003). The laptop had NT 4.0 on it and everything worked. However, for a home user, NT wasn't something I wanted to keep. So I fdisked, partitioned the drive, formatted, and installed MS-DOS 6.22 on it. The drive now only has one partion. I have no Compaq drivers or Compaq CD's. I have attempted on numerous occassions to install Win98 SE to no avail. Basically, after fdisking, formatting, partitioning, and installing DOS, the unit does not see the CD-ROM drive. I have tried a couple of different W98SE boot disks I've found on the internet that include CD-ROM support. The disks load, but for some reason they don't see the CD-ROM drive. I know the cd drive worked before, just can't figure out how to find the right cd driver and load it in dos, or a Win98SE boot disk, so I can install Win98SE. I've looked all over the Compaq website, found numerous CD drivers, but can't find the one that is for this external add-on docking CD-rom device. Could anyone please offer me some help or advice? Thank you

Oh Wow! Try this. First make a dos 6.21 boot disk you can get it free from bootdisk.com Then make sure the bios is set to boot from the floppy a: first Then once the command line promot comes up type fdsik. The select 1. Then make a promary dos partition. Once you do this use fdsik to make this partition active. Let the computer restart. Leave the disk in. Once you are back to the a: prompt type format c: Then once it completes do type in sys c: at the A: prompt not the c:. Then from the a: with the floppy in issue this command: copy *.* c: Now heres where i need your help. what does the laptop have. Both a floppy and cdrom you can use at the same time? email me at bquinn@vvdnetsolutions.com for more help.

Eeeeeeeeek ... If you want to install some version of Windows other than 3.11, you'll need the following: 1. The CD-Rom Drivers for the Compaq Armada. If you search this site, you'll find a link a site that will let you download a boot image that contains the CD-ROM drivers. 2. Run the disk image program that will create a bootable floppy. Boot with this disk (selecting CD-ROM support) and make sure that you can see the files on the CD. 3. If you're in for a new install (which I presume you are): At the A:\ prompt type FDISK, Select Large Disk Support and delete all existing paritions. You'll have to reboot. 4. With the Bootdisk still in, at the A:\ prompt, type FORMAT C:/S/U 5. Remove the bootdisk temporarily and make sure that the hard drive will boot. 6. From the Bootdisk with CD-ROM support, boot again and make note of where the CD-ROM is installed. Go to that drive(for example E:) type E: press <Enter> and type SETUP. You'll have to go to Compaq's site to get the drivers for the Compaq specific hardware you have. A bit of a chore, but do-able. HTH Don

To get win98SE installed you could do the following: Remove the hard drive from the laptop Purchase an adapter (cheap) to attach the hard drive to a PC Copy the win98 folder from the CD to the laptop drive. Restore the drive to the laptop and do the install. `Maybe' win98 will have the CD drivers you need built in.

Hi Don - I searched the site for "Compaq Armada CD Drivers" and couldn't find anything specific to the external docking unit cd drive I have. Most of the drivers I have found, even those at the Compaq site, are for "internal cd drives" that fit into the original notebook case. The external docking cd unit I have is a separate case, screws onto the bottom of the notebook case, and is the same size as the notebook itself. Did you have a specific driver in mind for me to try for the external docking unit cd drive? Thank You Erik

Erik, check your email. I have quite a few of these laptops, & I sent you a bootdisk that I know will work on the Expansion Base CD. When I was running Win98SE on these lappys, I was rather disappointed with the speed. They seemed painfully slow. I switched to Win95B & Win95C with IE4 & Active Desktop Update, Installed Scanreg, msconfig, & WinME Defrag. Win95 flies on these laptops, & with the add-ons mentioned, it has almost the same functionality as Win98. The old Compaq website was easier to navigate before HP took over. I sent some relevant links for this laptop, as well. Good luck Dave

http://h18007.www1.hp.com/support/files/Armada/us/download/8103.html http://h18007.www1.hp.com/support/files/Armada/us/family/model/866.html http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/parseCurl.do?admit=716493758+1064676774426+28353475&CURL=%2Fcm%2FCategoryHome%2F1%2C%2C274%2C00.html http://us-support3.external.hp.com/emse/bin/doc.pl/sid=91ee198616eaa24639?todo=search&searchtext=4131&searchcriteria=allwords&searchtype=SEARCH_BSD&searchcategory=ALL&rn=100&presort=rank&x=14&y=7