yann64andClaude Opus 5.5
b274874139
1,289 discussions, 9,527 archived comments; pages no longer carry the comments themselves. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com> Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_01YDRjtmAiNpo5mK5N3d7QwZ
179 lines
8.8 KiB
Markdown
179 lines
8.8 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: Compaq Portable II
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categories:
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- Computers
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types:
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- Professional Computer
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origins:
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- U.S.A.
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years:
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- '1986'
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cpus:
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- '80286'
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params:
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name: Portable II
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image: /media/museum/photos/compaq_portableii_system_s2.jpg
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company: /companies/compaq
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company_name: Compaq
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specs:
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- label: NAME
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value: Portable II
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- label: MANUFACTURER
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value: Compaq
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- label: TYPE
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value: Professional Computer
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- label: ORIGIN
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value: U.S.A.
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- label: YEAR
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value: '1986'
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- label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
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value: None
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- label: KEYBOARD
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value: Full stroke 84-key with numeric keypad and 10 function keys
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- label: CPU
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value: '80286'
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- label: SPEED
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value: 6 ou 8 MHz
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- label: CO-PROCESSOR
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value: Socket for 80287 math coprocessor
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- label: RAM
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value: 640 KB on board, up to 2.1 MB
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- label: VRAM
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value: Unknown
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- label: ROM
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value: 16 KB (BIOS)
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- label: TEXT MODES
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value: 40 or 80 chars. x 25 lines (IBM CGA or monochrome modes)
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- label: GRAPHIC MODES
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value: 640 x 200 dots
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- label: COLORS
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value: 16 (Grey shades on built-in monitor)
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- label: SOUND
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value: Built-in loudspeaker
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- label: SIZE / WEIGHT
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value: 17.7 (W) x 13.9 (D) x 7.5 (H) in. / 26 lbs
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- label: I/O PORTS
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value: Serial, Parallel, external CGA monitor, Composite video
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- label: BUILT IN MEDIA
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value: 1/2 5.25'' 360 KB floppy disc drives, or 1 x FDD + 10 MB Hard disk
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- label: OS
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value: MS-DOS 3.1
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- label: POWER SUPPLY
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value: Built-in 130 Watt switching power supply unit
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- label: PERIPHERALS
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value: 3 x AT slots available among 5
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- label: PRICE
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value: From $3199 (Single FDD) to $4799 (HDD)
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tabs:
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- photos
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- links
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- docs
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forum_thread: 851
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photos:
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- title: LARGE VIEW
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/photos/compaq_portableii_system_s3.jpg
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- title: RUNNING SYSTEM
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subtitle: ''
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text: Portable II running the Compaq Diagnostic program.
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image: /media/museum/photos/compaq_portableii_running_s1.jpg
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- title: TOP VIEW
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subtitle: ''
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text: The keyboard is a French "AZERTY" version.
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image: /media/museum/photos/compaq_portableii_topview_s1.jpg
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- title: SIDE VIEW
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/photos/compaq_portableii_sideview_s1.jpg
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- title: READY FOR CARRYING
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/photos/compaq_portableii_closed_s1.jpg
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- title: CONNECTORS
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subtitle: ''
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text: Sliding lids on either side of the casing cover the power switch and fan at left, and I/O ports at right (Colour and mono video outputs, serial and parallel ports).
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image: /media/museum/photos/compaq_portableii_connectors_s1.jpg
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- title: PORTABLE II PLATE
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/photos/compaq_portableii_plate_s1.jpg
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- title: 'INSIDE #1'
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subtitle: ''
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text: Under the plastic casing, the electronics is completely enclosed with a metallic cage.
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image: /media/museum/photos/compaq_portableii_inside_s1.jpg
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- title: 'INSIDE #2'
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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The mainboard is located below the CRT and drives.\
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**(1)** Switching power supply unit\
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**(2)** Intel "Above Board" 2 MB RAM expansion\
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**(3)** CGA video card\
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**(4)** Multi-IO card - Floppy and HDD drives controller, serial and parallel ports\
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**(5)** Seagate 10 MB hard-disk drive.
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image: /media/museum/photos/compaq_portableii_inside_s2.jpg
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- title: EXPANSION CARDS
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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From top to bottom:\
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• 2 MB above board\
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• CGA video card\
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• Multi-IO card
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image: /media/museum/photos/compaq_portableii_cards_s1.jpg
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links:
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- title: Web Wiz CAPTCHA
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url: http://www.webwizcaptcha.com
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text: ''
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docs:
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- title: MAINTENANCE & SERVICE GUIDE
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url: http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/DocumentIndex.jsp?contentType=SupportManual&lang=en&cc=us&docIndexId=179111&taskId=101&prodTypeId=321957&prodSeriesId=96335
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cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/nodoccover.gif
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text: |-
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[**MAINTENANCE & SERVICE GUIDE**](http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/DocumentIndex.jsp?contentType=SupportManual&lang=en&cc=us&docIndexId=179111&taskId=101&prodTypeId=321957&prodSeriesId=96335)written by Compaq
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type of document : PDF\
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source : [Compaq Support Center](http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Home.jsp)
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related:
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- /museum/compaq-portable
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- /museum/compaq-portable-386
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- /museum/compaq-portable-iii
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oc_id: 870
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source:
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url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230604040910/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=870
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date: '2023-06-04'
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---
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After having invented the first IBM-compatible transportable computer, and having recorded half a billion dollars turnover, Compaq decided to launch its second portable AT clone. The system featured an 8 MHz processor and a 10 MB hard disk in a package 30% smaller and 20% lighter than previous PC model.
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The general engineering idea behind this machine was to provide a cut-down IBM PC/AT clone with fewer expansion slots (5), a small hard disk and a floppy disc. This allowed Compaq to make the Portable II smaller and lighter without sacrificing too much specification.
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Like many portable systems of the time, the keyboard attached to the front of the case and when the machine was ready for carrying, it was like a sewing machine.
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The machine was supplied with 640 KB of RAM which was the maximum that could be fitted to the main board. However, RAM could be taken up to 2.1 MB by using a custom-designed expansion card.
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Technically the Portable II gave its user more power than an IBM PC/AT for almost half the price.\
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At the same time, Compaq delivered two desktop computers, the Deskpro PC/XT and Deskpro PC/AT, and two portable systems, the Portable/Plus PC/XT and the Portable 286 which was a full function PC/AT clone.
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---
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**Lucio Libertini** says:\
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The Portable 2 comes with a single 360kb 5.25" floppy drive, but it is compatible with 3.5" ones. Indeed, replacing the drive is the first thing that should be done, as 5.25" floppies in decent conditions are getting almost impossible to find, while 3.5" ones are still being manufactured. 360kb is also uselessly small for most applications.
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A suitable floppy cable is required for the modification, not to mention a caddy to put the smaller drive in the tray. One can always affix it in there with other means, but the result is most inelegant.
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The Portable 2 doesn't boot any MS-DOS bootdisk above version 3.2; 3.21, 3.3 and 6.22 didn't work. There is a likely exception: I didn't test MS-DOS 6.00 floppies, but the hard drive mine came with has that inside, so it must have been installed from floppies.\
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The Portable 2 does boot DR-DOS floppies of versions 3.41 and 6.00 (5.00 untested), but 6.00 is awfully slow, so I suggest sticking with the older version.
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The compaq diagnostic floppy that's required for BIOS setup is incredibly hard to find; after extensive Googling I managed to find a floppy image that contained the required programs, but wasn't bootable. I made a bootable floppy with DR-DOS 3.41 and the diagnostics; you can find it [here](http://www.technfun.com/software/cp2-drdos341-diags.zip). It's a raw image, writable with rawwrite (and many other apps) under Windows and dd under Linux. The BIOS access program is setup.exe.
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**Mark Dodd's** memories:\
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One arm is longer than the other after having to lug these things around for a year or so.\
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We had several within Telecom Australia equipped with network sniffer cards and other addon cards for looking after the myriad of different network technologies that existed within the 84,000 employee behemoth.\
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My biggest nightmare was getting caught between buildings at the end of the day so I had to lug the thing home on public transport. I remember one old fellow looking at it with amazement on the train and telling me how the same power used to take up two floors of a building. I told him it still weighs the same....
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**Rob Brown** also remembers:\
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This was the field service engineers nightmare. You were supposed to be Compaq trained to service this machine but very few engineers were. The main challenge was just getting it open. It was the first pc to use the torx type screws. You could not get hold of a torx screwdriver for love nor money in those days and I had a specially filed down flat head screwdriver which could just about turn a screw if wasn't too tight.\
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Once you got the plastic case off, there was another steel case to contend with. There were a few access panels, but trying to get to the right components was really difficult. Then you had to put it back together, which was even harder.
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<table> <tr> <td></td> <td>We need more info about this computer ! If you designed, used, or have more info about this system, please send us pictures or anything you might find useful.</td> <td></td> </tr> </table>
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