Before i start the repair i have a issue with the VGA external output. I have no picture!
Do i need to enable the external output?
I see that pin 9 is not used on this machine. Could that be the problem with newer VGA monitors?
I have seen a site saying that CTRL-ALT-> should enable external monitor, but it does not work.

Hi, I had a Compaq SLT 286 once! 😀
Some things that come to mind:

a) The battery pack seemingly contained some sort of reed-contact/relay.
Symptoms: At some point, when the battery is very discharged, it won't chare anymore.
Holding a magnet to the battery will result in a "click" sound.

b) The SLT has no built-in CMOS setup utility.
It needs a bootable floppy with the setup program.
I once had it. Mabe you'll find it online at some server
(HP still hosts some softpacks/rompacks, etc.).

c) The SIMMs (memory modules) are not stock SIMMs, but a Compaq creation.
You can have 4MB installed no problem, maybe more (4MiB was all I had).

If possible, desolder the Dallas chip from the board before modding. It is a pretty thin board, so it has no big thermal mass.
There is a setting to select external/internal screen when you boot from the config floppy I think.

When taking it apart, be careful not to break the plastic clips at the backplate. They are not necessary to hold it tight as there are also screws but can easily break.

Also be careful when you route the ide cable to the battery compartment. It was a pretty thight fit to get it through a hole on the pcb shield. Maybe fold it over a couple of times and do not squeeze it when rescrewing as it can easily be cut by the metal what results to a short to ground. Same goes for the power cable.

Are there any instructions on replacing the ide drive for a SD drive?

cskordis wrote:

Are there any instructions on replacing the ide drive for a SD drive?

Jinxter wrote:

- Then install a CF or SD card in the machine - like mcobit did: Re: What retro activity did you get up to today?

I've own three Compaq SLT/286. If anybody needs setup diskette i have one and can upload it image anywhere, but keep in mind, that it is 720KB, so modern USB-FDD may don't works with it. In future i'm planning total BIOS disassembly & rewrite to remove ancient fixed disk setup by the type and add autodetect (and maybe LBA support). Also for owners of original(and highly likely dead) battery - internal accumulators can be replaced with C type NiCd/NiMh elements. Battery is protected by internal fuse and also has thermal sensor.

Hey guys, I am trying to rebuild a 286 SLT. Quick questions: How do I get the external screen to work? What is the hotkey? Does anybody have the boot-disk workaround that saves me the DALLAS fix? Any ideas appreciated & thank you, Alex

Does anyone know how to disable key click on compass slt ?
(the sound it makes when hitting any key)

thanks

DrAlis wrote on 2021-03-14, 20:11:

Hey guys, I am trying to rebuild a 286 SLT. Quick questions: How do I get the external screen to work? What is the hotkey? Does anybody have the boot-disk workaround that saves me the DALLAS fix? Any ideas appreciated & thank you, Alex

For the external screen question...
To switch to the external display is ctrl+alt+,
To switch back to the LCD is ctrl+alt+.

This can be done at anytime once the PC has booted up.