Thank you.

I just picked up a LTE ELite 4/50cx. THe floppy is dead but I plan to swap in/restore to a compactflash IDE solution someday.

This is crazy helpful.

Hi, I am trying to revive a 4/75CX. The original HDD died, and I have tried this image on both a second 2 GB HDD and a CompactFlash card using a CF-IDE adapter. However, I keep getting a message after the memory check saying "missing operating system" and nothing boots.

What I noticed though, I do get the blinking square on the top right (which I think indicates that the BIOS is there), but I cannot access the BIOS pressing F10 - I just immediately get the "missing operating system" message.

Any ideas on how I can get this to boot?

djsubtronic wrote on 2021-11-05, 01:51:

Hi, I am trying to revive a 4/75CX. The original HDD died, and I have tried this image on both a second 2 GB HDD and a CompactFlash card using a CF-IDE adapter. However, I keep getting a message after the memory check saying "missing operating system" and nothing boots.

What I noticed though, I do get the blinking square on the top right (which I think indicates that the BIOS is there), but I cannot access the BIOS pressing F10 - I just immediately get the "missing operating system" message.

Any ideas on how I can get this to boot?

Try and boot the machine from a MS-DOS 6.20 English floppy and with the CF card installed. Partition with fdisk, reboot and format C with the command "format c: /s". This should give you a bootable CF card.

Now just connect the CF card on a modern computer, and copy all the files and folders from my HDD image to the now bootable CF card.

Boot the first MS-Dos 6.20 disk (Disk1.img), and press F3 to exit out to command line in order to run fdisk amd format.

DONT REPLACE the "command.com" file one the CF card, just skip it. You can try and replacing it, but it might not be bootable then.

You can mount my HDD Image in windows with the application "OSF Mount" in order to copy files from there.

Links:
-OSF Mount: https://www.osforensics.com/tools/mount-disk-images.html
- MS-Dos 6.20 English: https://winworldpc.com/download/c3ad0939-c397 … c2-b411c3a4c2ac

Thanks for your reply. The problem is that my FDD is completely dead, it won't read any disks. I tried connecting the CF drive to a VirtualBox "virtual raw disk", so that VirtualBox VM can read/write to the CF directly as the fixed disk, then used MS-DOS 6.22 floppy image to set up the disk, also tried Compaq's own FASTART floppy image to create the partitions on the CF - neither of these booted up when I put the CF back into the laptop, even tho it booted OK in VirtualBox.

What I didn't try is MS DOS 6.0 and the format command. Do you think it may work if I follow your method using VirtualBox, or does it NEED to be done directly on the laptop?

Edit: well I followed these steps in VirtualBox (writing directly to the CF card as the VM's fixed disk), still after the memory OK I immediately get "missing operating system" 🙁

This is a late reply but the Compaq LTE Elite only support 1gb CF cards or smaller. Anything larger than that will give you trouble/not boot.

I used anoter laptop to install dos/windows setup files on the CF and then transferred it to run/install on the LTE Elite. It worked.

This guy made some amazing notes
https://revspace.nl/Compaq_LTE_Elite_4/50E

kleung21 wrote on 2022-02-07, 08:02:

This is a late reply but the Compaq LTE Elite only support 1gb CF cards or smaller. Anything larger than that will give you tr […]
Show full quote

This is a late reply but the Compaq LTE Elite only support 1gb CF cards or smaller. Anything larger than that will give you trouble/not boot.

I used anoter laptop to install dos/windows setup files on the CF and then transferred it to run/install on the LTE Elite. It worked.

This guy made some amazing notes
https://revspace.nl/Compaq_LTE_Elite_4/50E

Thanks for the info 🙂
I havent tested with larger hdds myself.

kleung21 wrote on 2022-02-07, 08:02:

This is a late reply but the Compaq LTE Elite only support 1gb CF cards or smaller. Anything larger than that will give you tr […]
Show full quote

This is a late reply but the Compaq LTE Elite only support 1gb CF cards or smaller. Anything larger than that will give you trouble/not boot.

I used anoter laptop to install dos/windows setup files on the CF and then transferred it to run/install on the LTE Elite. It worked.

This guy made some amazing notes
https://revspace.nl/Compaq_LTE_Elite_4/50E

Wow I can't believe I didn't try this already. So I bought a 1 GB CF card and just tried it today. First with the factory image from this thread, which didn't work, then I tried your idea of installing MS-DOS 6.2 from a different laptop (starting with the CF card as unallocated space, so I let the laptop format it) and still didn't work 🙁 In fact this time I get 1790-Disk 0 Error, then I press F1 to boot and it says "missing operating system".

I wonder if the type of SD card matters? I tried this one:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000ZO0GB … 0?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Out of interest, what did you use (make/model/capacity)? And which version of MS-DOS did you install on it?

Thanks!

djsubtronic wrote on 2022-02-11, 16:27:

Wow I can't believe I didn't try this already. So I bought a 1 GB CF card and just tried it today. First with the factory image […]
Show full quote

kleung21 wrote on 2022-02-07, 08:02:

This is a late reply but the Compaq LTE Elite only support 1gb CF cards or smaller. Anything larger than that will give you tr […]
Show full quote

This is a late reply but the Compaq LTE Elite only support 1gb CF cards or smaller. Anything larger than that will give you trouble/not boot.

I used anoter laptop to install dos/windows setup files on the CF and then transferred it to run/install on the LTE Elite. It worked.

This guy made some amazing notes
https://revspace.nl/Compaq_LTE_Elite_4/50E

Wow I can't believe I didn't try this already. So I bought a 1 GB CF card and just tried it today. First with the factory image from this thread, which didn't work, then I tried your idea of installing MS-DOS 6.2 from a different laptop (starting with the CF card as unallocated space, so I let the laptop format it) and still didn't work 🙁 In fact this time I get 1790-Disk 0 Error, then I press F1 to boot and it says "missing operating system".

I wonder if the type of SD card matters? I tried this one:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000ZO0GB … 0?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Out of interest, what did you use (make/model/capacity)? And which version of MS-DOS did you install on it?

Thanks!

I'll take a look at my setup tonight.

As for parts, I know exactly which ones I used

1) Syba Brand CF/IDE adapter
- I cut the front of the HD sled open so that I can just insert/take out cf cards without popping the drive sled

https://www.amazon.ca/Syba-Connectivity-2-5-I … 6/dp/B0036DDXUM

2) 1gb CF cards from ebay - industrial type but I BELIEVE that anything smaller than 1gb worked as well. Will retest.
(it was branded "memorypartner").

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/164450089798
(just select the 1gb option).

I'll test my setup and give more feedback later tonight after I've had a chance to play.

Thanks, looks like those Syba adapters aren't available in UK where I am, can only find these which I am using at the moment: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B098D9MZ5 … 1?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I guess I can give a 512 MB "industrial" CF card a try.

djsubtronic wrote on 2022-02-12, 02:24:

Thanks, looks like those Syba adapters aren't available in UK where I am, can only find these which I am using at the moment: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B098D9MZ5 … 1?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I guess I can give a 512 MB "industrial" CF card a try.

I've gotten those to work before too.

Just make sure the jumper is set correctly (master/slave) or try both positions.

kleung21 wrote on 2022-02-12, 10:12:

I've gotten those to work before too.

Just make sure the jumper is set correctly (master/slave) or try both positions.

I tried that, in the master/slave position I get the 1790 Disk 0 Error but in any other position (or removed completely) it gets the disk controller error, so I guess it must be the CF card then.

djsubtronic wrote on 2022-02-12, 13:21:

kleung21 wrote on 2022-02-12, 10:12:

I've gotten those to work before too.

Just make sure the jumper is set correctly (master/slave) or try both positions.

I tried that, in the master/slave position I get the 1790 Disk 0 Error but in any other position (or removed completely) it gets the disk controller error, so I guess it must be the CF card then.

Ok, I've made a video showing how I get a CF-IDE adapter working in the Compaq LTE Elite.

The video demonstrates using a second system to format a bootable CF card with system files. (fdisk => format => sys).

I have gotten this working with other CF-IDE adapters (the cheapie ones). Be careful that the ribbon cable does not have a tear when you were disassembling the drive bay.

Video how to install CF bootable card for Compaq LTE Elite systems.
https://youtu.be/tc_Kd7r6ois

kleung21 wrote on 2022-02-12, 20:30:

Ok, I've made a video showing how I get a CF-IDE adapter working in the Compaq LTE Elite. […]
Show full quote

Ok, I've made a video showing how I get a CF-IDE adapter working in the Compaq LTE Elite.

The video demonstrates using a second system to format a bootable CF card with system files. (fdisk => format => sys).

I have gotten this working with other CF-IDE adapters (the cheapie ones). Be careful that the ribbon cable does not have a tear when you were disassembling the drive bay.

Video how to install CF bootable card for Compaq LTE Elite systems.
https://youtu.be/tc_Kd7r6ois

Thanks so much for this. I followed this exactly (only difference being I used MS-DOS 6.22, I assume you used 6.0? And of course the CF card is a normal one), but still no joy... I get this screen attached. I don't get the notification that the HDD type has been detected/set. Did your CF card have the BIOS/DIAG partition on it already maybe?

And when I press F1 to boot I just get "missing operating system".

No , the hard drive/CF card was fdisk wiped and formatted when I did the install .

Ensure that the card / configuration boots in another system if you have access to one for testing. If you follow the links on CF cards; I believe some have to be set to boot / fixed disk mode somehow but it's always just worked for me.

My only thoughts are a bad CF card/adapter. I would do a visual inspection for damage on the CF card, adapter and the hd sled/flex cable.

I'm afraid to say that does happen sometimes(A Sinloon adapter [all ide pins soldered on one side of the board] that I bought for this system had to be returned to Amazon for non-working/incompatibility - I don't know why it didnt' work - just refused; a subsequent Trand brand CF-IDE worked [circuit board is sandwiched by ide connector pins]). The I got the Syba adapter and other than requiring the pin removal mod; that has worked in subsequent testing on this system and others (toshiba pentium class laptops).

When playing with these retro systems, you really do need both a) luck; b) knowledge and c) an inventory of parts to try.

I have bought at least 3 non-compatible CF-IDE adapters (40 pin desktop) in the past. It's quirky.

BTW - if ANYONE is reading this and decides to buy the Syba CF-IDE adapter; please note that the models I received had an extra pin on it (read the reviews on amazon) and I had to clip off the pin. Since it's a big deal, make sure to measure thrice, cut once and make sure you have the right pin to remove. This only applies if your female/ide connector has a block on one of the pins (for orientation); not all systems did that.

You wiped the primary DOS partition but it's possible maybe the diag partition was still there?

I put the exact same caddy/adapter/card combo in a different laptop (Compaq LTE 5000) and it boots fine.

djsubtronic wrote on 2022-02-13, 02:09:

You wiped the primary DOS partition but it's possible maybe the diag partition was still there?

I put the exact same caddy/adapter/card combo in a different laptop (Compaq LTE 5000) and it boots fine.

Sorry for the bad news but...

Honestly, it feels like an incompatible CF card or adapter. OR hardware failure.

The 16mb cf card never had the diagnostic partition installed (that was the first time I used it as a boot drive on the LTE Elite).

Fdisk did not show any other partitions (which it would if there was a diagnostic partition).

1) If you can borrow another cf-ide adapter AND a new cf card; try that first. Especially the cf card; try a small one UNDER 1 gb (i've tested with 16mb and 512 mb)
(maybe show us a picture of your cf card and adapter)

2) If you haven't yet, consider disassembling the laptop to look inside to make sure you don't have cmos battery leakage / internal damage that might have damaged the motherboard. Look at the traces and such.

It's a shame but of all the retro computers I've purchased; over half had issues simply due to age (mainly bad floppies, bad lcd, bad hard drives, wierd bios issues, etc...)

djsubtronic wrote on 2022-02-13, 02:09:

You wiped the primary DOS partition but it's possible maybe the diag partition was still there?

I put the exact same caddy/adapter/card combo in a different laptop (Compaq LTE 5000) and it boots fine.

Final thought, maybe throw out some messages on the "Compaq LTE & Armada Owners" facebook group. Although I suspect many of the members are on this forum already.

Still, I'm sure someone will have had the same problem.

Thanks for all your help. I'm going to give it one more try with a 512 MB industrial CF card once it arrives, and see how that goes. If not then I'll see how much will I have to continue trying to revive the laptop else I might just get rid of it.

djsubtronic wrote on 2022-02-13, 21:07:

Thanks for all your help. I'm going to give it one more try with a 512 MB industrial CF card once it arrives, and see how that goes. If not then I'll see how much will I have to continue trying to revive the laptop else I might just get rid of it.

I have been using SD to IDE adapters alot.
Might be worth a try as well (have not tested on this specific machine yet.

You should then be able to just write my image to a 1GB sd card in theory 🤔

Something like this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Scheda-SD-Micro-SD-a … 5-/124439009261