HELP - Compaq LTE Elite 4/50cx - how to repair/replace hard drive flex cable/caddy. \ VOGONS

HELP - Compaq LTE Elite 4/50cx - how to repair/replace hard drive flex cable/caddy.

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First post, by kleung21

Posted on 2021-02-14, 08:50

kleung21 Offline

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Location: Richmond Hill, Ontario

Hi there All,

So, I managed to pick up a funcitoning Compaq LTE Elite 4/50cx.

It's in fair shape with the broken floppy drive.

So, I wanted to get your opinions. It has a standard IDE hard drive BUT uses a caddy with flex cable/proprietary connector. Unfortunately, the flex cable is torn/breaking down. FOr some reason, the laptop still works even with it partially torn.

Is there a resource for these cables/replacement or repair.

I got a picture of an equivalent caddy to show where it is torn. Otherwise, the system is still running ok for a 1992 manufactured system. I was thinking that someone here MUST have some experience with these things. Solder custom cable? I mean, it uses a standard hard drive and the cable MUST simply reroute pins. Nevertheless, frustrating.

Thank you in advance for your advice.

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Reply 1 of 6, by kleung21

Posted on 2021-02-21, 20:43

kleung21 Offline

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Location: Richmond Hill, Ontario

BUMP up.

Conversely, if anyone can tell me about the connector, I could probably solder in an IDE extension cable/...

The problem is that compaq connector type. I don't recognize it. Any thoughts from the Compaq lte specialists

Reply 2 of 6, by pentiumspeed

Posted on 2021-02-21, 22:32

pentiumspeed Offline

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This can be repaired by scraping away gently till see copper then solder small strand of wire to jumper over these then use kapton or similar to insulate.

Cheers,

Great Northern aka Canada.

Reply 3 of 6, by kleung21

Posted on 2021-02-22, 21:20

kleung21 Offline

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Joined: 2021-02-10, 05:12
Location: Richmond Hill, Ontario

Thank you. I'd really like to get the 486 to work/upgrade the drive.

THe stock 330mb hard drive is slow and loud and one of the wonderful things about 386/486 systems is that they could run fan free/silent.

I'll update the board if I end up getting it working

*** UPDATE

took it apart and swapped in a CF-IDE adapter. Working well.

Interestingly, the torn flex cable had already been repaired/jumpered by the previous owner.

I ended up adding addtional kaptop tape to reinforce the cable.

Reply 4 of 6, by kleung21

Posted on 2021-04-04, 04:25

kleung21 Offline

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Joined: 2021-02-10, 05:12
Location: Richmond Hill, Ontario

Additional update.

Found that both syba CF=> IDE and generic CF=>IDE adapters seem to work fine with the laptop.

I had trouble getting a 4gb CF card to run. According to this web page, only drives of 1gb or smaller are supported.

I've tested 512mb CF, 192mb CF and 96mb CF and they all boot so I think that's true.

Peetz0r has done an amazing job in documenting this laptop and his mods.
https://revspace.nl/Compaq_LTE_Elite_4/50E

UPDATE: April 25, 2021 - for future knowledge base. I ordered 1gb CF cards from Ebay (cheap no-name brands) and indeed, they were recognized and booted up immediately in the system. Thus, the 4/50cx can be confirmed to support up to 1gb CF cards natively. I have NOT tested 2gb. But 4gb has been tested and does not work.

Reply 5 of 6, by randomnojutsu

Posted on 2021-05-28, 04:19

randomnojutsu Offline

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Hi there,

I'm in a similar boat... or a bit worse - I have no caddy at all, and am trying to figure out the easiest storage solution. Can anyone recommend anything? I have an LTE 5400. I attached an image of the port in the hard drive bay.

ty! 😄
-Erika

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Reply 6 of 6, by kleung21

Posted on 2022-02-07, 08:12

kleung21 Offline

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Location: Richmond Hill, Ontario

randomnojutsu wrote on 2021-05-28, 04:19:
Hi there, […]
Show full quote

Hi there,

I'm in a similar boat... or a bit worse - I have no caddy at all, and am trying to figure out the easiest storage solution. Can anyone recommend anything? I have an LTE 5400. I attached an image of the port in the hard drive bay.

ty! 😄
-Erika

I'm afraid that the hard drive sleds are proprietary even thought it takes standard laptop IDE drives.

In case you do find a drive sled and decide to convert to CF-IDE adapter; please note that only 1gb cards are supported in the LTE Elite. I believe the LTE 5000 series support greater drive size options (at least up to 8gb if memory serves correctly)>

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