Compaq DeskPro M series - Mega Thread - Call for community support \ VOGONS

Compaq DeskPro M series - Mega Thread - Call for community support

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First post, by NightShadowPT

Posted on 2023-07-30, 07:41

NightShadowPT Offline

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Hi,

I started this thread in search of a manual for the Compaq Deskpro/M series, but it has since grown into a mega threat about this Compaq model launched in 1991 with "Intelligent Modularity". It covers processors from the 386/25 to the Pentium/66 (I have attached a photo of my system below for reference).

The purpose of this thread is to help owners of the DeskPro/M computers by aggregating manuals, spec sheets, documents, videos, etc., all in one place about this computer.

The main "missing in action" at the moment are the Manuals, as they don't seem to be available anywhere online.

I would like to make a call for help to the community to assist me in identifying more resources of interest for this machine. Above all, if anyone can help with the digitization of the manuals (or has a physical manual they can part with), that would be amazing.

Here are some interesting resources related with the Compaq DeskPro/M series of computers:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Manuals:
- Missing in Action

Product Sheets:
- The Compaq Deskpro/M Family of Personal Computers (1992)
- Deskpro 386/25M Brochure (1992)
- Deskpro 486/33M Brochure (1992)
- Deskpro 486s/16M Brochure (1992)
- Deskpro 486s/25M Brochure (1992)
- Deskpro 50M Brochure (486DX2/50) (1992)
- Deskpro 66M Brochure (486DX2/66) (1992)
- Compaq Deskpro/M Windows Edition (1992)
- QVision 1024/E Graphics System

Tech Sheets and other tech :
- Compaq Deskpro M Family - A 2 page document from 1996 that contains very high level information on the systems - useful for identifying the part numbers of the various available upgrades.
- Deskpro/M Family Quick Reference Guide - Web page containing information similar to the previous document, but in some cases it has additional detail on the boards.
- Power Supply Pinout Information - Because the power supply for these machines is proprietary and very hard to find, this valuable information can help those in a pintch.
- Power Supply Recap Details - Very useful post here at Vogons detailing the power supply recap procedure.
- Compaq Computer Buying Price List

Magazine references:
- Article from PC Magazine about upgrade paths for the Compaq Deskpro/M Family (1994) - An article from PC Magazine Vol.13 number 19 from November 1994 focusing on the available upgrade paths for these computers, highlighting the pros and cons.
- AD Featuring the Deskpro/M, the ProLinea and the Deskpro/i

Videos:
- Compaq DeskPro/M promotional video - An 11 minute promotional video from Compaq that shows how different (and over engineered) these machines where for their time. Fascinating watch.
- Recuperation of a Compaq Deskpro 386/25M - The video is not too technical, but has some good shots of the components inside the machine. Also, it's always good to see a machine like this brought back to life.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I will be updating the links in this post if/when I get more information.

Thanks in advance.

------------------
Thanks to the following contributors:
Ydee - For most of the Product Sheet links
pentiumspeed - For the link to the Power Supply Pinout
maxtherabbit - For the link to the Power Supply recap thread

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Last edited by NightShadowPT on 2023-08-10, 06:19. Edited 8 times in total.

NightShadowPT
----------------
Compaq Deskpro M 486/66 - 64MB Ram - Compaq QVision 1MB - Orpheus II Sound
Card - 4GB SCSI HDD + 4GB CF Card - SCSI CD-ROM Plextor PX-32TSi - Adaptec WideSCSI AHA-2740W - 3COM Etherlink III Card

Reply 1 of 9, by Ydee

Posted on 2023-07-30, 08:07

Ydee Offline

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I dont know, if there is M series too, but some info has one of our members here: https://minuszerodegrees.net/manuals/Compaq/C … ice%20Guide.pdf
Another docs possible here: https://www.pcjs.org/machines/pcx86/compaq/deskpro386/ and here: https://manualmachine.com/compaq/

Reply 2 of 9, by NightShadowPT

Posted on 2023-07-30, 08:54

NightShadowPT Offline

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Ydee wrote on 2023-07-30, 08:07:

I dont know, if there is M series too, but some info has one of our members here: https://minuszerodegrees.net/manuals/Compaq/C … ice%20Guide.pdf
Another docs possible here: https://www.pcjs.org/machines/pcx86/compaq/deskpro386/ and here: https://manualmachine.com/compaq/

Hi, thanks for sharing those links.

The first two links are for the original Compaq Deskpro machine, and the later has manuals for the Deskpro 1000, 2000 and EN series, but unfortunately not the "M" Series

Reply 3 of 9, by Ydee

Posted on 2023-07-30, 09:31

Ydee Offline

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I'm sorry I couldn't help you more, here is some info too, but unfortunately no manual: https://www.1000bit.it/js/web/viewer.html?fil … f#zoom=page-fit (more product sheets on website: https://www.1000bit.it/ad/bro/brochures.asp?id=11, at bottom of page)

Reply 4 of 9, by pentiumspeed

Posted on 2023-07-30, 13:46

pentiumspeed Offline

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Location: Great Northern: Canada.

About the Deskpro/M power supply pinout. Power supply board is replaceable but *extreme rare*. Secnd, which is unusual since nearly all other computers had power supply in a metal box replaced with another.

Re: Compaq power supply pinouts archive. (from 8088, 286 and 386, 486, and pentium era ISA and EISA era, UPDATED

Cheers,

Great Northern aka Canada.

Reply 5 of 9, by NightShadowPT

Posted on 2023-07-30, 16:16

NightShadowPT Offline

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Ydee wrote on 2023-07-30, 09:31:

I'm sorry I couldn't help you more, here is some info too, but unfortunately no manual: https://www.1000bit.it/js/web/viewer.html?fil … f#zoom=page-fit (more product sheets on website: https://www.1000bit.it/ad/bro/brochures.asp?id=11, at bottom of page)

Not at all, I am very grateful for your interest and help.
I have just updated the main post with the information I've found on the link you provided.
Thank you so much.

pentiumspeed wrote on 2023-07-30, 13:46:

About the Deskpro/M power supply pinout. Power supply board is replaceable but *extreme rare*. Secnd, which is unusual since nearly all other computers had power supply in a metal box replaced with another.

Re: Compaq power supply pinouts archive. (from 8088, 286 and 386, 486, and pentium era ISA and EISA era, UPDATED

Cheers,

Thanks, I've added the link to the original post

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To anyone else that reads this post and may have the original manuals : Scanning the manual can be done using a mobile phone and an App in just 10min or so - Consider doing it to help the community - let me know if you need help on what to do/use.

Reply 6 of 9, by NightShadowPT

Posted on 2023-08-02, 08:18

NightShadowPT Offline

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- Updated the first post to better reflect the purpose of this thread.
- Added an 11 minute promotional video from Compaq highlighting the design process of the DeskPro/M and the Inteligent Modularity concept.

Reply 7 of 9, by maxtherabbit

Posted on 2023-08-02, 19:15

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Here are two more historic threads on here that I had in my saved list:

Help - PSU schematic for Compaq Deskpro 386/25M
This one details the power supply recap procedure. These Nippon Chemicon SXF caps they used are known to leak.

Compaq Deskpro M and XL models.
General information

Reply 8 of 9, by NightShadowPT

Posted on 2023-08-04, 15:24

NightShadowPT Offline

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maxtherabbit wrote on 2023-08-02, 19:15:
Here are two more historic threads on here that I had in my saved list: […]
Show full quote

Here are two more historic threads on here that I had in my saved list:

Help - PSU schematic for Compaq Deskpro 386/25M
This one details the power supply recap procedure. These Nippon Chemicon SXF caps they used are known to leak.

Compaq Deskpro M and XL models.
General information

Thanks @maxtherabbit ! Appreciate the contribution.

I have added the very useful Power Supply recap thread to the list.
The other one I did not add as it does not seem to contain much for the M series that is not already covered in the other links.

Reply 9 of 9, by NightShadowPT

Posted on 2023-08-10, 06:20

NightShadowPT Offline

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Rank: Member
Posts: 108
Joined: 2020-09-14, 14:35

Added a video with a recuperation of a Deskpro 386/25M machine.

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