Isnt the Compaq Softpaq the BIOS?
I dont think there is a ROM based BIOS for these systems.

First you need to identify your mainboard, and to which model Compaq it belongs. Then use the corresponding image disks to install the BIOS on an empty drive. It will create a small partition at the start of a disk.

PD2JK wrote on 2024-01-06, 14:49:

First you need to identify your mainboard,

I have already identified the motherboard as being different from the models in all the documentation I can find, even though the machine is badged "Compaq Deskpro 2000" and the POST display says likewise.

bucket wrote on 2024-01-06, 23:22:

PD2JK wrote on 2024-01-06, 14:49:

First you need to identify your mainboard,

I have already identified the motherboard as being different from the models in all the documentation I can find, even though the machine is badged "Compaq Deskpro 2000" and the POST display says likewise.

Sounds more like the old Intel HX based boards - https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/compaq … ro-2000-pentium

If this seems like a better match to yours, try the attached Diagnostics/Setup package

That's my mobo - I could've sworn I came across those files before and didn't have any luck with them, but that may have been while I was chasing down another problem. We'll see if they work better.

If this version still doesn't play ball then see if you can get us a part number off the system board - I'd be expecting to see one of the following or very similar (last 3 digits might be slightly different)...

005505-101
005495-101
243048-001
243099-001
243111-001

PC Hoarder Patrol wrote on 2024-01-07, 09:36:

If this version still doesn't play ball then see if you can get us a part number off the system board - I'd be expecting to see one of the following or very similar (last 3 digits might be slightly different)...

the part # is 005505-013 rev BH
...which is on a sticker covering the original part #, 055505-101.

Seems right...so basically the layout as picc'd - that should be the correct setup/diag package then (confirmed against the archived support page for the Deskpro 2000 5166)

OK, I have the diagnostic partition set up. I imagine the earlier problems were related to an incompatibility with an 8GB drive I was using (even though the BIOS should support it).

So next came the process of installing DOS, finding a CDROM driver, and running Win98se setup. This was also a slow process due to most of the floppies I own being unreadable - or they work but for whatever reason, don't meet the requirements for a system disk. I was halted halfway through the 98 install with a "device not ready" error. I REALLY hope the problem is with my crusty, scratchy CD copy and not with the drive itself.

You can copy the Win98 folder off the CD onto the hard drive and run the install from there if you wanted.
Not only will you get any errors during the copy rather than the install itself but installing windows will be much quicker as well

The copy completed but there were still problems on install. Fortunately I found a second CD to point to.

Win98se is up and running, with some minor glitches. Video and audio are producing weird artifacts - stuttering and stuck lines - which might be a memory or CPU problem as much as anything else. The sound card is a Dell Creative AudioPCI that installed without a hitch, though it does seem to have some compatibility problems (which could be the old conundrum of running DOS games natively vs. in Windows).

I found some generic USB drivers for a card I found, so now I have a nice little card reader on the front panel of my DOS machine.

chinny22 wrote on 2024-01-09, 02:21:

You can copy the Win98 folder off the CD onto the hard drive and run the install from there if you wanted.
Not only will you get any errors during the copy rather than the install itself but installing windows will be much quicker as well

For Win9x it is allways a good idea to have the installation folder on the HDD.
Windows will ask for the installation media after any config change you make e.g. in network configuration.