so i recently picked this up at a place in town for 30$. its kinda... in Rough shape (original HDD clicks, the CDROM doesn't really want to read much [could be dirty lens]) so i wanted to restore this.

i replaced the dead HDD w/ a CompactFlash Solution, (the only 44Pin 2.5" drive i had was only 1.2GB, and strangely i didn't have Issues... that i am now) and im running into a issue i hadn't before in any Windows 98 build i have made..

under Performance in System properties
"Compatibility-Mode paging reduces overall performance"
"Drive C is using MS-DOS compatibility Mode file system"

in Device manager, for IDE Controllers, i do see "Compaq PCI IDE" but "Primary IDE controller (dual fifo)" has a yellow [!] and basically "this device is either not present, not working properly, or does not have all the drivers installed" but Secondary IDE Controller has no problems listed. and its CD-ROM Drive wont show up in windows.

and unless this needs something on it's hard drive inorder to access it... i cant enter Bios settings no matter how much or How fast i spam F1, F2, DEL, or F12/F11

Anyone know WHY the laptop is running in the Compatibility Modes? is this litteraly just down to that CF to 2.5" 44Pin IDE adapter not playing ball w/ 98?