Just run sp20948.exe at the DOS prompt - it'll prompt you for a formatted floppy to copy the files onto and then you reboot the macine with this floppy which will upgrade the BIOS.

The only fixes listed for this BIOS are...

- Fixes embedded keypad issues so users can press Fn+key to access the embedded keypad.
- Fixes Microsoft Optical (5 button) pointing device detection issues.
- Fixes a problem with the drive lock password.

PC Hoarder Patrol wrote on 2024-09-19, 03:25:

Just run sp20948.exe at the DOS prompt - it'll prompt you for a formatted floppy to copy the files onto and then you reboot the […]
Show full quote

Just run sp20948.exe at the DOS prompt - it'll prompt you for a formatted floppy to copy the files onto and then you reboot the macine with this floppy which will upgrade the BIOS.

The only fixes listed for this BIOS are...

- Fixes embedded keypad issues so users can press Fn+key to access the embedded keypad.
- Fixes Microsoft Optical (5 button) pointing device detection issues.
- Fixes a problem with the drive lock password.

thanks a lot, i will do it. If it doesnt fix it. Do you have any idea why the fn and brightness key do nothing. F9 = brightness down F10= brightness. But that does nothing at all. A few other key for other function work with fn.

PC Hoarder Patrol wrote on 2024-09-19, 03:25:

Just run sp20948.exe at the DOS prompt - it'll prompt you for a formatted floppy to copy the files onto and then you reboot the […]
Show full quote

Just run sp20948.exe at the DOS prompt - it'll prompt you for a formatted floppy to copy the files onto and then you reboot the macine with this floppy which will upgrade the BIOS.

The only fixes listed for this BIOS are...

- Fixes embedded keypad issues so users can press Fn+key to access the embedded keypad.
- Fixes Microsoft Optical (5 button) pointing device detection issues.
- Fixes a problem with the drive lock password.

it doesnt work. It says that program cant be run in dos.

I think i will try uniflash for dos. I hope i will not destroy it.

Any idea guys ? thanks

renejr902 wrote on 2024-09-19, 03:44:

it doesnt work. It says that program cant be run in dos. […]
Show full quote

PC Hoarder Patrol wrote on 2024-09-19, 03:25:

Just run sp20948.exe at the DOS prompt - it'll prompt you for a formatted floppy to copy the files onto and then you reboot the […]
Show full quote

Just run sp20948.exe at the DOS prompt - it'll prompt you for a formatted floppy to copy the files onto and then you reboot the macine with this floppy which will upgrade the BIOS.

The only fixes listed for this BIOS are...

- Fixes embedded keypad issues so users can press Fn+key to access the embedded keypad.
- Fixes Microsoft Optical (5 button) pointing device detection issues.
- Fixes a problem with the drive lock password.

it doesnt work. It says that program cant be run in dos.

I think i will try uniflash for dos. I hope i will not destroy it.

Any idea guys ? thanks

Seems SP20948 is intended for remote installation only...try SP20947 instead

PC Hoarder Patrol wrote on 2024-09-19, 04:30:

renejr902 wrote on 2024-09-19, 03:44:

it doesnt work. It says that program cant be run in dos. […]
Show full quote

PC Hoarder Patrol wrote on 2024-09-19, 03:25:

Just run sp20948.exe at the DOS prompt - it'll prompt you for a formatted floppy to copy the files onto and then you reboot the […]
Show full quote

Just run sp20948.exe at the DOS prompt - it'll prompt you for a formatted floppy to copy the files onto and then you reboot the macine with this floppy which will upgrade the BIOS.

The only fixes listed for this BIOS are...

- Fixes embedded keypad issues so users can press Fn+key to access the embedded keypad.
- Fixes Microsoft Optical (5 button) pointing device detection issues.
- Fixes a problem with the drive lock password.

it doesnt work. It says that program cant be run in dos.

I think i will try uniflash for dos. I hope i will not destroy it.

Any idea guys ? thanks

Seems SP20948 is intended for remote installation only...try SP20947 instead

The attachment sp20947.exe is no longer available

Thanks so much i try it now and let you know
i fear to use uniflash i didnt try it.

Right now i burning a copy of my original win98 disc for my laptop, it has difficulty reading it.

PC Hoarder Patrol wrote on 2024-09-19, 04:30:

renejr902 wrote on 2024-09-19, 03:44:

it doesnt work. It says that program cant be run in dos. […]
Show full quote

PC Hoarder Patrol wrote on 2024-09-19, 03:25:

Just run sp20948.exe at the DOS prompt - it'll prompt you for a formatted floppy to copy the files onto and then you reboot the […]
Show full quote

Just run sp20948.exe at the DOS prompt - it'll prompt you for a formatted floppy to copy the files onto and then you reboot the macine with this floppy which will upgrade the BIOS.

The only fixes listed for this BIOS are...

- Fixes embedded keypad issues so users can press Fn+key to access the embedded keypad.
- Fixes Microsoft Optical (5 button) pointing device detection issues.
- Fixes a problem with the drive lock password.

it doesnt work. It says that program cant be run in dos.

I think i will try uniflash for dos. I hope i will not destroy it.

Any idea guys ? thanks

Seems SP20948 is intended for remote installation only...try SP20947 instead

The attachment sp20947.exe is no longer available

is says again dos only, but i extracted the file on my desktop pc and copy the folders with all files in my compaq laptop ide hhd, and run the QRST5.exe file from dos and that utility copy the bios update on floppy disk. and boot the 1.44 floppy disk in it. and choose update. It works. Thanks a lot. But the brightness fn keys still doesnt work. i will try install win98, because a few talked about a driver update in win98 that got fn keys working. but i dont think it will work.

i think it should have a problem with backlight. A lot of people would find the brightness ok for them, but i like more brightness. i tried to take a picture to show you the brightness of the lcd screen but my phone brighter the screen a lot really too much on the picture. Thanks a lot again.

If someone know why the brightness fn key up and down dont work, let me know please. Hope you guys have any ideas !

I installed win98 and compaq fn buttons shorcut, 2 different drivers. and yes the fn keys work in win98, a square in middle of the screen appears for control brightness. and its more bright, unbelievable. Its not ultra bright, but its atleast acceptable for me. So i didnt lose my time. It seems it changes the hardware brightness of the laptop. In my duat boot with dos 6.22 the brightness seems as bright as windows 98 or dos in command prompt of win98.

I'm really surprised. Its the first time i have to change the brightness of a vintage laptop with the help of windows only. But it stay in dos 6.22 when i choosing it at dual boot. Even the laptop boot screen with the word compaq is brighter. Thanks for your previous help PC Hoarder Patrol, it was really appreciated 😀

renejr902 wrote on 2024-09-19, 08:56:

I installed win98 and compaq fn buttons shorcut, 2 different drivers. and yes the fn keys work in win98, a square in middle of the screen appears for control brightness. and its more bright, unbelievable. Its not ultra bright, but its atleast acceptable for me. So i didnt lose my time. It seems it changes the hardware brightness of the laptop. In my duat boot with dos 6.22 the brightness seems as bright as windows 98 or dos in command prompt of win98.

I'm really surprised. Its the first time i have to change the brightness of a vintage laptop with the help of windows only. But it stay in dos 6.22 when i choosing it at dual boot. Even the laptop boot screen with the word compaq is brighter. Thanks for your previous help PC Hoarder Patrol, it was really appreciated 😀

Haha that's great you found it 😀 I had exactly the same thing with my Compaq N600C, I thought the CCFL was bad but once the OS was installed and I could finally use the soft-keys to set the brightness it became usable again.

The screen brightness is probably set in Windows then kept in the CMOS, hence why these things look so dim when being used after a few years when the CMOS battery gets replaced

I have a compaq of similar vintage. The way the brightness control work is that you press fn-f10 and then use the cursor up and cursor down keys to change the brightness. Once done, press fn-f10 again. I'm not saying it works the same way for sure on your laptop, but it's worthwhile trying...

EduBat wrote on 2024-09-20, 00:53:

I have a compaq of similar vintage. The way the brightness control work is that you press fn-f10 and then use the cursor up and cursor down keys to change the brightness. Once done, press fn-f10 again. I'm not saying it works the same way for sure on your laptop, but it's worthwhile trying...

Thanks for information. i will try it later.
Thanks Thermalwrong for your answer its was really appreciated 😀