VOGONS


First post, by Susanin79

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Hi all,

A colleague gifted me this interesting 286 portable. It hasn’t booted for a long time, so I’m starting a restoration/resurrection thread. I’ll document the entire process, share photos, measurements, and (hopefully) some background info I can gather about this model.

WALTERS LP-3300. Estimated production: ~1989
Also seen under other badges / references:

  • WALKOM LP-3300
  • ABS LP-3300
  • Modern Computer Corp. LP-3300 (OEM)

Current configuration (as received)

  • CPU: AMD 80286, 12 MHz
  • FPU: Intel 80287XL
  • RAM: 4 MB DIP (appears to be an owner upgrade)
  • Chipset: Suntac ST62C00x
  • Display: EGA LCD (720×400 text)
  • HDD: Seagate ST1239A, 211 MB, 3.5" half-height, AT/IDE (owner upgrade)
  • Floppy: internal 3.5", external 5.25" support
  • Battery: 12 V, 3 Ah (original pack present, condition unknown)
  • Keyboard: full-size QWERTY
  • External video: monitor output supports MDA/CGA/EGA (to be confirmed during testing)
  • Extension 8 and 16 bit ISA slots

Reply 2 of 8, by Susanin79

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Here is a BIOS dump file:

EPROM type: ST M27C256B (27C256), 32 KiB x2
Layout: split even/odd
Combined image (64 KiB) hash: SHA-256 (EVEN_ODD): 82e72b00c7b48589fb33137cbbc20c262a80c93cc58dd34ce1dd487640334e14
Reset vector jump to F000:E05B
Embedded date string: 04/20/88

Reply 3 of 8, by rmay635703

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LGR did a video recently on a very very similar laptop under a different badge.

It’s a rather open style laptop that can use some desktop components

Reply 4 of 8, by BitWrangler

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So, are you sure you can handle all that binary brute force? 🤣

At least you get a choice of all three expensive and hard to find retro monitor types if you want an external. (A bit envious here because my clamshell era machine had an add-on interface module for external monitor, which of course it didn't have installed.)

Machines like this are great with integrated "works" productivity suites if you want a dose of boring utility, Works for DOS 2.0, Go! , multimate and others. You can be amazed how quick you can go between apps and interact between them, office 365 get bent.

Otherwise, I hope you like text adventures, heh. Meaning of course that the display refresh isn't really up to hard and fast action games, but they usually do alright with the slower paced ones when you get used to them. Protip, the warmer the screen in, the more responsive it is.

Unicorn herding operations are proceeding, but all the totes of hens teeth and barrels of rocking horse poop give them plenty of hiding spots.

Reply 5 of 8, by Susanin79

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rmay635703 wrote on Yesterday, 04:48:

LGR did a video recently on a very very similar laptop under a different badge.

It’s a rather open style laptop that can use some desktop components

Yes, I saw that video. This one is similar to that one. There is only difference that this has a built in power supply and native EGA screen resolution.

Reply 6 of 8, by Susanin79

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Started with full disassembly and closer motherboard review. Motherboard has a corrosion from a leaky battery.

Reply 7 of 8, by BitWrangler

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That's wild how it seems to be based around an ISA riser/backplane. Almost wonder if you can upgrade it to 386 or 486 with an industrial SBC card... but that's not the point.

Unicorn herding operations are proceeding, but all the totes of hens teeth and barrels of rocking horse poop give them plenty of hiding spots.

Reply 8 of 8, by Susanin79

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BitWrangler wrote on Today, 14:52:

That's wild how it seems to be based around an ISA riser/backplane. Almost wonder if you can upgrade it to 386 or 486 with an industrial SBC card... but that's not the point.

In theory this may be possible, the only concern, that the EGA card is not only an EGA and need for the laptop configuration, with the two DIP switches blocks you can configure the system (memory, IRQ, ext monitor, etc)