Rename the CFG file and see if it configures. You may have to change the ID number in the file itself too. Its possible the ROM with the ID number went bad.

Yeah, I think so too. I did try changing the filename and everything inside the CFG, but the installation failed with a mismatch error. The card is probably a bust in that regard.

Are you sure you are uploading the right config file for the right card?

There were many softpaq files released for many a different hardware. I have around three different types of Compaq EISA graphics cards and each with different softpaqs if I recall.

I couldn't find any manufacturer with ID's starting with !DHQ from all the CFG sites I found. The card is exactly as pictured in my first post and should ID as normal !CPQ series card. I really don't know what else to suspect than a faulty card? 😕

edit: Just to clear things up, only the graphics card is from Compaq, not the computer. Mainboard is a Mylex MAE486.

Was this ever resolved? Having the same issue.

Usually the EISA equipped compaq computers has list of softpaqs for each computer model and I happen to have the one of these donwloaded into my archive.

http://vogonsdrivers.com/getfile.php?fileid=1520&menustate=0

Re: EISA Graphics / Video Cards

Also open the text file and parse the text by search function in browser.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc … ZMTsOV5OdBxXmsC

Cheers,

I didn't expect a reply so soon - I trial and errored it until I found a version that works.

http://66.113.161.23/~mR_Slug/EISA/!CPQ3001.CFG/1991-11-06/

My next bet was to manually edit "line 11" and change the values.

All good resources. Now I have to figure out why the new battery isn't keeping the CMOS settings. I'm not an expert here - What kind of chip should I keep an eye out for, if there even is a general consensus (it's an AMIBIOS chip on a 486, not sure if the backup power goes there?) or a chip ID I should look out for? Worst case, I'll pull up a datasheet and solder the backup power directly to where it needs to go from the battery.

Looking at pictures of the MAE486 board online there's two Dallas RTC chips, one is for the EISA (the "DS1225Y nonvolatile SRAM") config the other for the RTC and BIOS settings (the classic "DS1287 Real Time"), these two chips have integrated batteries.

A common fix is to file down the chip's package to expose the battery contacts and "piggyback" a new battery on the contacts, otherwise there are some drop-in replacements that can be found.

Bit of a mystery that on the EISA config file, as DHQ is one of the PNPIDs allocated to Quadram Corporation - maybe these Compaq boards somehow passed thru Quadrams old EISA / MCA board division?

Vynix wrote on 2021-03-25, 02:02:

Looking at pictures of the MAE486 board online there's two Dallas RTC chips, one is for the EISA (the "DS1225Y nonvolatile SRAM") config the other for the RTC and BIOS settings (the classic "DS1287 Real Time"), these two chips have integrated batteries.

A common fix is to file down the chip's package to expose the battery contacts and "piggyback" a new battery on the contacts, otherwise there are some drop-in replacements that can be found.

The good ol' coin cell on the top - done that conversion dozens of times, so far no fatalities (one was pretty close though!)

This is mine - standard barrel battery (replaced, no leaks!) and just an AMIBIOS chip. As far as my understanding goes, that's where time/date and CHS is kept? If so, then it's also where the EISA stuff is kept. I just had to disconnect the battery for an hour or so because my EISA VGA card was not showing POST. It's all configured properly now.

pentiumspeed wrote on 2021-03-24, 23:26:

Usually the EISA equipped compaq computers has list of softpaqs for each computer model and I happen to have the one of these donwloaded into my archive.

http://vogonsdrivers.com/getfile.php?fileid=1520&menustate=0

Cheers,

Wonder if those will work on my bargain basement unit:

I think mine was not designed to be used in non OEM systems - look at the backplate offset:

Downloaded them, I'll give these a shot, thanks!

Jed118 wrote on 2021-03-25, 03:35:

The good ol' coin cell on the top - done that conversion dozens of times, so far no fatalities (one was pretty close though!) […]
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Vynix wrote on 2021-03-25, 02:02:

Looking at pictures of the MAE486 board online there's two Dallas RTC chips, one is for the EISA (the "DS1225Y nonvolatile SRAM") config the other for the RTC and BIOS settings (the classic "DS1287 Real Time"), these two chips have integrated batteries.

A common fix is to file down the chip's package to expose the battery contacts and "piggyback" a new battery on the contacts, otherwise there are some drop-in replacements that can be found.

The good ol' coin cell on the top - done that conversion dozens of times, so far no fatalities (one was pretty close though!)

This is mine - standard barrel battery (replaced, no leaks!) and just an AMIBIOS chip. As far as my understanding goes, that's where time/date and CHS is kept? If so, then it's also where the EISA stuff is kept. I just had to disconnect the battery for an hour or so because my EISA VGA card was not showing POST. It's all configured properly now.

Oh... Oh good lord I just realized, I was looking at the wrong board the whole time. Googling "Mylex MAE486" only gave me hits for larger full-size AT boards that had the typical nonvolatile SRAM and Dallas chips, not the one you have with the HiNT chipset. Well, regardless I'll still leave it up for those who have a EISA board with these Dallas chips then.

Such as this one (found on a thread on Reddit):

Yeah apparently a lot of EISA boards are like that, with two Dallas RTCs, from what I gather. Mine seems to be the odd one out of an already rare setup.