Reviving old Deskpro 286

[wment]

I am trying to get an old Deskpro 286 running. I have gotten the memory error corrected by reseating the 8 banks (2megs) of 256k chips. I am now getting a message to insert a setup disk and press any key to continue. If I press a key I get system disk not found. I do not have any setup or diag disks, where can one be found. The computer has a 287 co-processor, aVDU and a floppy/IDE controller with a type 2 drive.

Thanks

wm

[mdklassen]

> I am now getting a message to insert a setup disk and press any key to continue.

> If I press a key I get system disk not found.

> I do not have any setup or diag disks, where can one be found?

In a Computer Museum ?  

> The computer has a 287 co-processor, a VDU [Video Display Unit] and a floppy/IDE controller with a type 2 drive.

Does your computer have 8-inch, 5.25-inch, or 3.5-inch "floppy" diskette device(s)?

Do you have at least one "blank" media, to store anything you might download?

Does the computer have a working disk-drive, to store any "installed" operating-system?

You are looking for an original "MS DOS" Installation Diskette.

Or, see: HP PCs - Frequently Asked Questions About FreeDOS

for a hyperlink to download the FreeDOS operating system.

It is "open-source" software.

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi, @wment

I have attached an old advertisement for the HP Deskpro 286 for your information.

[wment]

My configuration is:

Motherboard:    80286,     2Megs Ram on motherboard,   80287 math coprocessor

                         Phaser Processor Brd

                         Assy 000702-001  Rev-D

                         Roms:  106970-002        106971-002        106436-001

Video:               VDU  ga3      Assy 000525

Floppy/Ser/Prt/Winchester:

                         Assy  000336-002 rev AD,   000337-000,    000338-001   rev K  (all of these #s on brd)

Hard Drive:       IDE Connor type 2

Floppies:          3.5"  &   5.25"

Tape Backup:   Irwin 110

The system is asking for a setup disk and will not boot from HD, says no bootable disk found.

The product info on the back of the case:  Compaq Deskpro

I think this is an upgraded 8086 to a 80286

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

As mdklassen posted yesterday, he provided you with a link to create bootable FreeDOS media using floppy disks.

http://www.freedos.org/download/

When I made a set of MS DOS bootable floppies over 20 years ago, I believe I needed 4 floppy disks to do that.

The above FreeDOS media should work with your PC.

The setup disk the PC is probably looking for, would be Disk 1 for the operating system.

[wment]

The setup disk sets the cmos to recognise the hard drive and other drivers too. I am having trouble getting FreeDos. It appears it needs a CD or USB port. I have neither.

Thanks for the old Ad.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

OK, so you actually need the BIOS setup disk.

Unfortunately, I have no idea where you can get that.

I also looked further into the FreeDOS OS, and it appears that it needs quite a bit of disk space.

You may be better off getting a set of old MS DOS floppies from eBay if you don't already have a set.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Microsoft-MS-DOS-6-2-Plus-Enhanced-Tools-Operating-System-Software-3-Disc-S...

This forum member was looking for the same disk, but to no avail...

https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Desktops-Archive-Read-Only/Need-BIOS-Setup-disk-for-old-Compaq-deskpro...

[Paul_Tikkanen]

I came across this...

Check it out...

https://forum.winworldpc.com/discussion/8321/compaq-portable-286-diagnostics-diskette

The download links on the discussion still work.

[wment]

This looks promising. Wish me luck.

Thanks

Wayne

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime, Wayne.

Please post back and let us know if you were able to fire up your old PC again.

Paul