Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!ames!lll-lcc!pyramid!infmx!kevinf
From: kevinf@infmx.UUCP (Kevin Franden)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: HELP!!!
Summary: compaqs BIOS and architechre
Keywords: anybody wanna buy a used oxide planer?
Message-ID: <889@infmx.UUCP>
Date: 13 Feb 89 21:55:55 GMT
References: <105@toybox.UUCP>
Organization: Informix Software Inc., Menlo Park, CA.
Lines: 30

In article <105@toybox.UUCP>, msa@toybox.UUCP (Mark Anacker) writes:
> []
> HELP!!!
	{stuff deleted}

>   has anyone out there managed to get a non-Compaq disk to
>   work?  Or, have you been able to use a non-Compaq controller and
>   a more standard drive?  I tried installing an IBM AT controller,
>   but it hangs in the POST.



Welcome to the world of Compaq hardware failure!!!  Compaq makes good stuff
but when it dies you better have a BIG jar of vasoline!!! I priced 30 meg
hdd's about 3 months ago and they were REDICULOUSLY high ($1100+).

You can't use a "generic" IBM hd with a compaq because you need compaq's 
controller card and you can't use a compaq controller card in a non-compaq
machine because you need compaq's BIOS (they have written their own BIOS to 
squeeze a bit more speed out ot these frequently called routines) and naturally
you need compaq's motherboard to use their BIOS 'cause it is dependent on
compaq's architechure.

Looks like you will either need to pay up or find a hot compaq drive to 
install yourself!


K. Franden
Informix Software Inc.
(I said what I said and not my employer)