Comments on: Installing Windows 3.1 / 3.11 on the Portable 386

By: mark

mark — Sat, 25 Oct 2025 19:06:43 +0000

i have a compaq laptop when i was 1994 still works

By: Mike Lycett

Mike Lycett — Wed, 13 Jul 2022 19:54:53 +0000

In reply to Retropaq.

Hi just saw you mention you might have a spare 386 board.
I know this is a year later but would you happen to still have it?
I’d be interested in the upgrade path.

By: Retropaq

Retropaq — Wed, 19 May 2021 20:39:14 +0000

In reply to Joe Lyman. Ah yes, the jumper for MDA / CGA - I forgot to have that in there. If you are using the expansion box to run a ISA VGA card, the MDA / CGA switch needs to be set, but I can remember which setting works best with external graphics cards.

By: Joe Lyman

Joe Lyman — Wed, 19 May 2021 20:11:56 +0000

When I first attempted the install, the installer would just quit part way through. When I’d attempt to restart it, I would get a notice telling me that the installer failed previously because of a display incompatibility.

What I found was, the Compaq Portable 386 has two video modes for the gas plasma display, CGA and MDA. This is configured via a jumper behind the back panel.

If anyone has issues installing this on the Compaq Portable 386, you may need to remove your back panel and set jumper E23 to pins 1/2. If E23 is set to pins 2/3, install will fail. On my Compaq, the jumper settings are printed inside the back panel.

I changed the jumper, and it worked like a charm!

By: Carlos

Carlos — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 13:10:22 +0000

In reply to Retropaq. Tempting offer but think I’ll keep it as is since it’s my only ‘286 system.