Comments on: The Hard Disk https://retropaq.com/the-hard-disk/ Retro & Vintage Compaq Computers & Other Vintage Technology Wed, 06 May 2026 03:56:34 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Greg https://retropaq.com/the-hard-disk/#comment-14014 Wed, 06 May 2026 03:56:34 +0000 https://retropaq.com/?p=148#comment-14014 Have you made a list of the replacement caps that make the Compaq 386 smell like fish?
I just got a new one and this one smalls like fish when powered on 🙁

]]> By: Ludovic https://retropaq.com/the-hard-disk/#comment-1286 Sun, 19 Sep 2021 01:39:41 +0000 https://retropaq.com/?p=148#comment-1286 Greetings
I’ve dismounted all parts including all plastic part, plasma screen board, opened psu…
Fine and compact dust… cleaned all, fan,…
Seems that all caps are not inflated. I do not change them for the moment.

Best regards.

]]> By: Retropaq https://retropaq.com/the-hard-disk/#comment-831 Tue, 20 Jul 2021 08:50:42 +0000 https://retropaq.com/?p=148#comment-831 In reply to Ludovic.

Hi there! Yes, these early Compaqs are built like tanks. The PSU is interchangeable between the Compaq Portable III and the Compaq Portable 386. Also you can unplug the keyboard (remove keyboard cable cover and pull out the cable on the end attached to the machine). Good Luck!

]]> By: Ludovic https://retropaq.com/the-hard-disk/#comment-829 Tue, 20 Jul 2021 02:18:38 +0000 https://retropaq.com/?p=148#comment-829 Greetings many thanks for your article.

Compaq are great and very well désigned machines. I’m used to restore old machines from cp/m to pc xt and old laptop machines as a hobby. I’ve an old portable III with faulty power supply with french keyboard. I’ve bought a cheap portable 386 with probably good power supply with us keyboard (unfortunately i didn’t see the difference between the two). What should i do ? Does the power unit are compatible ? I would like to find french keyboard for portable 386 but seems that i’ve to repair the portable iii instead to have the french keyboard (i’m french) – and by the way both keyboard cables litterally are turning to dust.

Thanks for your advice.
Best regards

]]> By: Retropaq https://retropaq.com/the-hard-disk/#comment-507 Sun, 25 Apr 2021 03:45:12 +0000 https://retropaq.com/?p=148#comment-507 In reply to Thomas.

Thanks for that Thomas! I’ve updated the article 🙂

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