ClassicConnect

europa · Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2026 8:22 pm Post subject: Compaq SLT/286 Restoration

I recently came across a Compaq SLT/286 in somewhat decent condition. It was missing the power adapter and battery, and the rear panel has fallen off, but that's nothing that I cannot fix. I wanted to post a thread about getting it back up and running, and restoring it where I can.

For some background, the Compaq SLT/286 was released in 1988 and shipped with a 12MHz 286 processor. It came with 640kB of memory (which is expandable to 12.6MB from what I'm reading), a 20 or 40MB hard drive, a high-density 3.5" diskette drive, a monochrome VGA screen with VGA output, an optional 2400 baud modem that mine does have, and a battery that was advertised to be at least three hours. Additionally, it has a PS/2 keyboard port (not mouse), serial port, parallel port, what seemingly looks to be some manner of proprietary floppy or tape drive port, and an expansion connector that can hook up to a docking station that provides two ISA slots.

The largest priorities for this machine are to back up the hard drive if possible, replace the CMOS battery and clock chip, as it's something like a Dallas chip, and create a power adapter that will work with the unit. I would also like to reattach the rear panel and perhaps find a way to fill the hole in the case where the battery went (or even build a new battery for it), but those are both largely cosmetic issues and don't affect the operation of the unit overall.

Case badge, front, and rear of the laptop, and the laptop fully opened.

The detached back panel and power adapter port.

I look forward to restoring this machine, it's my first 286 machine I've ever owned and it's absolutely beautiful.
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Your System ate a SPARC! Gah!

nick99nack · Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2026 9:02 pm Post subject:

That is a beautiful machine. Looking forward to hopefully seeing it up and running!
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europa · Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2026 3:24 am Post subject:

Yes! I'm excited to get it working. Also I think this will be my third hostnameless machine, aside from my Kaypro and my VIC-20, at least unless I network it in some way that requires that it inform a network of a human-readable name.
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Your System ate a SPARC! Gah!

parasquared · Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2026 3:30 am Post subject:

do the other two at least have names? or are they completely nameless Razz

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- parasquared

"In space there is no center, we're always off to the side"
- Ballad of Reverend War Character, Silver Jews

europa · Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2026 4:36 am Post subject:

I mostly just refer to them by their model name, mostly because the names are only really there to help me identify them on a network. That being said, it might be fun to come up with names for them Razz

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Your System ate a SPARC! Gah!