Compaq Armada 7800 White Paper

February 1998 0123-0499-A

Prepared By Portable Software

Marketing

Compaq Computer Corporation

CONTENTS

Highlights .......................3

Supported

Operating Systems .........3

Microsoft Windows 95............3

Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 ..... 4

Armada 7800 versus the Armada

7700 and 7300 ................. 5

Windows 95..........................5

Windows NT 4.0 ....................7

Software Delivery............9

Compaq QuickRestore CD ..... 9

Compaq Support Software CD9 Compaq World Wide Web Site

and Download Facility ........... 9

Software

Enhancements ................ 9

Setup & Diagnostics .............. 9

PC Card Support ................. 10

Intelligent Manageability......10

Video .................................11

Multimedia ..........................12

Premiere Audio ...................13

Security .............................. 13

Power Management.............14

Multibay Interchange Support16

Fast Infrared .......................16

Programmable Key s ............16

Communications ................. 17

Online Help ........................ 17

Internet Explorer 4.0 ........... 17

Frequently Asked

Questions.....................18

List of Tables................19

WHITE PAPER

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Armada 7800 Software Overview

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The Armada 7800 is the latest addition to the Armada 7000 family of notebook computers.

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The purpose of this White Paper is to present an overview of the pre-installed software

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including operating system support, comparison with earlier Armada 7700 and 7300 pre-

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install image builds as well as a brief description of major software components and

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features.

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This document is intended external audiences with a need for information about the

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Armada 7800.

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1

WHITE PAPER (cont.)

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NOTICE

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The information in this publication is subject to change without notice.

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THE COMPETITIVE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PUBLICATION IS BASED ON

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DATA AVAILABLE FROM PUBLIC SOURCES AT THE TIME OF PUBLICATION. COMPAQ

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COMPUTER CORPORATION SHALL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INACCURACIES,

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ERRORS, OR OMISSIONS IN INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN, INCLUDING, BUT NOT

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LIMITED TO, INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM THIRD PARTY SOURCES, SUCH AS

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PUBLICATIONS OF OTHER COMPANIES, THE PRESS, OR COMPETITIVE DATA

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ORGANIZATIONS.

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THIS PUBLICATION IS MADE AVAILABLE ON AN “AS IS” BASIS AND COMPAQ

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SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ALL ASSOCIATED WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR

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IMPLIED. IN NO EVENT WILL COMPAQ BE LIABLE FOR DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL,

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INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OF OR

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RELIANCE ON THE MATERIAL CONTAINED IN THIS PUBLICATION, EVEN IF ADVISED OF

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THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. COMPAQ RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MAKE

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IMPROVEMENTS OR CHANGES TO THIS PUBLICATION AND THE PRODUCTS AND

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SERVICES HEREIN DESCRIBED AT ANY TIME, WITHOUT NOTICE OR OBLIGATION.

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This publication does not constitute an endorsement of the product or products that were tested.

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The configuration or configurations tested or described may or may not be the only available

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solution. This test is not a determination of product quality or correctness, nor does it ensure

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compliance with any federal, state or local requirements. Compaq does not warrant products other

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than its own and then, only as strictly stated in Compaq product warranties.

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ARMADA, Compaq, LTE, Deskpro, Presario, ProLiant, and ProSignia are trademarks registered

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in the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

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LTE 5000, MultiBay, and Netelligent are trademarks of Compaq Computer Corporation.

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Other product names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their

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respective companies.

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Microsoft, Windows NT are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

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Armada 7800 Software Overview

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First Edition (February 1998)

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Document Number 0123-0499-A

.

2

IMPORTANT!

Windows NT 4.0 does not support FAT32. Customers who purchase a model with Windows 95 preinstalled and who choose to install Windows NT 4.0 on their own need to repartition the hard drive using either FAT16 or NTFS, both of which are supported under Windows NT

4.0.

WHITE PAPER (cont.)

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HIGHLIGHTS

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Preinstalled software on the Armada 7800 features a number of enhancements over the Armada

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7700 and 7300 families. The following are highlights:

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(1) New video drivers to support the new S3 VIRGE™ graphics chipset.

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(2) New audio drivers to support the new ESS 1879 audio controller.

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(3) New System Enhancements Diskette for both Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0 includes all

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pre-installed patches and features a single, easy to use automated installation.

(4) New FAT32 pre-install image for Windows 95 provides higher performance and a single hard

drive partition.

(5) New Carbon Copy Host provides allows Compaq technical support to remotely diagnose and

correct problems.

(6) New pre-installed USB support from Microsoft for Windows 95. (7) Updated Compaq Intelligent Manageability Agents providing local alerts and SNMP agents. (8) Updated Microsoft DirectX to version 5.0 providing support for software MPEG1 playback

and other multimedia innovations.

(9) Changed Internet Explorer 4.0 is no longer pre-installed, but rather is pre-loaded. When

unbundling, the user will now have the choice of installing Internet Explorer.

SUPPORTED OPERATING SYSTEMS

There are two supported operating systems for the Armada 7800:

• Microsoft Windows 95 OSR 2.1

• Microsoft Windows NT 4.0

Detailed below are specifics as to which hardware features are supported under the different operating systems and what functionality is enhanced by Compaq deliverables.

Microsoft Windows 95

The version of Windows 95 preinstalled on the Armada 7800 is Microsoft Windows 95 OSR2.1 (OEM Service Release 2.1), which offers an expanded feature set over Windows 95 OSR1 and the retail version of Windows 95. The primary purpose of OSR2.1 is to provide support for new hardware technology that has evolved since OSR1 and Windows 95 Retail were made available. Microsoft has stated that they do not have plans to provide a retail version of Windows 95 OSR2.1 at this time. Therefore, Windows 95 OSR2.1 is only available through OEMs, such as Compaq, and is not available for retail purchase.

For additional information on versions of Microsoft Windows 95, refer to the Functionality Overview of Windows 95 Retail, OSR1 and OSR2.1 White Paper.

For additional information on Windows 95 OSR1 on the Armada Family of Personal Computers, refer to the Operating System Support for Compaq Portable Platforms White Paper.

3

IMPORTANT!

Customers who downgrade from the preinstalled version of Windows 95 OSR2.1 will lose key functionality. Compaq strongly recommends that customers do not downgrade.

WHITE PAPER (cont.)

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Key Benefits of Windows 95 OSR 2.1 over OSR 1

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• PC Card Enhancements - Windows OSR2.1 PC Card utility adds support for multi-volt (3.3

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and 5.0 volt), 16-bit multifunction PC Cards (i.e., network/modem) and 32-bit CardBus PC Cards.

• Power Management Enhancements - Enhancements include Advanced Power Management

(APM) 1.2 support, resume on ring, disk spin down, and a battery meter which reflects multiple batteries.

• New Display Control Panel – The new Display Control Panel includes:

• Integrated QuickRes, - the ability to change resolution without the need to restart the

computer

• Dynamic Color Depth Changing - the ability to change the number of colors displayed

without the need to restart the computer

• Hardware Panning – the ability to have a virtual desktop that is larger than would be

possible by using just the resolution supported by the monitor (e. g. a 1024x768 desktop on a panel or monitor with 800x600 physical resolution). The maximum virtual resolution is 1600x1200.

• Monitor Refresh Rate Settings - the ability to select different refresh rates depending on

which resolution the screen is set for (i. e. 640x480, 800x600, etc.)

• Multimedia - ActiveMovie and DirectX III are included in OSR2.1. Compaq has further

updated DirectX to the latest version available from Microsoft, DirectX V.

• Microsoft NetMeeting - This voice and data conferencing application is built around open

Internet conference standards. Point-to-point voice calls can be placed over the Internet using industry standard protocols or using DSVD when a modem-to-modem based connection is preferred. NetMeeting also provides multi-point data collaboration tools including an interactive whiteboard, file sharing and application sharing.

•

A Word about Windows 95 OSR1

For customers who prefer to use Windows 95 OSR1 or Windows 95 Retail on the Armada 7800, Compaq offers support only for those features inherently supported by the operating system. This support includes basic functionality, such as audio and video, along with Compaq enhancements that enable hardware functionality. Please refer to the Compaq Armada Portable products with Microsoft Windows 95 OSR1 White Paper for details.

Microsoft Windows NT 4.0

Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 with Service Pack 3 is offered as a pre-install operating system for the Armada 7800. Compaq supports customers who install Windows NT 4.0 on their own. Compaq drivers, utilities and applications for Windows NT 4.0 are discussed in detail in later sections of this White Paper.

Hardware Functionality and Software Enhancements

Since Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 was originally positioned and designed for desktop computing, there are some portable computer features that are either not supported by the native operating system or which do not function in the same manner to which Compaq customers have become accustomed under Windows 95. These features primarily fall into the areas of PC Card and power

4

WHITE PAPER (cont.)

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management support. Compaq provides software enhancements that compliment Windows NT 4.0

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by enabling the same level of features and hardware functionality provided under Windows 95.

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Native Windows NT 4.0 features and Compaq software deliverables include the following:

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• Compaq’s F10 Setup/Diagnostics and PC Diagnostics

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• Audio, Video and Network support enhanced by Compaq

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• Multimedia support enhanced by Compaq

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• PC Card support through CardWare

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− Traditional 16 bit, PC Card 16 and 32 bit CardBus support

− Power Management for PC Cards

• User-Programmable Keys support provided by Compaq

• Power Management support provided by Compaq

− Suspend, Hibernation and Power Utility

• Compaq Intelligent Manageability

− AssetControl, Fault Prediction and Security Management

• Internet browser and service to access information on the world wide web

• Microsoft Internet Explorer

ARMADA 7800 VERSUS THE ARMADA 7700 AND 7300

The following tables summarize software components included on the Armada 7800 as compared with the Armada 7700 and 7300 families.

Windows 95

WINDOWS 95 SOFTWARE VERSION COMPARISON

Software Component Armada 7800

Compaq Armada NetFlex 3 Network Support 2.00 1.00 K Yes Compaq Diagnostics (Operating System Independent) 10.26 10.19 Yes Compaq Diagnostics for Windows 95 1.21 1.20 B Yes Compaq F10 Setup (Operating System Independent) 2.01 2.00 Yes Compaq Intelligent Manageability for Windows 95 3.50 3.20 D Yes Compaq Power Management for Windows 95 Compaq Security Extensions for Windows 95 (Security32) 1.10 1.00 A Yes Display Driver for Windows 95 Display Utility for Windows 95

1

All version information for the Armada 7800 is current as of February 17, 1998.

2

For comparison purposes, version numbers used on the Armada 7700 and 7300 families are those included in the January, 1998 pre-install image refresh. For a comparison of these version number with those used in earlier Armada 7700 and 7300 pre-install image builds refer to the Compaq White Paper titled Armada 7700 and 7300 Pre-install Refresh.

3

This release fixes two know problems: (1) free space is now reported correctly on partitions larger than 2GB; and (2) the hibernation file is validated when selecting the hibernation tab in the control panel extension.

4

The Armada 7700 and 7300 use the S3 Aurora video chipset and the Armada 7800 uses the S3 VIRGE™ chipset.

5

The Display Utility for Windows 95 is included as part of the display driver component.

4

5

®

NT provided by Compaq

3

1

Versions

2.02 2.01 B1 Yes

3.32.08 2.31.33 Yes

3.32.08 1.03.08 A Yes

Armada 7700 and 7300

2

Versions

Version Change

5

WHITE PAPER (cont.)

.

Software Component Armada 7800

.

ESS Audio Drivers for Windows 95

.

Microsoft DirectX 5.0 3.0A Yes

.

Compaq Programmable Keys for Windows 95 1.10 1.10 No

.

Microsoft Internet Explorer for Windows 95

.

MSDOS Real Mode Support for Windows 95 1.00 1.00 No

.

Non-DDC Monitor Configuration Utility for Windows 95

.

True Flash File System for Windows 95 1.00 A 1.00 A No

.

Table 1 - Windows 95 Software Component Version Comparison

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REMOVED SOFTWARE COMPONENTS FOR WINDOWS 95

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Software Component Version

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PointCast 1.38

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MediaMatics Arcade Pak for Windows 95 2.032.00.03 B

.

JustConnect for Windows 95 1.20 A

.

Compaq DSVD Enabler for Microsoft NetMeeting 1.20 A

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Table 2 - Removed Software Components for Windows 95

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NEW SOFTWARE COMPONENTS FOR WINDOWS 95

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Software Component Version

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Microsoft USB Support 4.03.1214

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Compaq System Enhancements for Windows 95

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Carbon Copy Host for Windows 95 4.10

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SMC Fast Infrared Driver for Windows 95

.

Table 3 - New Software Components for Windows 95

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WINDOWS 95 SOFTWARE ENHANCEMENTS

.

Category

.

11

QFE QFE IOSYSUP.EXE Reduces HIMEM.SYS footprint in EMEA systems

6

The Armada 7700 and 7300 use the ESS 1878 chipset and the Armada 7800 uses the ESS 1879 chipset.

7

Internet Explorer 4.0 is pre-loaded and not pre-installed. Internet Explorer 3.02 is the pre-installed browser and users have the choice during or after unbundling to choose to upgrade.

8

Also referred to as the External CRT Configuration Utility.

9

See the Windows 95 Software Enhancements table for more detailed information about the Compaq System Enhancements for Windows 95.

10

Fast IR drivers are not pre-installed in the last Armada 7700 and 7300 pre-install image refresh due to the fact that they were not certified by Microsoft in time to meet key schedule milestones; however, they were made available for download from the Compaq Web site. Version 1.10 is certified by Microsoft and pre-installed on the Armada 7800.

11

QFE standard for Quick Fix Engineering.

File Comment FLOPUPD2.EXE Plug and Play support for floppy drive

6

7

8

9

10

1

Versions

4.04.00.1240 4.04.00.1133 B1 Yes

4.0 4.0 No

1.00 A 1.00 A No

Armada 7700 and 7300

2

Versions

Version Change

2.00

1.10

6

WHITE PAPER (cont.)

.

Category

.

QFE PCCARD.VXD Fixes resume on ring, zoom video, problems with suspend/resume and SCSI cards

.

QFE PCI.VXD Fixes TDK Ethernet CardBus configuration problems

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QFE PCIMP.PCI Multiple IDE controllers when docked

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QFE RMM.PDR Fixes IOS protection errors

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QFE SYSDM.CPL Fixes problem updating drivers

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QFE VJOYD.VXD Fixes version conflict messages

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QFE W95FILUP.EXE Year 2000 fix for File Manager

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INF Update CPQPSE.INF Description file for Armada systems and chipsets

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INF Update LOGO.SYS Cloud bitmap with COMPAQ logo

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INF Update MACHINE.INF Support for COMPAQ specific hardware

.

INF Update MSHDC.INF Support for COMPAQ IDE controllers

.

INF Update PCMCIA.INF Support for TI1220 and TI1250 CardBus controllers

.

INF Update INFRARED.INF,

.

Registry

.

Update

.

Registry

.

Update

.

Registry

.

Update

.

Table 4 - System Enhancements for Windows 95

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Windows NT 4.0

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WINDOWS NT 4.0 SOFTWARE VERSION COMPARISON

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Software Component Armada 7800

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Display Driver for Windows NT 4.0

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Display Utility for Windows NT 4.0

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Compaq Diagnostics (Operating System Independent) 10.24 10.19 Yes

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Compaq Intelligent Manageability for Windows NT 4.0 3.50 3.20 Yes

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CardWare® for Windows NT 4.0 2.11 2. 08 A Yes

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Compaq F10 Setup (Operating System Independent) 2.01 2.00 Yes

.

12

.

All version information for the Armada 7800 is current as of February 17, 1998.

.

13

.

For comparison purposes, version numbers used on the Armada 7700 and 7300 families are those included in the

.

January, 1998 pre-install image refresh. For a comparison of these version number with those used in earlier Armada 7700

.

and 7300 pre-install image builds refer to the Compaq White Paper titled Armada 7700 and 7300 Pre-install Refresh.

.

14

This version fixes a minor problem with the HOTKEY.EXE application.

.

15

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The Display Utility for Windows 95 is included as part of the display driver component.

File Comment

Enables infrared hardware MSIRPORT.INF & MSPORTS.INF

CDROM4X.REG Change CD speed to maximum

DMAHDC.REG Enable DMA for hard drive

MOBILE.REG Modify caching for mobile systems

Versions

14

15

3.25.10 1.02.21 A Yes

3.25.10 1.03.06 B Yes

12

Armada 7700 and 7300

13

Versions

Version Change

7

WHITE PAPER (cont.)

.

Software Component Armada 7800

.

Compaq Diagnostics for Windows NT 4.0 1.11 1.09 A Yes

.

Compaq Armada NetFlex 3 Network Support 2.00 1.00 K Yes

.

Compaq Security Extensions for Windows NT 4.0 1.10 1.00 A Yes

.

ESS Audio Drivers for Windows NT 4.0 2.00.92 2.00.81 A Yes

.

Microsoft Internet Explorer for Windows NT 4.0 4.0 4.0 No

.

Compaq Multibay Swapping Support for Windows NT 4.0 with

.

Service Pack 3

.

Microsoft Service Pack for Windows NT 4.0 3.00 3.00 No

.

Compaq Power Management for Windows NT 4.0 with Service

.

Pack 3

.

Compaq Programmable Keys for Windows NT 4.0 1.10 1.10 No

.

Non-DDC Monitor Configuration Utility for Windows NT 4.0

.

Table 5 - Windows NT 4.0 Software Component Version Comparison

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REMOVED SOFTWARE COMPONENTS FOR WINDOWS NT 4.0

.

Software Component Version

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Trio Communications Suite for Windows NT 4.0 5.12 C

.

Active Movie Filter for Windows NT 4.0 4.15.97 A

.

Table 6 - Removed Software Components for Windows NT 4.0

.

NEW SOFTWARE COMPONENTS FOR WINDOWS NT 4.0

.

Software Component Version

.

Compaq System Enhancements for Windows NT 4.0

.

Table 7 - New Software Components for Windows NT 4.0

.

WINDOWS NT 4.0 SOFTWARE ENHANCEMENTS

.

Category

.

18

QFE Registry

Update Registry

Update

Registry Update

16

Also referred to as the External CRT Configuration Utility.

17

See the Windows NT 4.0 Software Enhancements table for more detailed information about the Compaq System

Enhancements for Windows NT 4.0.

18

QFE standard for Quick Fix Engineering.

File Comment SCSIPORT.SYS Use SP2 version to fix IM3.50 blue screen problem CDROM4X.REG Change CD speed to maximum

Alter installation sub-directory to C:\i386

Enable DMA for hard drive

16

17

12

Versions

3.10 3.10 No

2.20 2.20 No

1.00 1.00 A No

Armada 7700 and 7300

13

Versions

1.00

Version Change

8

WHITE PAPER (cont.)

.

Category

.

Registry

.

Update

.

Registry

.

Update

.

Table 8 - System Enhancements for Windows NT 4.0

.

SOFTWARE DELIVERY

.

Compaq QuickRestore CD

.

The Compaq QuickRestore CD is shipped with each Armada 7800 notebook. The CD provides an

.

easy to use and complete restore solution. The pre-installed operating system (i.e. either Windows

.

95 or Windows NT 4.0) and all Compaq software enhancements are provided on the CD. The

.

solution allows customers to perform a complete restore including destructive format as well as a

.

refresh option that does not reformat the hard drive thus preserving data and applications. The

.

Compaq QuickRestore CD is shipped with each notebook and cannot be provided through

.

fulfillment.

.

Compaq Support Software CD

.

The Compaq Support Software CD includes the latest updates to drivers and utilities for Armada

.

Portable, Desktop and Workstation PCs. Key drivers and utilities in all supported languages for the

.

Armada 7800 are included on the Compaq Support Software CD. The user interface is translated in

.

English, French, Italian, German, Spanish and Japanese. The Compaq Support Software CD is

.

updated monthly and is available either via an annual subscription or as a one-time purchase. the

.

Armada 7800 software will be included on the Compaq Support Software CD beginning with the

.

April 1998 edition. Subscriptions can be purchased through Compaq Customer Support or your

.

dealer.

.

Compaq World Wide Web Site and Download Facility

.

Individual drivers and utilities can be downloaded, in the form of SoftPaqs, from the Compaq

.

Download Facility, the Compaq web site (http://www.compaq.com or ftp://ftp.compaq.com

.

through other online services such as AOL, Prodigy, and CompuServe. SoftPaqs are a way for

.

Compaq to distribute driver and ROM updates as well as product software enhancements. It allows

.

for multiple files and bootable diskettes to be distributed conveniently and electronically via floppy

.

diskette or the web.

.

SOFTWARE ENHANCEMENTS

.

Setup & Diagnostics

.

Computer Setup/P

.

F10 Computer Setup/P is operating system-independent software that allows customers to their

.

configuration their notebook. Computer Setup allows the user to resolve resource conflicts among

.

devices, enable many of the Compaq-specific features without resorting to an operating system-

.

dependent Compaq utility, change the system settings, and quickly and easily setup the Armada

.

7800. The utility supports a wide range of devices that can be plugged-in, inserted, or embedded

.

into the system, which is an enhancement to previous versions and other setup utilities offered on

.

competitive platforms.

.

File Comment

Turn off CD-ROM AutoRun feature

Alter PCMCIA IRQ map to prevent IRQ15 from being assigned

) or

9

NOTE:

F10 Setup and Diagnostics reside in a hidden partition on the hard drive. Deleting this partition with FDISK or other partitioning tool will result in loss of functionality.

NOTE:

LAN and SCSI PC Cards do not support hot removal without card-specific software driver support. Consequently, resuming from standby or hibernation mode may lead to unexpected results. Customers should contact their PC Card manufacturer for more information about the level of driver support for CardWare under Windows NT 4.0.

WHITE PAPER (cont.)

.

Computer Setup/P allows the user to control the system’s configuration, including device resources

.

and Compaq features such as security and power management. F10 Computer Setup/P and a set of

.

diagnostic packages are grouped under the name “F10” because the “F10” key accesses the hidden

.

disk partition where these utilities reside.

.

ã Windows 95 ã Windows NT 4.0 ã Compaq Support

.

PC Diagnostics

.

F10 Diagnostics is a utility that allows customers to test their system hardware. Hardware that may

.

be tested includes CPU, memory, keyboard, pointing device, sound (audio), parallel and serial

.

ports, graphics controllers, diskette drives and hard drives.

.

ã Windows 95 ã Windows NT 4.0 ã Compaq Support

.

Compaq Diagnostics for Windows

.

Compaq Diagnostics for Windows, also called Compaq Insight Personal Edition, is an application

.

that displays detailed PC information in a user-friendly manner. The user can retrieve data on the

.

processor, memory, operating system, storage capacity, video, communication, input devices,

.

serial numbers, asset tag, and others. Diagnostics is also the only application that can locally

.

retrieve very detailed Compaq-specific information.

.

ã Windows 95 ã Windows NT 4.0 ã Compaq Support

.

PC Card Support

.

For those users who wish to extend the PC Card support of Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, Compaq

.

provides Award Software International’s CardWare

.

gain: CardBus support, Enhanced Power Management, 3.3v support, and the ability to hot swap

.

most PC Cards.

.

For complete details on PC Card support for Microsoft NT 4.0, see the White Paper titled Compaq

.

Portable PC Card Support for Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, First Edition, October 1997.

.

®

.

 Windows 95 ã Windows NT 4.0 ã Compaq Support

.

Intelligent Manageability

.

Compaq Intelligent Manageability combines innovative hardware technology with Enterprise

.

Management and PC LAN management solutions from Compaq and other leading vendors to

.

make Compaq portable computers easier to inventory, troubleshoot, and protect, thereby reducing

.

total cost-of ownership. Compaq Intelligent Manageability provides Fault Management, Inventory

.

Software CD

®

Software CD

. With the addition of CardWare, users will

ã Compaq

QuickRestore CD

ã Compaq

QuickRestore CD

ã Compaq

QuickRestore CD

ã Compaq

QuickRestore CD

ã Compaq Web Site

10

WHITE PAPER (cont.)

.

Management, Security Management and Support Software Management features as described

.

below.

.

Fault Management

.

Fault Management is a utility designed to warn the user or network administrator about the

.

potential loss of critical data using the following features:

• IntelliSafe (SMART) hard drive – Constantly monitors hard drive activity to predict failure

before they occur

• Temperature sensing – Hardware and software that tracks the internal temperature of the

computer and displays a warning message when the normal range is exceeded.

• Compaq Insight Personal Edition – Automatically displays a pop-up message to notify you

when a hard drive or system temperature fault is detected. If the computer is connected to a network managed by Compaq Insight Manger, fault notices are also sent to the network management application.

Inventory Management

AssetControl is an inventory and asset management utility designed to reduce the time and total cost of ownership of conducting a physical inventory of personal computers, key components, and monitors. AssetControl is preinstalled on, and available for, asset management of portable computers, key components and monitors that support the VESA DDC and EDID standards.

AssetControl provides ease of use and an inexpensive method of maintaining an accurate, up-todate inventory. Detailed inventory information, including manufacturer, model, serial number, asset tag and ROM revision level can be viewed, printed or saved electronically using Compaq Insight Personal Edition, Compaq Insight Manager and network management products from the Compaq Desktop Management Solutions Partners.

Security Management

The Security Management utility provides a set of security features to protect the computer and data from unauthorized access.

• Passwords – Prevents unauthorized access to information stored on the computer or network.

• Drive Security – Control access to the information stored on the computer and prevents

unauthorized data transfer to a diskette drive.

• Device disabling – Prevents unauthorized data transfer over fax/modems, serial ports or

parallel ports, diskette drives, and PC Cards.

Security Management features and current security settings can be viewed using Compaq Insight Personal Edition or Compaq Insight Manager.

For additional information on Intelligent Manageability, please refer to the Intelligent Manageability for Portables White Paper.

ã Windows 95 ã Windows NT 4.0 ã Compaq Support

Software CD

ã Compaq

QuickRestore CD

ã Compaq Web Site

Video

The Armada 7800 features the S3 VIRGE™ video chipset along with software drivers to enable all functionality of the chipset. Driver support is complimented by a Display Utility that provides easy access to video settings through the Windows Control Panel as well as a System Tray accessible

11

WHITE PAPER (cont.)

.

icon that allows the user to changes video resolution and color depth without requiring the

.

computer to be powered cycled.

.

ã Windows 95 ã Windows NT 4.0 ã Compaq Support

.

Multimedia

.

Microsoft Multimedia Support

.

The versions of Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0 preinstalled on the Armada 7800 include

.

Microsoft DirectShow, which enables the following types of video playback:

.

• .AVI, .MOV and MPEG1 playback support

.

• Indeo4-compressed AVI playback support

.

• MCI support for both 16 and 32-bit applications

.

Software MPEG Support

.

The Armada 7700 and 7300 families included the MediaMatics Arcade Pack to provide software

.

MPEG1 playback capability. This capability was provided in the form of a filter for use with

.

Microsoft Active Movie and the Microsoft Media Player, of which both are included in the

.

Windows 95 operating system. The MediaMatics Arcade Pack was optimized for use with Intel

.

MMX processors providing better performance than the native playback capabilities of Windows

.

95. With the Armada 7800, pre-installing Microsoft DirectX 5.0 and Internet Explorer 4.0 means

.

that it is no longer necessary to provide the MediaMatics Arcade Pack.

.

DirectX is a collection of APIs (Application Programming Interface) designed to introduce a set of

.

standards for multimedia content creation and playback on personal computers. With these APIs

.

developers can more easily develop cutting edge graphic media such as 3D VRML, support new

.

web technologies like streaming, moving picture playback, online gaming and modeling.

.

Active Movie has been replaced by Microsoft DirectShow, which is a part of the DirectX

.

architecture. Although DirectShow is not shipped as part of DirectX 5.0, it is installed as part of

.

Internet Explorer 4.0. DirectShow provides enhancements over its Active Movie predecessor, most

.

notably providing MPEG1 software playback that has been optimized for Intel MMX processors.

.

DirectX 5.0 and Internet Explorer 4.0 are included as part of both the Windows 95 and Windows

.

NT 4.0 pre-install images.

.

The following table compares MPEG1 playback performance on the Armada 7800 with the

.

Armada 7700 and 7300 families.

.

MPEG-1 PLAYBACK PERFORMANCE COMPARISON

.

WinBench 98 Video Test

.

Processor

.

Clock Speed

.

Color Depth

.

Memory

.

19

.

The clip was played through the ActiveMovie interface.

.

20

Common test settings: Disk Drive=c:\ CDROM Drive=e:\ Report CPU Utilization=No.

.

21

.

The video clip played contained a total of 448 frames.

192021

Compaq Armada 7800 Compaq Armada 7360

Intel Pentium® PII with MMX™ 266MHz High Color (16bpp) 32 MB

Software CD

ã Compaq

QuickRestore CD

ã Compaq Web Site

Intel Pentium® with MMX™ 200 MHz High Color (16bpp) 32 MB

12

OTE:

N

Forgetting or losing both the USER and MASTER passwords will render the protected hard drive permanently unusable. Record your MASTER password and keep it in a secure location physically separate from your notebook computer. In the event you lose the USER password, the MASTER password can be used to unlock a protected hard drive and reset the USER password.

WHITE PAPER (cont.)

.

WinBench 98 Video Test

.

Normal Playback Test

.

CPU Utilization

.

Maximum Frame Rate

.

Visual Quality

.

Fast Playback Test

.

CPU Utilization

.

Maximum Frame Rate

.

Visual Quality

.

Table 9 - Software MPEG Playback Performance Comparison

.

Premiere Audio

.

Armada 7800 audio device drivers enable the ESS 1879 audio chipset, to run multimedia

.

applications using Microsoft DirectSound audio capability. The DirectSound interface provides

.

significantly more control over the audio controller in the Armada 7800. In addition to playing

.

WAV and MIDI files, DirectSound also provides a high-quality wave mixing facility, as well as an

.

industry-standard MIDI playback system. Additionally, DirectSound provides added control over

.

the memory utilization of the sound controller, allowing user-selection of sounds to be cached.

.

ã Windows 95 ã Windows NT 4.0 ã Compaq Support

.

Security

.

DriveLock

.

DriveLock is a security feature that offers customers advanced protection against unauthorized

.

access to valuable data on their internal notebook hard drives. There are two passwords that

.

control access providing customers with a means to unlock a protect drive for which the day-to-

.

day user password has been lost. Hard drives protected with DriveLock remain protected even if

.

removed from the notebook. Features and settings are accessed through the Compaq F10 Setup

.

Utility.

.

For more information about DriveLock refer to the Compaq White Paper titled DriveLock Hard

.

Drive Protection for the Armada 7800, Second Edition, February 1998.

.

Compaq Security Extension

.

Security32 provides a Windows Control Panel extension to allow the user to secure the system

.

with supported passwords.

.

ã Windows 95 ã Windows NT 4.0 ã Compaq Support

.

22

WinBench 98/Video/Action, MPEG-1, 352x240, 30fps, 150KB/S.

.

23

.

WinBench 98/Video/Action, MPEG-1, 352x240, 30fps, 300KB/S.

192021

22

23

Compaq Armada 7800 Compaq Armada 7360

44.0% Used

90.2 Frames/Sec 1 Frame Dropped

61.4% Used 61 Frames/Sec 18 Frames Dropped

ã Compaq

Software CD

ã Compaq

Software CD

59.4% Used

65.1 Frames/Sec 4 Frames

81.0% Used

43.7 Frames/Sec 34 Frames

ã Compaq Web Site

QuickRestore CD

ã Compaq Web Site

QuickRestore CD

13

WHITE PAPER (cont.)

.

Power-on Password

.

The power-on password first and foremost prevents an unauthorized user to power on the system.

.

Once a power-on password is established, the user is required to type the password during the

.

power-on process.

.

The power-on password also allows the user to enable QuickLock, a hot-key combination used to

.

lock the keyboard. Under QuickLock, any keys pressed are ignored until the power-on password is

.

entered. If QuickLock is enabled, the user can elect to have the keyboard QuickLocked when the

.

computer enters suspend mode, or the user can have the screen blanked when QuickLock is

.

activated. Setting the screen to blank when QuickLock is activated is called QuickBlank.

.

ã Windows 95 ã Windows NT 4.0 ã Compaq Support

.

Administrator Password

.

The administrator password, also known as the setup password, prevents unauthorized changes to

.

the system’s configuration. Unless the Administrator Password is known, F10 utilities (provided by

.

Compaq on the hidden drive partition) are inaccessible. Also, with the Administrator Password set,

.

any attempted changes to the system’s configuration (i.e., via Windows 95 Device Manager) will

.

not be accepted by the system.

.

ã Windows 95 ã Windows NT 4.0 ã Compaq Support

.

Power Management

.

The Armada 7800 uses Advanced Power Management (APM) version 1.2 to provide power

.

conservation features under Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0. Users access these features

.

through the Compaq Power Management Utility. This Windows Control Panel applet provides an

.

easy-to-use interface for setting and controlling power management features. Power management

.

features are categorized into one of the four groups, which appear as pages in the Power Utility.

.

These groups are outlined below.

.

AC Energy Saver Page

.

AC Energy Power Conservation features provide the ability to turn AC power conservation on or

.

off, utilize the energy saving features of the monitor, if available, set hard drive time-outs for AC,

.

and set screen save time-outs for AC power use.

.

ã Windows 95 ã Windows NT 4.0 ã Compaq Support

.

Battery Conservation Settings Page

.

Battery Power Conservation features include four possible battery conservation levels. These

.

levels include high, medium, drain and custom. When the custom level has been selected, the user

.

can modify the various custom level time-outs. These time-outs include suspend, processor speed

.

Software CD

ã Compaq

QuickRestore CD

ã Compaq

QuickRestore CD

ã Compaq

QuickRestore CD

ã Compaq Web Site

14

WHITE PAPER (cont.)

.

and brightness. This feature also provides the ability to enable or disable low battery warning

.

beeps.

.

ã Windows 95 ã Windows NT 4.0 ã Compaq Support

.

Hibernation Settings Page

.

The Hibernation features include the ability to turn hibernation on or off, set hibernation time-outs,

.

and select the logical partition where the hibernation file will reside.

.

ã Windows 95 ã Windows NT 4.0 ã Compaq Support

.

Battery Status Page

.

The Battery Status feature shows the position of multiple battery locations in the computer. If a

.

battery is present in a given location, the status (high, low, critical, charging) and a percentage of

.

charge remaining for that battery is shown. The Multiple Battery Status provides a critical value-

.

add for Compaq customers, allowing the ability to check the status of each individual battery, in

.

addition to the cumulative battery status.

.

The Multiple Battery Status Page is not available under Windows 3.1; however, the user can

.

invoke a multiple battery status by using FN+F8.

.

ã Windows 95 ã Windows NT 4.0 ã Compaq Support

.

Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI)

.

The Armada 7800 is “ACPI Hardware Ready.” ACPI is dependent on having an ACPI-capable

.

operating system. The first ACPI operating system is Microsoft Windows 98 due out later this

.

year. Until Windows 98 is available, the Armada 7800 will ship with ACPI disabled. Once

.

Microsoft has released the finalized ACPI portion of Windows 98, Compaq will release an ACPI

.

enabling applet. The user will be able to obtain the applet from the Compaq web site, FTP site,

.

BBS, or the Support Software CD. The first ACPI operating system will be Windows 98.

.

According to the Compaq White Paper titled ACPI

.

Today, Compaq portable computers are using Advanced Power Management 1.2

(APM 1.2) which allows the user – mostly through F10 settings – to manage power and configuration settings. The overall concept of ACPI is to shift the Configuration and Power Management functionality from OEM BIOS solutions to the operating system.

ACPI is part of the OnNow design initiative from Microsoft. The OnNow design initiative is a comprehensive, system-wide approach to system and device power control. OnNow is a term for a PC that is always on but appears off and responds immediately to user or other requests. The OnNow design initiative involves changes

24

ACPI, Compaq Computer Corporation, First Edition, October 1997.

Software CD

24

:

ã Compaq

QuickRestore CD

ã Compaq

QuickRestore CD

ã Compaq

QuickRestore CD

ã Compaq Web Site

15

WHITE PAPER (cont.)

.

that will occur in the operating system (Windows 98 and Windows NT 5.0), device drivers, hardware, and applications, and also relies on the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface Specification (ACPI).

Microsoft plans to incorporate some ACPI functionality in the Windows 98 operating system and full ACPI in Windows NT 5.0. Because of this dependency, ACPI availability will move with the Windows 98 and Windows NT 5.0 schedules.

The PC 98 Specification states that ACPI is a requirement for all Office PCs, which includes portable PCs. PC 98 certification is mandatory after July 1, 1998.

Compaq is working closely with Microsoft to define and test ACPI features on Compaq portable PCs. However, current Beta versions of Windows 98 are still incomplete and many features are still being defined or are in development.

Multibay Interchange Support

Multibay Interchange Support is provided for Windows NT 4.0. This feature allows for hot swapping of the Multibay CDROM, floppy disk drive and second battery in a standalone configuration. Multibay hot swapping is not supported in the docking station. Also note that this functionality requires that the Microsoft Dynamic Floppy Driver be installed.

Windows 95 ã Windows NT 4.0 ã Compaq Support

Software CD

ã Compaq

QuickRestore CD

ã Compaq Web Site

Fast Infrared

Windows 95 supports standard infrared (IR) transfer rates of 1.5MBs. Compaq supplies Enhanced IR drivers giving the user the ability to use IR at 4MBs.

ã Windows 95  Windows NT 4.0 ã Compaq Support

Software CD

ã Compaq

QuickRestore CD

ã Compaq Web Site

Programmable Keys

The Armada 7800 keyboard includes four user-programmable keys that can be used to launch or toggle between applications, and can also be programmed to emulate the Windows 95 Logo keys (Start or Secondary-Click panel, or when one of the unassigned keys is pressed. This utility also provides an easy-to-use interface to setup key assignments. Using a secondary-click on the system tray icon allows the user to quickly select a different scheme. Each scheme includes key assignments for each of the four programmable keys. Multiple schemes can be defined and the system tray icon provides a fast and

intuitive way to change the active scheme depending on the user’s current activity.

ã Windows 95 ã Windows NT 4.0 ã Compaq Support

25

For right-handed persons it is the right mouse button.

25

). The Programmable Keys Utility can be accessed through the control

Software CD

ã Compaq

QuickRestore CD

ã Compaq Web Site

16

WHITE PAPER (cont.)

.

Communications

.

The Armada 7800 relies upon the operating system for data, fax and conferencing communication

.

applications. The user will need a PC Card or external serial modem for any data/fax application.

.

Compaq recommends that customers reference the Compaq PC Card Solutions List for PC Cards

.

that are qualified to work on all Compaq commercial portables including the Armada 7800. A

.

copy of this List, which is updated quarterly, can be obtained from the Compaq web site at

.

http://www.compaq.com/support/techpubs/pcmcia/pccardlist.html.

.

Data communications are achieved with HyperTerminal; a basic application that allows for easy

.

connection to bulletin boards, host systems, or other text-based online services.

.

Exchange, Microsoft’s e-mail and fax client, is used for faxing and can also be used for workgroup

.

information sharing solutions.

.

NetMeeting can be used for data conferencing applications including whiteboarding, and

.

application and data sharing.

.

ã Windows 95 ã Windows NT 4.0  Compaq Support

.

Online Help

.

The Armada 7800 has three online reference guides including the Safety & Comfort Guide, the

.

Reference Guide, and Options Catalog.

.

The Safety & Comfort Guide explains to the user how to properly use items like the keyboard and

.

mouse to reduce the potential of repetitive motion injuries like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

.

The Reference Guide includes information about all aspects of the computer including, but not

.

limited to, identifying connectors, inserting and removing hardware, major hardware subsystems,

.

upgrades, and troubleshooting.

.

Included in the Options Catalog is a list of supported option parts, part numbers, and descriptions.

.

ã Windows 95 ã Windows NT 4.0  Compaq Support

.

Internet Explorer 4.0

.

Internet Explorer 4.0 (IE4) integrates the PC and the Internet which eliminates the need to use one

.

tool to browse the Web and another to use the PC. Microsoft labels this concept as the Web PC.

.

IE4 introduces a host of new features that solve some of the problems previously experienced by

.

customers. The features include a Search Bar to IE4 that lists search results in view while the user

.

explores the sites listed. Another feature of IE4 is the AutoComplete function in which the Address

.

Bar automatically completes addresses for users based on sites already visited and also corrects

.

syntax errors. In addition, Microsoft has included an Offline Reading feature which lets users set

.

up favorite Web sites to be downloaded to their hard drive according to a customizable schedule

.

for off-line viewing at a later time. Compaq has designed its own commercial channel, The

.

Compaq Channel for Business, and is available for download on the Compaq Web site. It provides

.

users with up-to-date access to helpful technical support, product information and announcement

.

news, timely articles, and the latest software and driver downloads. More detailed information

.

about IE 4.0 can be found in the White Paper titled Internet Explorer 4.0 for Compaq Commercial

.

Portable and Desktop Products, October 1997.

.

Software CD

ã Compaq

QuickRestore CD

ã Compaq

QuickRestore CD

 Compaq Web Site

17

WHITE PAPER (cont.)

.

ã

.

Windows 95 ã Windows NT 4.0  Compaq Support

Software CD

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Does Compaq pre-install the latest version of Microsoft Internet Explorer on the Armada 7800?

Compaq pre-loads Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 and pre-installs Internet Explorer 3.02 on the Armada 7800. Users will have the choice to upgrade during and after the unbundling process. Since the Armada 7800 pre-install images were complete, Microsoft released a new version of Internet Explorer, version 4.01. This latest release includes a number fixes to problems with version 4.0. The latest release is available for download from the Microsoft web site at http://www.microsoft.com.

How is the internal hard drive partitioned on the Armada 7800?

On Armada 7800 notebooks pre-installed with Windows 95, the hard drive comes formatted using FAT32. FAT32 provides a number of advantages over its predecessor, FAT16, including support for partitions larger than 2GB and smaller cluster size. Unlike the Armada 7700 and 7300 families, Armada 7800 partition sizes are not constrained by this FAT16 limitation, and smaller cluster size translates to improved performance and more efficient hard drive utilization.

On Armada 7800 notebooks pre-installed with Windows NT 4.0, the hard drive comes formatted using FAT16 and is therefore subject to its partition size constraints. Windows NT 4.0 does not support FAT32 since NTFS (NT File System) provides comparable features and performance improvements. Customers using Windows NT 4.0 on the Armada 7800 are able to easily format unused partitions or partition unused space using NTFS.

Customers who purchase models with Windows 95 pre-installed and later choose to install Windows NT 4.0 will need to repartition the hard drive using either FAT16 or NTFS. This can be accomplished using FDISK and then reformatting the hard drive. In order to avoid having to do a destructive format there are applications available on the market which will convert from one file system without requiring the user to format the hard drive.

Will Compaq be providing a data/fax application under Windows NT 4.0?

Compaq previously provided the Trio Communications Suite for Windows NT 4.0 on the Armada 7700 and 7300 families. This application was removed from the Armada 7800 Windows NT 4.0 pre-install image because it is a 16-bit application. Microsoft logo certification requirements with which the Armada 7800 complies do not allow any 16-bit software to be included on the pre-install image. Compaq is currently working to qualify a 32-bit data/fax application for inclusion on future platforms and provided through fulfillment on currently shipping platforms including the Armada

7800.

ã Compaq

QuickRestore CD

 Compaq Web Site

18

WHITE PAPER (cont.)

.

LIST OF TABLE S

.

Table 1 - Windows 95 Software Component Version Comparison ..................................................6

.

Table 2 - Removed Software Components for Windows 95............................................................. 6

.

Table 3 - New Software Components for Windows 95.....................................................................6

.

Table 4 - System Enhancements for Windows 95.............................................................................7

.

Table 5 - Windows NT 4.0 Software Component Version Comparison........................................... 8

.

Table 6 - Removed Software Components for Windows NT 4.0......................................................8

.

Table 7 - New Software Components for Windows NT 4.0 .............................................................8

.

Table 8 - System Enhancements for Windows NT 4.0 .....................................................................9

.

Table 9 - Software MPEG Playback Performance Comparison......................................................13

.

19