HP ARMADA 1500C, ARMADA M700, ARMADA E700, ARMADA 1750, ARMADA M300 User Manual

White Paper

July 1999 0152-0899-A

Operating System Support for

Prepared by Portables Software Marketing

Compaq Computer Corporation

Contents

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

Defining Support.........................3

Support Software ........................3

Compaq QuickRestore ..............3

Compaq Software CD................4

Compaq Support Software

CD .............................................4

System Enhancement

Diskette......................................4

Preinstalled Operating

Systems .......................................4

Supported Operating

Systems .......................................6

Compaq Value-Added

Features.......................................7

Windows 95...............................9

Windows 98.............................10

Microsoft Windows NT

Workstation 4.0........................12

Windows 2000 Professional....14

Linux........................................17

DOS 6.2x & Windows 3.1x......19

Microsoft Windows NT 3.51.....20

IBM OS/2 Warp 3.0 & 4.0........20

Frequently Asked Questions....21

List of Tables.............................22

Compaq Portable Products – July 1999

Abstract: The purpose of this White Paper is to present operating system features supported on Compaq portable computers. Compaq supports Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, Windows 98, Windows 95, across all products and Windows 2000 Beta 3, Windows for Workgroups 3.1x, Windows 3.1x, DOS 6.2x, and IBM OS/2 Warp across selected platforms.

In addition to features inherently supported in the operating system itself, Compaq also provides software to enhance the user experience and usability of the mobile PC. Features supported through Compaq software are described in this paper.

This is the seventh edition of the document. This edition includes information about:

• Operating system support for the new Armada E700, M700, and

M300, as well as newer models of the Armada 1500c, Armada 1750, Armada 7400 and Armada 7800 families.

• Support for Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition and

Windows 2000 Beta 3.

• Support for the Linux operating system on the Armada 7400 and

7800 families.

Operating System Support for Compaq Portable Products 2

Notice

The information in this publication is subject to change withou t notice an d is provided “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. THE ENTIRE RISK ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF THIS INFORMATION REMAINS WITH RECIPIENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL COMPAQ BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE OR OTHER DAMAGES WHATSOEVER (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION OR LOSS OF BUSINESS INFORMATION), EVEN IF COMPAQ HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

The limited warranties for Compaq products are exclusively set forth in the documentation accompanying such products. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting a further or additional warranty.

This publication does not constitute an endo rsement of the product or products that were tested. The configuration or configurations tested or described may or may not be the only available solution. This test is not a determination or product quality or correctness, nor does it ensure compliance with any federal state or local requirements.

Product names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

Compaq, Compaq Insight Manager, LTE, ROMPaq, DirectPlus, QuickFind, RemotePaq, are registered United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Netelligent, Armada, LTE Elite, SoftPaq, MultiLock, QuickBlank, QuickLock, UltraView, and Compaq PC Card Solution logo are trademark s and/or service marks of Compaq Computer Corporation.

Microsoft, Windows, Windows NT, Windows NT Server and Workstation, Microsoft SQL Server for Windows NT are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

NetWare and Novell are registered trademarks and intraNetWare, NDS, and Novell Directory Services are trademarks of Novell, Inc.

White Paper prepared by Portables Software Marketing Seventh Edition (July 1999)

Document Number 0152-0899-A

NA120D/0199

Operating System Support for Compaq Portable Products 3

Highlights

This is the seventh edition of the document. This edition includes information about:

• Operating system support for the new Armada E700, M700, and M300, as well as newer

models of the Armada 1500c, Armada 1750, Armada 7400 and Armada 7800 families.

• Support for Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition. and Windows 2000 Beta 3.

• Support for the Linux operating system on the Armada 7400 and 7800 families.

Defining Support

Compaq supports all operating systems that are currently factory preinstalled on its portable computers. Today, the preinstalled operating systems are Windows 98, Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0. Refer to Table 1 for information about the specific versions that are preinstalled. These operating systems support most hardware features.

Note: In this White Paper, all references to Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 refer to Windows NT Workstation 4.0. Likewise, all references to Windows 2000 refer to Windows 2000 Professional. Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 and Windows 2000 Server are not supported on Compaq Armada portables.

For legacy operating systems such as Windows 3.1x, Windows 95 Retail and OSR1, Windows NT 3.51 or IBM OS/2 Warp 3.0 & 4.0, Compaq provides support on selected product families; however, limitations in the operating system may prevent enabling of new hardware functionality included on newer hardware platforms.

Support Software

Compaq provides BIOS, drivers and applications to enable hardware features, extend functionality help manage your PC, or add functionality not provided by the native operating system. This Compaq software support is available to customers in a number of different ways including various support CD-ROM (CD) disks, individual SoftPaq diskettes and the Compaq Web site. See the white paper titled Alternative Software Delivery for Armada Portables for more information.

Compaq QuickRestore

The Compaq QuickRestore Kit is provided with models of the Armada 7400 and Armada 7800 announced in 1999 and Armada 1500c, Armada 1750, Armada E700, Armada M700, and Armada M300 families. The QuickRestore Kit consists of a System Recovery CD (SRCD) and an Application Recovery CD (ARCD). The SRCD allows customers to fully restore or refresh the original factory installed image. The ARCD allows customers to selectively refresh drivers, utilities, or applications included on the original factory installed image excluding the operating system.

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The Compaq QuickRestore CD is provided with models of the Armada 7400 and 7800 announced in 1998 and Armada 1500

On selected models only.

, 1700, 3500, 42002, 6500, and notebooks. The CD provides an easy to

Operating System Support for Compaq Portable Products 4

use and complete restore solution. The solution allows customers to perform a complete restore by reformatting the hard drive and restoring the image to its original pre-install state.

Compaq Software CD

The Compaq Software CD is made available for each portable product at the time of announcement beginning with products introduced in 1997. The Software CD contains all drivers, utilities and Compaq software for all supported operating systems including those that have been preinstalled. The Software CD does not include the operating system itself. Customers can purchase the Software CD by contacting Compaq Customer Service & Support.

The Compaq Software CD is not available for products announced in 2Q98 or later. The Compaq QuickRestore CD includes all software included on the factory installed hard drive image as well as the operating system itself. Together these two aspects provide a more comprehensive recovery solution than was previously provided by the Compaq Software CD.

The Armada 6500 ships with the Compaq Software CD. This CD provides additional software not included as part of the factory pre-install. Applications included on the CD are described in the White Paper titled Armada 6500 Software Overview, First Edition, September 1998.

Compaq Support Software CD

The Compaq Support Software CD set is another way for customers to get access to the latest drivers and software for their computer. This set of CDs is updated monthly with new files that are also made available on the Compaq Web site. This CD contains support files for Compaq commercial portables, desktop and workstation computers. It is the ideal tool for the corporate IS professional responsible for maintaining a number of different types of Compaq personal computers. The Software Support CD set can be purchased via an annual subscription or as a onetime purchase.

Customers who do not need the additional convenience of having all drivers and other support software on single CD can download individual software drivers and utilities, called SoftPaqs, from the Compaq Web site at http://www.compaq.com/.

System Enhancement Diskette

On some platforms, Compaq provides the System Enhancements diskette. This utility is available as a SoftPaq on the Compaq Web site or on the Compaq Support Software CD. This utility features an automated installation and includes all operating system fixes from Microsoft, registry modifications, and INF changes included on the hard drive image pre-installed by Compaq. For customers who create their own hard drive image, it is important that this utility be installed.

Preinstalled Operating Systems

Compaq currently gives customers the choice of Microsoft Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows NT 4.0 as the preinstalled operating system. All three operating systems are provided on select models in select regions. See Table 1 for details by product family.

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Operating System Support for Compaq Portable Products 5

Table 1. Pre-Installed Operating Systems

Armada Product Families

Armada E700

Armada M700

Armada M300

Armada 7800 and 7400

Armada 7700 and 7300

Armada 6500

Armada 4200

Armada 4100

Armada 3500

DOS

Windows NT

4.0 with SP4

Windows NT

4.0 with SP3

Windows 98 Second

Edition

Windows 95 OSR 2.1 and

Windows 95

Windows 98 Retail

OSR 2.1 or

2.5

Windows 95 OSR1

Windows NT

4.0 SP2 Dual Installation

Windows

3.1x and Windows 95 OSR 1 Dual Installation

YES NO YES NO YES NO NO NO

YES NO NO

YES

YES NO NO NO

NO YES NO NO YES NO NO NO

NO YES NO NO YES NO YES

NO YES NO YES YES NO NO NO

NO NO NO NO YES NO NO NO

NO NO NO NO YES

YES

NO NO

NO YES NO YES YES NO NO NO

Armada 1750

Armada 1700

Armada 1500c

Armada 1500

LTE 5000

NO YES NO YES YES NO NO NO

NO NO NO NO YES NO YES

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO YES

Windows NT 4 Service Pack 3 is available on selected models in selected regions.

Windows 98 Second Edition is recommended to fully utilize Advanced Config uration and Power Management (ACPI).

Windows 98 is available on selected models in selected regions.

Compaq currently installs OSR2.1 and IE4. 01 on the Armada 1500c, 1700 and 3500 providing a consistent prei nstall base for customers transitioning from the Armada 1500 family. Compaq currently installs OS R 2.1 and IE4.01 on the Arm ada 6500, providing a consistent preinstall base for customers transitioning from the Dig ital Ultra 2000 family. The latest QFEs from Microsoft are always included as part of the preinstall.

The Armada M300 will be released with Windows 98 Retail preinstalled and with A dvanced Power Manageme nt (APM) enabled. A Windows 98 Second Edition CD from Microsoft will be included in Armada M300 product shipments for customers wishing to upgrade to Window s 98 Second Edition.

Compaq discontinued dual installations on the Armada 7710MT, 7730MT, 7750MT, 7330MT and 7350MT beginning in 3Q97.

Windows 95 OSR 2.1 was installed on the Armada 4150, 4150T, and 4 160T.

Windows 95 OSR1 was preinstalled on the Armada 4100, 4110, 4115, 4110D, 4120, 4125D, 4120T, 4125T, 4130T, 4136T, 413 5T ,

4131T only.

Compaq discontinu ed dual installations on the Armada 1530DM, 1550DMT and 1580DM T beginning in 3Q97.

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Operating System Support for Compaq Portable Products 6

Supported Operating Systems

In addition to supporting preinstalled operating systems, Compaq offers support for legacy operating systems that are not preinstalled. Table 2 summarizes support offered for each operating system by product family.

Table 2. Supported Operating Systems

Armada Product Families

Armada E700

Armada M700

Armada M300

Armada 7800 and 7400

Armada 7700 and 7300

Armada 6500

Armada 4200

Armada 4100

Armada 3500

Armada 1750

Windows 2000 Beta 3

YES YES YES NO YES YES YES NO NO NO NO

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

NO NO YES YES YES YES YES NO NO NO NO

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES NO YES NO

NO YES YES YES YES YES YES

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES NO YES NO

Windows NT 4.0 with SP5

Windows NT 4.0 with SP4

Windows NT 4.0 with SP3

Windows 98 Second Edition

Windows 98 Retail

Windows 95 OSR

2.1 or OSR 2.5

Windows 95 OSR 1

YES

Windows NT 3.51 DOS/

YES

YES YES YES

Windows

3.1x

YES NO

YES YES

OS/2 Warp 3.0 & 4.0

Armada 1700

Armada 1500c

Armada 1500

LTE 5000

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YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES NO YES NO

NO NO YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES NO

NO NO YES YES YES YES NO YES YES YES YES

The following sections list major Compaq software enhancements for each supported operating system. Customers should refer to the Compaq Web site or Compaq Support Software CD for the latest revisions and information regarding these software components.

Extended feature support for Windows 95 OSR2 on the Armada 4150, 4150T and 4160T

Standard Windows 95 OSR1 feature support is offered for the Armada 4150, 4150T and 4160T. Extended feature support for

Windows 95 OSR1 is offered on all other Armada 4100 models.

Operating System Support for Compaq Portable Products 7

Compaq Value-Added Features

Table 3 summarizes major software functionality and hardware supported on Compaq portable computers for each operating system. Some of this support is provided through Compaq device drivers and utilities, while other support is inherent to the operating system. Refer to the legend at the end of the table for a description of the entries. The list is not intended to be exhaustive; only a high level review of functional areas found to be of most interest to Compaq portable customers are noted.

Table 3. Compaq Value-Added Features

Audio Drivers

Video Drivers

Windows 2000 Beta 3 Windows 98

CVA CVA CVA CVA CVA CVA

Windows NT

4.0 Windows 95

Windows NT

3.51

DOS & Windows 3.1x

OS/2 Warp

3.0 & 4.0

Power Management Standby OS CVA CVA CVA CVA CVA CVA

Hibernation OS CVA CVA CVA CVA CVA CVA Power conservation

timers ACPI Support

APM Support CVA/ OS CVA/OS CVA/OS OS NA OS

Programmable Keys

OS CVA/OS CVA CVA CVA CVA CVA

CVA/OS CVA/OS NA NA NA NA NA

CVA CVA CVA CVA CVA CVA

PC Card 16 Support OS OS CVA/OS OS OS CVA OS PC Card CardBus

(32-bit) Support

OS OS CVA OS NA CVA

Plug-and-Play Support for PC

OS OS CVA

OS NA CVA NA

Cards

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Compaq Ethernet Network Drivers

Some features are not supported on all platforms where limitations in the hardware prevent a feature from being enabled.

Audio drivers with Compaq value added features will be available for sele cted Armada models to support commercial vers ions of

Windows 2000.

Video drivers with Compaq value added features will be available for selected Armada models to support commercial versions of

Windows 2000.

Includes all activity-based timers that power down used components after a user-defined period of inactivity.

ACPI requires support in the hardware, in the BIOS, and in the operating system. Most Armada models have hardware and BIOS

CVA CVA CVA CVA CVA CVA OS

support. See Table 6 f or a list of Armada families that support ACPI. Windows 2000 and Windows 98 Second Edition offer ACPI support in the operating system.

Microsoft Windows 3.1x does support APM version 1.1.

Customers interested in power management support under IBM OS/2 Warp should contact IBM directly for more information.

CVA support for programmable keys will be available to support commercial versions of Windows 2000.

Armada 1500 and Armada 7000 families only.

For Plug-and-Play support, some limitations exist with some PC Cards and are dependent on the PC Card drivers. Contact your P C

Card vendor for mo re information about Plug-and-Play support under Windows NT 4. 0.

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