HP COMPAQ DESKPRO EP, COMPAQ DESKPRO EXS, COMPAQ DESKPRO /M, COMPAQ DESKPRO EN, COMPAQ DESKPRO XL User Manual
...
®
[August 1995
Compaq Computer
Corporation
CONTENTS
Introduction ....................1
Background ....................3
Update............................3
Questions and
Answers..........................4
Compaq Product
BIOS Upgr ade
Requirements..................6
Plug and Play is the
PC industry term
for the technology
that allows the PC
to understand the
user’s intentions to
install options and
to automatically
configure options
while resolving
conflicts with other
options.
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Plug and Play White Paper
Compaq is leading PC manufacturers in solving the last hurdle of difficulty for PC
owners — feeling comfortable about, and successfully modifying their system’s
hardware.
This White Paper includes new information about Compaq's current status in Plug and
Play development and implementation, plus an overview of what is in store for the future
of Compaq Plug and Play-ready products.
Plug and Play-ready Personal Computers rely generally on three parts; the PC's BIOS
(Basic Input/Output Services), Plug and Play-ready peripheral options, and the
Microsoft
will be able to identify newly added peripheral options and network connections,
allocate resources, and automatically re-configure the system set up.
Windows 95 operating system. Windows 95 and the Plug and Play BIOS
95
040A/0895 1
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NOTICE
The information in this publication is subject to change without notice.
COMPAQ CO MPUTER CORPORATION SHALL NO T BE LIABLE FOR
TECHNICAL OR EDIT ORIAL ERRORS OR OMISSIONS CO NTAINED
HEREIN, NO R FOR INCIDENTAL OR CO NSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
RESULTING FROM T HE FURNISHING, PERFORMANCE, O R USE OF
THIS MATERIAL.
This publication does not constitute an endorsement 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 of product quality or correctness, nor does it ensure
compliance with any federal, state or local requirements. Compaq does not warrant products
other than its own strictly as stated in Compaq product warranties.
Product names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their
respective companies.
Compaq, Contura, Deskpro, Fastart, Compaq Insight Manager, LTE, PageMarq, Systempro,
Systempro/LT, ProLiant, TwinTray, LicensePaq, QVision, SLT, ProLinea, SmartStart, NetFlex,
DirectPlus, QuickFind, RemotePaq, BackPaq, TechPaq, SpeedPaq, QuickBack, PaqFax,
registered United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Aero, Concerto, QuickChoice, ProSignia, Systempro/XL, Net1, SilentCool, LTE Elite, Presario,
SmartStation, MiniStation, Vocalyst, PageMate, SoftPaq, FirstPaq, SolutionPaq, EasyPoint, EZ
Help, MaxLight, MultiLock, QuickBlank, QuickLock, TriFlex Architecture and UltraView,
CompaqCare and the Innovate logo, are trademarks and/or service marks of Compaq Computer
Corporation.
Other product names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their
respective companies.
©1995 Compaq Computer Corporation. Printed in the U.S.A.
Microsoft, Windows, Windows NT, Windows NT Advanced Server, SQL Server for Windows
NT are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
95 (cont.) Plug and Play White Paper
040A/0895 2
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BACKGROUND — THE NEED FOR PLUG AND PLAY
PC owners from time to time encounter problems installing new options for their PCs. New
users may perceive PCs as being challenging to set-up and modify, and opt not to purchase a PC
altogether. Retailers see add-in option cards returned by customers who can’t make them work.
The solution to these dilemmas is coming from the Plug and Play initiative formed by Compaq,
Intel, Microsoft, and Phoenix Technologies.
Plug and Play is the industry term for the technology that allows the PC to understand the user’s
intentions to install option cards, for example a sound card, into the PC and automatically
configure it. Users can install new options that work the first time without disrupting anything
else in the PC.
Plug and Play firmware automatically configures the system’s bus and sets key technology
parameters for Plug and Play-ready add-in cards. Until now, users had to set these parameters
manually, a complex and problematic exercise that could confuse and frustrate. When combined
with features included in Microsoft’s forthcoming “Windows 95” operating system, Plug and
Play will greatly simplify the process of setting up personal computer systems.
What has happened recently?
Steady Leadership.
Compaq's steady accomplishments have decisively secured its position as the PC leader in Plug
and Play technology. This achievement arose by being the first to ship Plug and Play-ready
products compatible with Microsoft's upcoming Windows 95 operating system and Plug and
Play-ready peripheral options.
Compaq was the first PC maker to ship products with a Plug and Play BIOS. By continuing to
work closely with Microsoft, Compaq ensures its Plug and Play-ready PCs to be fully compatible
with the Windows 95 operating system. Compaq also established extensive compatibility testing
support to Independent Hardware Vendors (IHVs) in major Plug and Play interoperability
workshops, such as the Plug and Play Association's PlugFest. These activities add to Compaq's
solid Plug and Play background and build upon its earlier influence in establishing the Plug and
Play Specification.
Making its public debut at the Microsoft WinHEC show in February 1994, the Compaq LTE
Elite notebook PC was used by Microsoft to demonstrate another Plug and Play feature and a PCindustry first - "warm-docking" using the Windows 95 operating system. Warm docking is a
Plug and Play feature referring to the notebook automatically docking or seating into a docking
station while the notebook PC is in the standby power conservation state.
The Plug and Play BIOS is compatible with several bus architectures including ISA, PCMCIA,
and PCI. EISA-based products already operate in a Plug and Play manner and do not need a
Plug and Play BIOS. Compaq contributed significant technology and industry standardization to
the EISA standard, and is now building on its industry leadership by bringing this Plug and Playtype technology in an updated form into the Plug and Play Specification.
During the development of Microsoft Windows 95, Compaq fine-tuned the Plug and Play BIOS.
Previous BIOS editions included versions .98 and 1.0. Since 1994 Compaq has been shipping
products with the 1.0a BIOS, which is fully forward compatible with any new Windows 95
iteration. Compaq committed to bring this technology to market as quickly as possible, and is
prepared to provide this forward compatibility to customers.
95 (cont.) Plug and Play White Paper
040A/0895 3
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What will happen next?
All shipping Compaq products incorporate the 1.0a Plug and Play BIOS. Compaq and Microsoft
continue to work closely together with all major independent hardware vendors to ensure that
their upcoming peripheral options will be fully compatible with Compaq PCs running
Windows 95.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. Is there a way to have Plug and Play with Windows 3.1?
2. Can products without the Plug and Play BIOS be Windows 95-ready?
3. Are all Compaq products currently Plug and Play-ready?
4. What about older Compaq products?
95 (cont.) Plug and Play White Paper
Compaq developed an exclusive Plug and Play solution for Windows 3.1 by providing
Computer Setup for Windows (CSW) 2.0. Intended to provide users Plug and Play features
before availability of Windows 95, CSW 2.0 supports the auto-configuring and conflict
resolution of Plug and Play ISA boards. In combination with the Plug and Play BIOS, CSW
2.0 provides the highest level of Plug and Play support available under Windows 3.1.
Yes. Even PCs that do not support Plug and Play can run Windows 95. Any PC that is
compatible with Windows 3.1 will be compatible with Windows 95. However, PCs that do
not have a Plug and Play BIOS cannot take advantage of all the Plug and Play features in
Windows 95.
All currently shipping Compaq PCs are Plug and Play-ready.
In order to utilize Windows 95 Plug and Play features, a PC must have a BIOS that meets
the revision 1.0a of the Plug and Play specification. Compaq products currently shipping
with the 1.0a BIOS include the Compaq ProLinea, Deskpro, Deskpro XL, Presario 500, 700,
and 900 series, LTE Elite, Contura Aero, and Contura 400 series notebook PCs.
In addition, a more recent BIOS upgrade has been made available for Compaq Aero and
Compaq Contura 400 series portable products. This latest update is also 1.0a revision, but
includes fine-tuning changes identified during testing with the latest beta versions of
Windows 95 and changes made to capitalize on Windows 95 features..
There were some products which were shipped during 1994 with earlier versions of the Plug
and Play BIOS that users may need to upgrade to version 1.0a. An upgrade of the Plug and
Play BIOS to 1.0a is available to take full advantage of Windows 95 Plug and Play features.
Compaq has provided BIOS upgrades to customers through the usual channels, such as
through Service fulfillment or Resellers.
Some Compaq products were designed and developed long before they were able to
incorporate the Plug and Play Specification and therefore were never intended to be Plug and
Play-ready. There will be no Plug and Play BIOS upgrade plan for those products.
040A/0895 4
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5. Do any Compaq products REQUIRE an upgrade to be Plug and Play
6. How do I get these BIOS upgrades?
95 (cont.) Plug and Play White Paper
ready?
The Pentium-based Compaq Deskpro XE products shipped with a standard ROM, without
Plug and Play support. The Compaq Deskpro XE 486-based products contain the Plug and
Play BIOS version 1.0. These products were announced November 1, 1993, months before
the Plug and Play BIOS specification was finalized at revision 1.0a. Because of Compaq’s
heavy involvement and leadership in the Plug and Play Association, Compaq was able to
incorporate the BIOS in these products early on. These 486- and Pentium-based Deskpro
XE products can be upgraded to the 1.0a BIOS via Flash ROM.
The enhanced Compaq ProLinea desktops that were announced in April 1994, and the
Compaq Presario 600 series desktops contain a socketed Plug and Play BIOS ROM version
1.0. The 1.0a version was finalized May 6, 1994 after these products were designed and
announced. Windows 95 upgrade will contain the ROM upgrades and automatically support
their Plug and Play capabilities. There is no need for the user to upgrade to version 1.0a.
The programs vary based on whether the products have a Flash ROM or Fixed ROM. Please
see the chart on the next page for details.
The column titled “Flash ROM Required” in the chart indicates that a ROM upgrade is
required and is available as files on a floppy diskette that will upgrade the ROM. The Flash
ROM upgrade is available through the Compaq Service ROMPaq program. In this case,
users are able to do the upgrade themselves or request Service to do it for them.
As mentioned above, for Compaq products that had 1.0 level BIOS and Fixed or socketed
Plug and Play BIOS ROMs, Windows 95 product itself will contain Compaq-specific
enhancements to automatically bring Compaq products with 1.0 level BIOS to the 1.0a level
of functionality. The column “Windows 95 ROM Fixes” indicates if this applies to the
products listed.
040A/0895 5
WINDOWS
FLASH ROM
UPGRADE
REQUIRED?
NO
NO
NO
NO
YES (1.0A)
YES (1.0A)
NO
NO
YES (1.0A)
YES *
YES *
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COMPAQ PRODUCT BIOS UPGRADE REQUIREMENTS
MODEL:PLUG AND PLAY
PRESARIO 600 SERIES
(SHIPPED AFTER APRIL 18 ‘94)
PRESARIO 500/700/900 SERIES
PROLINEA 4/33S, 4/50S, 4/50,
4/66, 4/100
(
SHIPPED AFTER APRIL 18 ‘94)
PROLINEA (CURRENTLY SHIPPING)
DESKPRO XE (486-BASED)
DESKPRO XE (PENTIUM-BASED)
DESKPRO (CURRENTLY SHIPPING)
DESKPRO XL
LTE ELITE
CONTURA AERO
CONTURA 400 SERIES
* The most recent ROM upgrade is suggested for Contura Aero and Contura 400 series portable
products. This upgrade includes changes made during final Windows 95 testing. This Flash
ROM Upgrade will be included with the Compaq Windows 95 Supplemental diskettes and
Compaq Windows 95 Upgrade option kits.
95 (cont.) Plug and Play White Paper
WINDOWS 95 INCLUDES
BIOS VERSION
ROM UPGRADE?
SHIPPED
1.0
1.0A
1.0
1.0A
OR 1.0
.98,
NONE
A
1.0
N/A - EISA
1.0
1.0
1.0A
YES
NOT NECESSARY
YES
NOT NECESSARY
NOT NECESSARY
NOT NECESSARY
NOT NECESSARY
NOT NECESSARY
NOT NECESSARY
NOT NECESSARY
NOT NECESSARY
040A/0895 6
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