SOFTPAQ NUMBER: SP2758 PART NUMBER: 255044-004 FILE NAME: N/A TITLE: ROMPAQ Upgrade for Armada 1500 (17 May 1997) VERSION: 586P_051797 Rev A LANGUAGE: English CATEGORY: ROMPaq PRODUCTS AFFECTED: Compaq Armada 1500 Series OPERATING SYSTEM: N/A SYSTEM CONFIGURATION: N/A EFFECTIVE DATE: 17 May 1997 ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTION ALLOWED: Yes SUPERSEDES: N/A DESCRIPTION: This creates the ROMpaq Firmware Upgrade Diskette for the Compaq Armada 1500 Series, which allows a user to upgrade to a 05/17/97 System ROM. The new BIOS has enhancements to correct miscellaneous issues including the following: -Spin Down Feature: Many portable hard drives, including the Armada 1500 hard drives do not include a 'patrol seek' feature. The 5/17/97 ROM offsets this by automatically spinning down the hard drive after 60 minutes of inactivity. This prevents the possibility of physical wear of the hard drive surface, which can lead to a shorter hard drive life. -Alternate Supplier Support: With Compaq's continual effort to qualify alternate suppliers for Sales options and Service spares, it is necessary that consumers who purchase certain Armada 1500 hard drive options or obtain replacement hard drives under warranty upgrade to this new ROM. -System Hang when the CRT is unplugged: In certain unusual circumstances, the unit can hang when a monitor is unplugged during operation and the resolution is changed. -While charging a battery, system will shut down if AC is disconnected while the system is going into or coming out of hibernation. -While charging a Li-Ion battery and placing the unit in standby, quickly removing AC power after depressing the standby button will prevent the user from resuming from standby. Re-inserting the battery or plugging in AC power will re-boot the system, but all suspend data will be lost. -Allows formatting and using of 3.5 floppy diskettes in Japanese format. HOW TO USE: 1. Download the SoftPaq to a directory on your hard drive and change to that directory. The file that is downloaded is a self-extracting executable with a filename based on the SoftPaq Number above. 2. From that drive and directory, execute the downloaded file and follow the on-screen instructions to decompress the files. The number of files to be created and total file size is displayed. You will be given the chance to specify the target directory for the files, or default to the download directory. 3. After the files have been created, you may delete the self-extracting file downloaded in step 1. 4. Power down the computer. 5. Place the newly created Compaq Armada 1500 ROMpaq Diskette in Drive A: and power up the computer. Follow the instructions on the screen to upgrade the System ROM. IMPORTANT: DO NOT TURN OFF POWER TO THE SYSTEM WHILE PERFORMING THIS PROCEDURE! Copyright 1996, 1997 Compaq Computer Corporation. All rights reserved. Product names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies