need help getting Backpack external CD drive working with a Compaq LTE 5200
Posted by Federal_Repair1919@reddit | vintagecomputing | View on Reddit | 14 comments
the laptop is running MS-DOS 6.22
tried various different drivers and nothing worked so i'm asking to see if i'm missing something
the drive itself seemingly works fine powered on
glencanyon@reddit
I'm confused by that cable. That looks like a laplink cable to me.
Federal_Repair1919@reddit (OP)
i have this, it looks like a parallel cable but one of the ends is wrong so i have that adapter on it, could this work somehow? it didn't when i tried it but im wondering if theres more i can do
rkrenicki@reddit
That cable is probably not correct. That appears to be a laplink serial cable, and you need a parallel cable.
Federal_Repair1919@reddit (OP)
i have this, it looks like a parallel cable but one of the ends is wrong so i have that adapter on it, could this work?
redditshreadit@reddit
Is it a parallel port device. Is you parallel port set to EPP or ECP.
Federal_Repair1919@reddit (OP)
how do i set that? the only parallel port options in the BIOS are 378, IRQ 7 and 3BC, IRQ 7
redditshreadit@reddit
If your parallel port can't do bidirectional, it won't work.
Federal_Repair1919@reddit (OP)
the thing is, i know this exact drive was used with this exact laptop before
redditshreadit@reddit
Same cable?
Federal_Repair1919@reddit (OP)
no, should i use a different kind of cable?
redditshreadit@reddit
You have to use the correct cable.
Federal_Repair1919@reddit (OP)
and which one may that be?
redditshreadit@reddit
I think it's a straight through cable, male at one end, female at the other, pin 1 to pin 1, pin 2 to pin 2, pin 3 to pin 3, etc. What cable do you have?
Federal_Repair1919@reddit (OP)
a straight through parallel cable? ok ill try to find one and see if it works, thanks