Compaq Contura

Urby · 04-20-2007, 07:24 AM

Hey folks,

I've got an old Compaq Contura 410c laptop circa 1995ish. The WD 256mb harddrive is toast, but from what I can tell it still works. I'm wondering what would be involved in turning it into a digital picture frame by hooking it up to boot off of a 256mb thumb drive. This laptop only has a 1.44" drive and a few standard serial/parallel ports at the back. Not even a usb port.

I guess this is turning into more of a mod question. I'm not expecting it to be a simple soldering job.

Thanks.
Urby

**Fox** · 04-20-2007, 06:09 PM

I don't think you will ever get this machine to boot off a thumb drive. Unless it's supported by a machine's BIOS, there's pretty much no way to do it.

Although it is definitely possible to achieve what you're looking to do. You'll need to get some sort of OS on there- maybe an archaic version of Linux? As well as the X Window system and a decent window manager. I just hope the screen's resolution is good enough to show a downsized version of the pictures...

Without a modern linux kernel, I don't think you're going to get it to read a thumbdrive through a PCMCIA usb adapter (if you can even find one, and if this machine has said slots).

Keep in mind the pros and cons of spending time on it- I mean, if it's worth your while as a learning experience, definitely go for it. It'll be a challenge, and I'm pretty sure this is possible. But anything you'd need to buy to make it happen would probably be around the cost of a cheaper digital frame.

**Fox** · 04-20-2007, 06:12 PM

Also, I just checked out the specs here, and noticed the color depth only supports 8-bit color. While it would in theory allow X and windows 95 to run, it won't display pictures to your satisfaction.

And in fact, I just noticed that this page actually states explicitly that it's "...Not really suitiable for a picture frame as only a 8bit (256 colour) LCD."

Urby · 04-21-2007, 08:49 AM

Hi Fox,

Thanks for your input. I was expecting as much.

My initial hope was to salvage the screen and use it as a secondary monitor to a desktop. After I read up on how it would take a fortune for the necessary hardware to get that idea to work, I decided to look at the picture frame. Now that the frame idea is dead, I guess I'll have to toss it or come up with another use.

Urby

**Fox** · 04-21-2007, 12:42 PM

If you don't have any linux machines, it would be a nice little toss-around workstation for an older distribution of redhat or slackware :)

Pretty much anything will do if you're just learning the basic *nix commands and directory structures.

04-20-2007, 07:24 AM	#1 (permalink)
Urby Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 20 OS: XP Home SP2	Compaq Contura Hey folks, I've got an old Compaq Contura 410c laptop circa 1995ish. The WD 256mb harddrive is toast, but from what I can tell it still works. I'm wondering what would be involved in turning it into a digital picture frame by hooking it up to boot off of a 256mb thumb drive. This laptop only has a 1.44" drive and a few standard serial/parallel ports at the back. Not even a usb port. I guess this is turning into more of a mod question. I'm not expecting it to be a simple soldering job. Thanks. Urby

04-20-2007, 06:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
Fox TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NJ Posts: 7,752 OS: XP Pro, CentOS My System	Re: Compaq Contura I don't think you will ever get this machine to boot off a thumb drive. Unless it's supported by a machine's BIOS, there's pretty much no way to do it. Although it is definitely possible to achieve what you're looking to do. You'll need to get some sort of OS on there- maybe an archaic version of Linux? As well as the X Window system and a decent window manager. I just hope the screen's resolution is good enough to show a downsized version of the pictures... Without a modern linux kernel, I don't think you're going to get it to read a thumbdrive through a PCMCIA usb adapter (if you can even find one, and if this machine has said slots). Keep in mind the pros and cons of spending time on it- I mean, if it's worth your while as a learning experience, definitely go for it. It'll be a challenge, and I'm pretty sure this is possible. But anything you'd need to buy to make it happen would probably be around the cost of a cheaper digital frame. __________________ Antec Neo Power 500W, ABIT IP35-E, Intel E2180@2.66Ghz, Corsair XMS2 2x1GB DDR2-800, PNY 8800GT, 320GB Seagate * lazy college student alert *- If I've inadvertently ignored a thread, please Let me know about it Have I helped you solve your problem? Donate to Techsupportforums Klart Skepp!

04-20-2007, 06:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
Fox TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NJ Posts: 7,752 OS: XP Pro, CentOS My System	Re: Compaq Contura Also, I just checked out the specs here, and noticed the color depth only supports 8-bit color. While it would in theory allow X and windows 95 to run, it won't display pictures to your satisfaction. And in fact, I just noticed that this page actually states explicitly that it's "...Not really suitiable for a picture frame as only a 8bit (256 colour) LCD." __________________ Antec Neo Power 500W, ABIT IP35-E, Intel E2180@2.66Ghz, Corsair XMS2 2x1GB DDR2-800, PNY 8800GT, 320GB Seagate * lazy college student alert *- If I've inadvertently ignored a thread, please Let me know about it Have I helped you solve your problem? Donate to Techsupportforums Klart Skepp!

04-21-2007, 08:49 AM	#4 (permalink)
Urby Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 20 OS: XP Home SP2	Re: Compaq Contura Hi Fox, Thanks for your input. I was expecting as much. My initial hope was to salvage the screen and use it as a secondary monitor to a desktop. After I read up on how it would take a fortune for the necessary hardware to get that idea to work, I decided to look at the picture frame. Now that the frame idea is dead, I guess I'll have to toss it or come up with another use. Urby

04-21-2007, 12:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
Fox TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NJ Posts: 7,752 OS: XP Pro, CentOS My System	Re: Compaq Contura If you don't have any linux machines, it would be a nice little toss-around workstation for an older distribution of redhat or slackware :) Pretty much anything will do if you're just learning the basic nix commands and directory structures. __________________ Antec Neo Power 500W, ABIT IP35-E, Intel E2180@2.66Ghz, Corsair XMS2 2x1GB DDR2-800, PNY 8800GT, 320GB Seagate lazy college student alert *- If I've inadvertently ignored a thread, please Let me know about it Have I helped you solve your problem? Donate to Techsupportforums Klart Skepp!