Vintage Compaq SLT/386s/20 laptop Boots to DOS, power supply, CMOS dead working For Sale

Vintage Compaq SLT/386s/20 laptop Boots to DOS, power supply, CMOS dead working
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Vintage Compaq SLT/386s/20 laptop Boots to DOS, power supply, CMOS dead working:
$345.00

intage Compaq SLT/386s/20 laptop, one of Compaq's earliest laptop models (1990) and the faster, less common successor to the original SLT/286 (Compaq's first laptop line, notable for being among the first laptops with a backlit VGA display).

Condition/Function: Currently boots to DOS from floppy disk(Dos disk not is inluded in the sale). Previously booted into Windows 95 as recently as 1-2 years ago. The CMOS battery has died, which causes an "Invalid drive specification" error on the C: drive — this is a known, common issue on machines this age, and is very likely a configuration issue rather than a failed hard drive, though I haven't been able to confirm that further myself. Fixing it would require a Compaq setup/diagnostics floppy and re-entering the drive parameters.

There is a small crack on the front, what looks like an ink glob on the back cover, and corrosion in the battery compartment, yellowing and surface grime throughout. The case is pretty dusty from sitting in a closet for over 30 years. Enter key is sticking All issues clearly pictured.

Included:

  • The laptop itself
  • Original dead battery pack (expected at this age, not a red flag — wouldn't power on with it installed)
  • Power supply and cable
  • Original Compaq carrying case
  • Again, the floppy disk with dos is NOT included

What I can't verify: I haven't been able to get the CMOS issue resolved or test beyond booting to DOS via floppy. Selling as-is, with full disclosure of the known issue.

Why it matters: this is a genuinely significant piece of laptop history — one of the earliest true laptops, predating the "luggable" era successors, from a company that helped define the category.

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Documentation