SOFTPAQ NUMBER: SP15616
PART NUMBER: N/A
FILE NAME: N/A
TITLE: Armada E500/V300 System BIOS (ROMPaq)
VERSION: 686N_2000.0826 Rev A
LANGUAGE: English (US)

CATEGORY: ROMPaqs and System Software

DIVISIONS: Portables

PRODUCTS AFFECTED: 
     Armada E500 Family: All Models
     Armada V300 Family: All Models

OPERATING SYSTEM: Microsoft Windows 2000
                  Microsoft Windows 98
                  Microsoft Windows 95
                  Microsoft Windows for Workgroups 3.11
                  Microsoft Windows 3.1
                  Microsoft Windows NT 4.0
                  Microsoft Windows NT 3.51
                  IBM OS/2

SYSTEM CONFIGURATION: N/A

PREREQUISITES: N/A

EFFECTIVE DATE: September 21, 2000

ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTION ALLOWED: Yes

SOFTPAQ UTILITY VERSION: 5.0

SUPERSEDES: SP14885

DESCRIPTION: This SoftPaq contains the system BIOS upgrade (ROMPaq) for the 
Armada notebook family and models listed in PRODUCTS AFFECTED.  The BIOS 
interfaces directly with the hardware of system.

ENHANCEMENTS/FIXES:
 - An internal change was made to fix an improper date.

Enhancements in this release include changes that were also implemented in 
previous ROM versions:
 - A memory buffer strength register was modified to fix a 128 MB DIMM problem.
 - A new ATI video BIOS version 4.238 was incorporated into the System BIOS.
 - A new check of the ArmadaStation EM keylock is performed when an operating 
	system dock ejection is performed.
 - The F000h Motherboard resource was added for ESS audio.
 - A fix to the ArmadaStation EM so the eject button will work on warm boot was added.
 - The panel brightness table was adjusted and support for Hitachi panels was added.
 - Resolves an issue under Windows 2000 where an undock message did not appear 
   when the Armada notebook computer was undocked from a Compaq Armada docking 
   station.
 - Resolves an issue where the Armada notebook experiences a system lockup when 
   running the Windows NT 4.0 operating system. This problem only occurs the first 
   time SETUP is run by a new customer.
 - Resolves video issues that occured during docking resume.
 - Adds Easy Access Button support.
 - Resolved an issue with docking/undocking lockup after the screen times out in 
   Windows 98 ACPI mode.
 - Resolved a dock change issue that occured during Suspend/Resume in Windows 2000.
 - Added support for CPU speeds up to 800 MHz.

HOW TO USE

1. Obtain a formatted 1.44-MB diskette.

2.  Download the ROMPaq/SoftPaq to a directory on your hard drive and change to 
that directory.  The file that is downloaded is an executable with a filename 
based on the ROMPaq/SoftPaq Number above.

3.  From that drive and directory, execute the downloaded file 
and follow the on-screen instructions.  You will be prompted to 
insert the formatted diskette in a drive to create the diskette.

4.  After the diskette has been created, you may delete the  
SoftPaq file downloaded in step 2.

5.  Turn off the computer.

6.  Place the newly created Compaq Armada E500/V300 ROMPaq Diskette in Drive A: 
and turn on the computer.  Follow the instructions on the screen to upgrade the 
System BIOS.

IMPORTANT: DO NOT TURN OFF POWER TO THE COMPUTER WHILE PERFORMING THIS PROCEDURE!

Copyright 2000, Compaq Computer Corporation.  All rights reserved.

Product names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered
trademarks of their respective companies