Can anyone help me identify this computer?











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In my loft there is a computer with no branding that needs a new CMOS battery, and one that has the branding 'Tri Data' which I can't find anywhere on the internet.



enter image description here



It just shows a white screen as well and the keyboard doesn't want to work.



(The motherboard says HM386SX Rev 1.1)



enter image description here










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  • 1




    Could it be a customized Compaq Portable II en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compaq_Portable_II ? The size and layout seems to fit, but the panels differ, and the Compaq Portable II was 286 based.
    – UncleBod
    Dec 2 at 19:12










  • I thought it could be. It is definitely modified as there is a Mono-RGB switch on the side that isn't soldered to anything.
    – Alex Maurer Briggs
    Dec 2 at 19:30










  • If you are asking because you need to find a replacement battery, then a photo of the battery might help. Lots of motherboards have been using CR 2032 for the battery, but I have no idea if CR 2032 batteries have been produced with a brand label rather than the text CR 2032.
    – kasperd
    Dec 2 at 22:35










  • @kasperd well its 386SX ... so there is high possibility there is no CR2032 ... back in the days there where either 60mAh Accumulator pack (small cylinder cca ~2.0 cm, long and ~1.5cm in diameter soldered to board with 2 pins each on one base of the cylinder) or old style accupacks (black box cca ~1x1x4 cm with 2 wire cable ... usually glued to board) so no standard battery like we are used to today.
    – Spektre
    Dec 3 at 9:00

















up vote
5
down vote

favorite












In my loft there is a computer with no branding that needs a new CMOS battery, and one that has the branding 'Tri Data' which I can't find anywhere on the internet.



enter image description here



It just shows a white screen as well and the keyboard doesn't want to work.



(The motherboard says HM386SX Rev 1.1)



enter image description here










share|improve this question









New contributor




Alex Maurer Briggs is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
















  • 1




    Could it be a customized Compaq Portable II en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compaq_Portable_II ? The size and layout seems to fit, but the panels differ, and the Compaq Portable II was 286 based.
    – UncleBod
    Dec 2 at 19:12










  • I thought it could be. It is definitely modified as there is a Mono-RGB switch on the side that isn't soldered to anything.
    – Alex Maurer Briggs
    Dec 2 at 19:30










  • If you are asking because you need to find a replacement battery, then a photo of the battery might help. Lots of motherboards have been using CR 2032 for the battery, but I have no idea if CR 2032 batteries have been produced with a brand label rather than the text CR 2032.
    – kasperd
    Dec 2 at 22:35










  • @kasperd well its 386SX ... so there is high possibility there is no CR2032 ... back in the days there where either 60mAh Accumulator pack (small cylinder cca ~2.0 cm, long and ~1.5cm in diameter soldered to board with 2 pins each on one base of the cylinder) or old style accupacks (black box cca ~1x1x4 cm with 2 wire cable ... usually glued to board) so no standard battery like we are used to today.
    – Spektre
    Dec 3 at 9:00















up vote
5
down vote

favorite









up vote
5
down vote

favorite











In my loft there is a computer with no branding that needs a new CMOS battery, and one that has the branding 'Tri Data' which I can't find anywhere on the internet.



enter image description here



It just shows a white screen as well and the keyboard doesn't want to work.



(The motherboard says HM386SX Rev 1.1)



enter image description here










share|improve this question









New contributor




Alex Maurer Briggs is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











In my loft there is a computer with no branding that needs a new CMOS battery, and one that has the branding 'Tri Data' which I can't find anywhere on the internet.



enter image description here



It just shows a white screen as well and the keyboard doesn't want to work.



(The motherboard says HM386SX Rev 1.1)



enter image description here







identify-this-computer






share|improve this question









New contributor




Alex Maurer Briggs is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











share|improve this question









New contributor




Alex Maurer Briggs is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited Dec 2 at 19:28





















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Alex Maurer Briggs is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









asked Dec 2 at 18:00









Alex Maurer Briggs

264




264




New contributor




Alex Maurer Briggs is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.





New contributor





Alex Maurer Briggs is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.






Alex Maurer Briggs is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.








  • 1




    Could it be a customized Compaq Portable II en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compaq_Portable_II ? The size and layout seems to fit, but the panels differ, and the Compaq Portable II was 286 based.
    – UncleBod
    Dec 2 at 19:12










  • I thought it could be. It is definitely modified as there is a Mono-RGB switch on the side that isn't soldered to anything.
    – Alex Maurer Briggs
    Dec 2 at 19:30










  • If you are asking because you need to find a replacement battery, then a photo of the battery might help. Lots of motherboards have been using CR 2032 for the battery, but I have no idea if CR 2032 batteries have been produced with a brand label rather than the text CR 2032.
    – kasperd
    Dec 2 at 22:35










  • @kasperd well its 386SX ... so there is high possibility there is no CR2032 ... back in the days there where either 60mAh Accumulator pack (small cylinder cca ~2.0 cm, long and ~1.5cm in diameter soldered to board with 2 pins each on one base of the cylinder) or old style accupacks (black box cca ~1x1x4 cm with 2 wire cable ... usually glued to board) so no standard battery like we are used to today.
    – Spektre
    Dec 3 at 9:00
















  • 1




    Could it be a customized Compaq Portable II en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compaq_Portable_II ? The size and layout seems to fit, but the panels differ, and the Compaq Portable II was 286 based.
    – UncleBod
    Dec 2 at 19:12










  • I thought it could be. It is definitely modified as there is a Mono-RGB switch on the side that isn't soldered to anything.
    – Alex Maurer Briggs
    Dec 2 at 19:30










  • If you are asking because you need to find a replacement battery, then a photo of the battery might help. Lots of motherboards have been using CR 2032 for the battery, but I have no idea if CR 2032 batteries have been produced with a brand label rather than the text CR 2032.
    – kasperd
    Dec 2 at 22:35










  • @kasperd well its 386SX ... so there is high possibility there is no CR2032 ... back in the days there where either 60mAh Accumulator pack (small cylinder cca ~2.0 cm, long and ~1.5cm in diameter soldered to board with 2 pins each on one base of the cylinder) or old style accupacks (black box cca ~1x1x4 cm with 2 wire cable ... usually glued to board) so no standard battery like we are used to today.
    – Spektre
    Dec 3 at 9:00










1




1




Could it be a customized Compaq Portable II en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compaq_Portable_II ? The size and layout seems to fit, but the panels differ, and the Compaq Portable II was 286 based.
– UncleBod
Dec 2 at 19:12




Could it be a customized Compaq Portable II en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compaq_Portable_II ? The size and layout seems to fit, but the panels differ, and the Compaq Portable II was 286 based.
– UncleBod
Dec 2 at 19:12












I thought it could be. It is definitely modified as there is a Mono-RGB switch on the side that isn't soldered to anything.
– Alex Maurer Briggs
Dec 2 at 19:30




I thought it could be. It is definitely modified as there is a Mono-RGB switch on the side that isn't soldered to anything.
– Alex Maurer Briggs
Dec 2 at 19:30












If you are asking because you need to find a replacement battery, then a photo of the battery might help. Lots of motherboards have been using CR 2032 for the battery, but I have no idea if CR 2032 batteries have been produced with a brand label rather than the text CR 2032.
– kasperd
Dec 2 at 22:35




If you are asking because you need to find a replacement battery, then a photo of the battery might help. Lots of motherboards have been using CR 2032 for the battery, but I have no idea if CR 2032 batteries have been produced with a brand label rather than the text CR 2032.
– kasperd
Dec 2 at 22:35












@kasperd well its 386SX ... so there is high possibility there is no CR2032 ... back in the days there where either 60mAh Accumulator pack (small cylinder cca ~2.0 cm, long and ~1.5cm in diameter soldered to board with 2 pins each on one base of the cylinder) or old style accupacks (black box cca ~1x1x4 cm with 2 wire cable ... usually glued to board) so no standard battery like we are used to today.
– Spektre
Dec 3 at 9:00






@kasperd well its 386SX ... so there is high possibility there is no CR2032 ... back in the days there where either 60mAh Accumulator pack (small cylinder cca ~2.0 cm, long and ~1.5cm in diameter soldered to board with 2 pins each on one base of the cylinder) or old style accupacks (black box cca ~1x1x4 cm with 2 wire cable ... usually glued to board) so no standard battery like we are used to today.
– Spektre
Dec 3 at 9:00












2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes

















up vote
9
down vote













This is one of dozens (hundreds?) of luggable designs that came out of Taiwan and other far east nations in the late 80s/early 90s before everything reverted back to the AT case style. The case was generic and you could put in any compatibly sized mobo, which were also widely available. The "Tri Data" might be a local company or computer shop, anyone could build these and put their label on them. Around 1989 I was selling something similar, but without the knobs at the bottom. IIRC I was called "Compall", and was not related to the modern Compal.






share|improve this answer





















  • Was this for a Baby AT? I remember the Baby AT mobo's becoming dominant about the same time, but I paired them with the generic Taiwanese PC cases that were as tall but much narrower than a standard PC/AT case.
    – Brian H
    Dec 3 at 2:55


















up vote
3
down vote













This looks like a generic, Compaq style schlepable build fron standard components with the Elitegroup HM386SX as a typical generic Heatland 386SX chipset based motherboard. I would dateit as early to mid 1990s. BIOS should be an AMI one.



TriData is eventually name and label the involved PC confectioner did slap on after fiting the components ... usually dreaming to be on par with DELL - and outgrowing them soon :))






share|improve this answer























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    2 Answers
    2






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    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

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    up vote
    9
    down vote













    This is one of dozens (hundreds?) of luggable designs that came out of Taiwan and other far east nations in the late 80s/early 90s before everything reverted back to the AT case style. The case was generic and you could put in any compatibly sized mobo, which were also widely available. The "Tri Data" might be a local company or computer shop, anyone could build these and put their label on them. Around 1989 I was selling something similar, but without the knobs at the bottom. IIRC I was called "Compall", and was not related to the modern Compal.






    share|improve this answer





















    • Was this for a Baby AT? I remember the Baby AT mobo's becoming dominant about the same time, but I paired them with the generic Taiwanese PC cases that were as tall but much narrower than a standard PC/AT case.
      – Brian H
      Dec 3 at 2:55















    up vote
    9
    down vote













    This is one of dozens (hundreds?) of luggable designs that came out of Taiwan and other far east nations in the late 80s/early 90s before everything reverted back to the AT case style. The case was generic and you could put in any compatibly sized mobo, which were also widely available. The "Tri Data" might be a local company or computer shop, anyone could build these and put their label on them. Around 1989 I was selling something similar, but without the knobs at the bottom. IIRC I was called "Compall", and was not related to the modern Compal.






    share|improve this answer





















    • Was this for a Baby AT? I remember the Baby AT mobo's becoming dominant about the same time, but I paired them with the generic Taiwanese PC cases that were as tall but much narrower than a standard PC/AT case.
      – Brian H
      Dec 3 at 2:55













    up vote
    9
    down vote










    up vote
    9
    down vote









    This is one of dozens (hundreds?) of luggable designs that came out of Taiwan and other far east nations in the late 80s/early 90s before everything reverted back to the AT case style. The case was generic and you could put in any compatibly sized mobo, which were also widely available. The "Tri Data" might be a local company or computer shop, anyone could build these and put their label on them. Around 1989 I was selling something similar, but without the knobs at the bottom. IIRC I was called "Compall", and was not related to the modern Compal.






    share|improve this answer












    This is one of dozens (hundreds?) of luggable designs that came out of Taiwan and other far east nations in the late 80s/early 90s before everything reverted back to the AT case style. The case was generic and you could put in any compatibly sized mobo, which were also widely available. The "Tri Data" might be a local company or computer shop, anyone could build these and put their label on them. Around 1989 I was selling something similar, but without the knobs at the bottom. IIRC I was called "Compall", and was not related to the modern Compal.







    share|improve this answer












    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer










    answered Dec 2 at 19:32









    Maury Markowitz

    2,094422




    2,094422












    • Was this for a Baby AT? I remember the Baby AT mobo's becoming dominant about the same time, but I paired them with the generic Taiwanese PC cases that were as tall but much narrower than a standard PC/AT case.
      – Brian H
      Dec 3 at 2:55


















    • Was this for a Baby AT? I remember the Baby AT mobo's becoming dominant about the same time, but I paired them with the generic Taiwanese PC cases that were as tall but much narrower than a standard PC/AT case.
      – Brian H
      Dec 3 at 2:55
















    Was this for a Baby AT? I remember the Baby AT mobo's becoming dominant about the same time, but I paired them with the generic Taiwanese PC cases that were as tall but much narrower than a standard PC/AT case.
    – Brian H
    Dec 3 at 2:55




    Was this for a Baby AT? I remember the Baby AT mobo's becoming dominant about the same time, but I paired them with the generic Taiwanese PC cases that were as tall but much narrower than a standard PC/AT case.
    – Brian H
    Dec 3 at 2:55










    up vote
    3
    down vote













    This looks like a generic, Compaq style schlepable build fron standard components with the Elitegroup HM386SX as a typical generic Heatland 386SX chipset based motherboard. I would dateit as early to mid 1990s. BIOS should be an AMI one.



    TriData is eventually name and label the involved PC confectioner did slap on after fiting the components ... usually dreaming to be on par with DELL - and outgrowing them soon :))






    share|improve this answer



























      up vote
      3
      down vote













      This looks like a generic, Compaq style schlepable build fron standard components with the Elitegroup HM386SX as a typical generic Heatland 386SX chipset based motherboard. I would dateit as early to mid 1990s. BIOS should be an AMI one.



      TriData is eventually name and label the involved PC confectioner did slap on after fiting the components ... usually dreaming to be on par with DELL - and outgrowing them soon :))






      share|improve this answer

























        up vote
        3
        down vote










        up vote
        3
        down vote









        This looks like a generic, Compaq style schlepable build fron standard components with the Elitegroup HM386SX as a typical generic Heatland 386SX chipset based motherboard. I would dateit as early to mid 1990s. BIOS should be an AMI one.



        TriData is eventually name and label the involved PC confectioner did slap on after fiting the components ... usually dreaming to be on par with DELL - and outgrowing them soon :))






        share|improve this answer














        This looks like a generic, Compaq style schlepable build fron standard components with the Elitegroup HM386SX as a typical generic Heatland 386SX chipset based motherboard. I would dateit as early to mid 1990s. BIOS should be an AMI one.



        TriData is eventually name and label the involved PC confectioner did slap on after fiting the components ... usually dreaming to be on par with DELL - and outgrowing them soon :))







        share|improve this answer














        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer








        edited Dec 2 at 21:08

























        answered Dec 2 at 19:55









        Raffzahn

        43.7k5100175




        43.7k5100175






















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