Filed by Hewlett-Packard Company Pursuant to Rule 425
                                                Under the Securities Act of 1933
                                        And Deemed Filed Pursuant to Rule 14a-12
                                       Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                                   Subject Company:  Compaq Computer Corporation
                                                    Commission File No.:  1-9026

This filing relates to a planned merger (the "Merger") between Hewlett-Packard
Company ("HP") and Compaq Computer Corporation ("Compaq") pursuant to the terms
of an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated as of September 4, 2001 (the
"Merger Agreement"), by and among HP, Heloise Merger Corporation and Compaq. The
Merger Agreement is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an
exhibit to the Current Report on Form 8-K, as amended, filed by Hewlett-Packard
Company on September 4, 2001, and is incorporated by reference into this filing.

The following is an advertisement first published by HP on December 20, 2001.


WHY IT MAKES SENSE.


Because the combined customers of hp and Compaq will represent a vast and newly
powerful community of technology users.

Because on their behalf we will lead the technology transitions ahead.

Because in one strategic move, we will become market leaders in servers, in
storage and in management software--the essentials of business infrastructure,
where leadership really counts.

Because we will greatly strengthen our depth and breadth of technology solutions
at a time when customers demand integrated, end-to-end solutions.

Because we will double the number of consulting, outsourcing and support
professionals dedicated to helping customers do business around the globe.

Because more inventors and engineers will be focused on solving the toughest
technology challenges of our times--together.

Because combined we will lead the march toward open standards more effectively
than either company could on its own.

Because we will accelerate the changes required to improve our PC business, so
we can offer customers a more competitive alternative.

Because the best way to protect and grow our leadership in printing and imaging
is to strengthen our enterprise computing, IT services and PC businesses.

Because we intend to do all that and still decrease expenses $2.5 billion by
2004.

Because for our employees, customers and shareowners, we will be a stronger,
more vibrant hp, better conformed to lead and grow under market conditions that
will demand unprecedented integration, breadth and flexibility.

Because in our industry to stand still is to fall behind.

Because this is the exact opposite of that.

[hp invent logo]


For important information about the merger of hp and Compaq, please see hp's
preliminary registration statement on Form S-4, available on the SEC's website
at www.sec.gov.







FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This document contains forward-looking statements that involve risks,
uncertainties and assumptions. If any of these risks or uncertainties
materializes or any of these assumptions proves incorrect, the results of HP and
its consolidated subsidiaries could differ materially from those expressed or
implied by such forward-looking statements.

All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that
could be deemed forward-looking statements, including any projections of
earnings, revenues, synergies, accretion or other financial items; any
statements of the plans, strategies, and objectives of management for future
operations, including the execution of integration and restructuring plans and
the anticipated timing of filings, approvals and closings relating to the Merger
or other planned acquisitions; any statements concerning proposed new products,
services, developments or industry rankings; any statements regarding future
economic conditions or performance; any statements of belief and any statements
of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing.

The risks, uncertainties and assumptions referred to above include the ability
of HP to retain and motivate key employees; the timely development, production
and acceptance of products and services and their feature sets; the challenge of
managing asset levels, including inventory; the flow of products into
third-party distribution channels; the difficulty of keeping expense growth at
modest levels while increasing revenues; the challenges of integration and
restructuring associated with the Merger or other planned acquisitions and the
challenges of achieving anticipated synergies; the possibility that the Merger
or other planned acquisitions may not close or that HP, Compaq or other parties
to planned acquisitions may be required to modify some aspects of the
acquisition transactions in order to obtain regulatory approvals; the assumption
of maintaining revenues on a combined company basis following the close of the
Merger or other planned acquisitions; and other risks that are described from
time to time in HP's Securities and Exchange Commission reports, including but
not limited to the annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31,
2000 and HP's registration statement on Form S-4 filed on November 15, 2001.

HP assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking
statements.




ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE MERGER AND WHERE TO FIND IT

On November 15, 2001, HP filed a registration statement with the SEC containing
a preliminary joint proxy statement/prospectus regarding the Merger. Investors
and security holders of HP and Compaq are urged to read the preliminary joint
proxy statement/prospectus filed with the SEC on November 15, 2001 and the
definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus when it becomes available and any
other relevant materials filed by HP or Compaq with the SEC because they
contain, or will contain, important information about HP, Compaq and the Merger.
The definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus will be sent to the security
holders of HP and Compaq seeking their approval of the proposed transaction. The
preliminary joint proxy statement/prospectus filed with the SEC on November 15,
2001, the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant
materials (when they become available), and any other documents filed by HP or
Compaq with the SEC, may be obtained free of charge at the SEC's web site at
www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and security holders may obtain free copies
of the documents filed with the SEC by HP by contacting HP Investor Relations,
3000 Hanover Street, Palo Alto, California 94304, 650-857-1501. Investors and
security holders may obtain free copies of the documents filed with the SEC by
Compaq by contacting Compaq Investor Relations, P.O. Box 692000, Houston, Texas
77269-2000, 800-433-2391. Investors and security holders are urged to read the
definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus and the other relevant materials
when they become available before making any voting or investment decision with
respect to the Merger.

HP, Carleton S. Fiorina, HP's Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer,
Robert P. Wayman, HP's Executive Vice President, Finance and Administration and
Chief Financial Officer, and certain of HP's other executive officers and
directors may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from
the stockholders of HP and Compaq in favor of the Merger. The other executive
officers and directors of HP who may be participants in the solicitation of
proxies in connection with the Merger have not been determined as of the date of
this filing. A description of the interests of Ms. Fiorina, Mr. Wayman and HP's
other executive officers and directors in HP is set forth in the proxy statement
for HP's 2001 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on
January 25, 2001. Investors and security holders may obtain more detailed
information regarding the direct and indirect interests of Ms. Fiorina, Mr.
Wayman and HP's other executive officers and directors in the Merger by reading
the preliminary joint proxy statement/prospectus filed with the SEC on November
15, 2001 and the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus when it becomes
available.

Pursuant to an engagement letter dated July 25, 2001, HP retained Goldman, Sachs
& Co. ("Goldman Sachs") to act as its financial advisor in connection with the
Merger. In connection with the engagement of Goldman Sachs as financial advisor,
HP anticipates that employees of Goldman Sachs may communicate in person, by
telephone or otherwise with certain institutions, brokers or other persons who
are stockholders for the purpose of assisting in the solicitation of proxies in
favor of the Merger. Although Goldman Sachs does not admit that it or any of its
directors, officers, employees or affiliates is a "participant," as defined in
Schedule 14A under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or that
Schedule 14A requires the disclosure of certain information concerning them in
connection with the Merger, Gene Sykes (Managing Director), Matthew L'Heureux
(Managing Director), George Lee (Vice President) and Jean Manas (Vice
President), in each case of Goldman Sachs, may assist HP in the solicitation of
proxies in favor of the Merger.



Compaq and Michael D. Capellas, Compaq's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,
and certain of Compaq's other executive officers and directors may be deemed to
be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of Compaq
and HP in favor of the Merger. The other executive officers and directors of
Compaq who may be participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with
the Merger have not been determined as of the date of this filing. A description
of the interests of Mr. Capellas and Compaq's other executive officers and
directors in Compaq is set forth in the proxy statement for Compaq's 2001 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on March 12, 2001.
Investors and security holders may obtain more detailed information regarding
the direct and indirect interests of Mr. Capellas and Compaq's other executive
officers and directors in the Merger by reading the preliminary joint proxy
statement/prospectus filed with the SEC on November 15, 2001 and the definitive
joint proxy statement/prospectus when it becomes available.

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