Thinkpads Forum

Dear all,
after my T61 had its system board replaced due to graphics errors (see http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=77132), the machine exhibits starnge behavior when it comes to docking it to an advanced mini dock OR just plugging in the power cord while it was off:
- When the machine is powered off and it is then connected to a power source (not the battery), it immediately switches on automatically - it does not wait for me to push the power button. A few seconds later, it turns off again and reboots again by itself. BIOS error messages appear:

ERROR
0271: Check date and time settings
ERROR
0251: System CMOS checksum bad - Default configuration used

Then appears the BIOS menu (probably to allow me to correct the default config). Time and date and all settings are lost - I'm back in 1987!

After quitting the BIOS, the machine restarts and Windows boots up, finally.
- The Restarts always happen as described previously, in the same order and manner.
- The BIOS seems to lose its configuration as I'm sometimes asked to reset date and time.
- The problem occurs independently of having the battery inserted or not.
- The problem described above also occurs when the machine is already mounted on the dock and the power cord is only connected afterwards to the dock.
- BIOS was updated to newest version 2.26.

I'll not hesitate to call tech support again on monday, but just wanted to ask if this is a common issue that might be fixed by oneself?

Any helpful comments are greatly appreciated.

Steve

I am not sure if this will solve your problem, but you may try.

Docking to a ThinkPad Advanced Mini Dock, ThinkPad Advanced Dock, or Essential Port Replicator, causes the system to power off.

crazyfrog wrote:I am not sure if this will solve your problem, but you may try.

Docking to a ThinkPad Advanced Mini Dock, ThinkPad Advanced Dock, or Essential Port Replicator, causes the system to power off.

I already know that page from my previous research - my problem is not the one described. In fact, my dock already had the rubber caps mentioned under this article pre-installed.

My problem seems now to happen only sporadically, that is, I cannot reproduce it in any circumstance. I'll keep observing and report back.

If anyone has an idea or was similarly concerned, please report here.

Any idea, anyone?

I added the BIOS error messages that appear to the first post above.

I'm wondering if the CMOS battery wasn't plugged in correctly when they replaced the motherboard. Check that.

bhtooefr wrote:I'm wondering if the CMOS battery wasn't plugged in correctly when they replaced the motherboard. Check that.

you're right, that was the reason! I discovered that myself yesterday.

Problem solved.