Thinkpads Forum

When I tried to power-up the Thinkpad X61 (Windows 10 Pro, latest upgrade installed), it wouldn't turn on. I then disconnected everything including the battery and it did, I then re-installing the battery. I have a vague sense that I bought a new after-market battery and it is currently charged at 100%. I use this machine hooked up to a monitor and continually plugged in. I've had several older Thinkpads that I've bought on Ebay, liking them for their sturdiness and keyboard and never having had a problem before. This is the first time that this problem occurred. When I Googled the problem, Lenovo related it to the need for a bios upgrade, stating this occurred with the E-model machines and others. My machine's bios is older than the one offered. I can do this but am uneasy, fearing to brick the machine, the instructions seeming a bit complicated (at least for me). For security, I have the hard-drive log-on encryption set such that a password must be entered before the regular Windows log-on password, if this is relevant.
Question: Should I wait and do nothing since the problem may never reoccur, or do the bios upgrade? Thanks to all.

Since it's an X61, you should update with Middleton's BIOS.
It puts in Slic, gives SATA-II speed, removes the wifi whitelist, and a few other goodies.
Included in the download is an .ISO file with which you can make a self-booting CD, using e.g. ImgBurn.
Before you update, remove all passwords in BIOS and set Config/Network/Flash over LAN to ENABLED.
You must also have a working battery.
http://ali.dj/blog/sata-ii-support-for- ... 61-x61-r61

M's BIOS has been applied thousands of times, no worries there.

As for your battery problems: ONLY use genuine IBM/Lenovo batteries.
Most aftermarket ones (usually Chinese knock-offs) are turning bad on you sooner rather than later.