Issues Disabling Trackpoint on a 600x

[kjellinux]

I'm trying to give an IBM ThinkPad 600X a new life by installing a Linux distribution. Like many others i get the 08611 error. I found a post describing how to diasable the track pad, but i can´t seem to access the BIOS settings any more. I connected a USB mouse with a PS2 adapter, but it only works part of the time. In order to try to force it to boot from the cd, I removed all other options from the boot sequence and as a result I now can't seem to access the BIOS settings any longer. Does anyone have any advice on how I can proceed?

[panips]

Try to remove the CMOS battery? Though you'll get the 08611 error again.

[kjellinux]

The CMOS battery is dead. Would it make any difference to remove it?

[solidpro]

Thinkpads of that era tend to play up with the CMOS battery dead. Replace it and try again.

[kjellinux]

Replaced the CMOS battery. No improvement, still can't find a way around the dreaded 08611 error. Any more suggestions on how I can get to the BIOS settings so I can disable the trackpad?

[kjellinux]

After trying a large number of different sequences (which I did not record, so I could not repeat it) I finally managed to reach the BIOS settings. Once there, disabling the track pad according to the instructions in the forum worked without any problem.

[solidpro]

Well that's helped the cause! I'll make a note of 'i don't know how I fixed it' for future repairs.

[kjellinux]

The 600X is now up and running antiX linux 23.1-full. The story goes on at https://www.antixforum.com/forums/topi ... kpad-600x/

[panips]

usually for those legacy ibm thinkpad, you can enter to the test page when you got the (in)famous 08611 error, press esc and you can see the main page, highlight the config page and press enter and then press ctrl+d so you'll see the hex editor
the trick you mentioned actually works for lots of old thinkpad (tested on 535 yesterday and many others weeks ago), modify the byte "02" (offset 0x20) to "20" would help you to bypass this error and boot to disk.
may be too late for your question but glad you made it

[Luizapper]

usually for those legacy ibm thinkpad, you can enter to the test page when you got the (in)famous 08611 error, press esc and you can see the main page, highlight the config page and press enter and then press ctrl+d so you'll see the hex editor
the trick you mentioned actually works for lots of old thinkpad (tested on 535 yesterday and many others weeks ago), modify the byte "02" (offset 0x20) to "20" would help you to bypass this error and boot to disk.
may be too late for your question but glad you made it

This 08611 error occurs (in my 770 case) when trackpoint is stuck and needs cleaning due to grime and dust accumulated through the years. Using contact cleaning spray on base of the stick (removing cap and square plastic in between) has solved this issue.