Thinkpads Forum

I just picked up a TP 600 that needs a new cmos battery.....Here is my question.....shouldn't I still be able to boot from floppy or cd-rom or even the hard drive after I go in and reset the time in the bios? I am just curious to know if the cmos battery is the only problem or do I have bigger headaches...Thanks

Yes you should be able too boot with no problems after you reset all that time and date stuff. so if it's not booting you may have other problems, but befor you go any further replace that battery.
regards.

I'm not a technician, but I'm under the impression that the CMOS battery has something to do with the CPU fan having power to work, or to sense when it is OK to continue. If the CMOS is bad, the CPU fan won't work and the unit shuts down. Perhaps some other list member can be more specific, but I don't think you can continue to boot with a bad CMOS battery.

I had a 2645-4au. and I went without a battery for 1 month, and I could boot every time, I don't if it's different with other model's. but I boot up all the time with no CMOS. When the laptop gets to hot about 93 degree's
passive cridical tempeture, it will shut down. mabey try booting with a fan blowing on it or something. he may be reight.

CMOS battery on the 600 series thinpads run the fan too, so you should get an error for the fan if the battery is bad. That's usually the first sign for me that the battery needs changing.
Regards,
MIJ

Thanks to all for your input...I rigged a 3 volt battery in the old sleeve and just taped the leads to it to test it out and all is fine....new cmos battery ought to be here a day or so....Thanks again!!