365xd error 8611

[jrw]

I recently bought a Thinkpad 365xd from a technology show in Michigan (there were two laptops, $4 each, one actually works). The hard drive in the one I wanted to use needed to be reformatted, so I did that and installed DOS on it using the other laptop because the one I wanted to use didn't have a floppy drive. It was a complete system when I bought it, though it had a couple spots on the outside that were broken, but when I powered it on for the first time, I saw that the system had an area of memory that was bad (probably from when I dropped it on my foot the day I bought it). After it does the memory check, underneath the number it gives the number 8611. It then proceeds to a screen that says error and says 08611 under that, There are two buttons that say 'Test' and 'Restart'. Neither the keyboard or trackpoint work, and an external keyboard and mouse doesn't work either.

[tfflivemb2]

8611 is a trackpoint error, which makes sense if the keyboard and trackpoint aren't working.

Now, seeing that you dropped it, you might want to check the keyboard connections....especially since neither the keyboard or trackpoint work.

[jrw]

I should have mentioned in my first post that I have tried unplugging the keyboard and trackpoin cables and plugging them back in (they were also disconnected when I first got it). I've also cleaned the keyboard and the area around the trackpoint. Another thing I know that's contributing to the problem is the ribbon cable that goes from the thinkpad keyboard/led controller to the motherboard doesn't always stay connected because the little brown tab that holds it in the connector on the motherboard fell off. I have a temporary fix for that (tape), but it doesn't always work, because sometimes the keyboard presses down on it when it's shut and moves it out of place. I'm hoping that I'm not going to have to replace anything.

[jrw]

It was my fault that there was an error. When I accidentally broke that tab off the connector, the ribbon cable was no longer held in place, which prevented it from working. I did finally manage to get it to boot to DOS, and will soon get Windows 95 installed, and try to get it to browse the internet.

edit - At least the 8611 errors are gone. The trackpoint (I think) works. The problem is that neither the internal keyboard or an external keyboard work, and the computer only has DOS, which makes it near impossible to use. I can't install Windows (or anything else, like Linux), and I'm hoping I won't need to replace the keyboard.