Thinkpads Forum

Hey everyone,
I have an IBM thinkpad 600 that i havent used in a pretty good amount of time. I would like to use it now but i have just one problem.. I had set a password so that when i turn the computer on it asks for the password before anything loads or anything. the problem is i have forgotten the password and have no idea as to how i can reset it or somethin in the nature. I just want to be able to use the computer again.. Is there anything that anyone can suggest i do to get the password problem resolved. btw i dont have any of the disks for the computer either..thanks

Welcome to thinkpads.com!

What you could have is a power-on password or a BIOS (supervisor) password. I can help with the first, but not the second (forum FAQ #12). For the power-on password, remove the backup battery (inside the memory bay) for about a minute, re-install, and you should be able to access the system (assuming that doesn't also trigger the BIOS password if you had previously set one).

For complete information about this, download a copy of the Hardware Maintenance Manual for the 600 systems from here:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... SYPX2.html (600/600E)
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... DGNTQ.html (600X)

i tried removing the backup battery but i does nothing..is there anyway that i can access the BIOS so that i can set the boot up order..i tried pushing F1 but nothing..i also get error messages..192,162,163..i am not sure if that has anything to do with it but any help will be appreciated..thanks

Those error numbers (should be 161, not 162) are indicative of a loss of power in the backup battery to the motherboard. The system is telling you that the date and time needs to be reset. In order to do that, you must be able to access the BIOS (by pressing F1 at power on). If the password is protecting the BIOS, then you must supply that password in order to get at the date and time settings.

First thing to do is to make sure that you have a good backup battery. Either measure the voltage (should be 3VDC) or install a fresh one. Then hold down the F1 key while you turn on power. Keep the F1 key held down until you either see the lock icon (asking for the BIOS password) or an error message screen (161, 163, 192), in which case you can enter the BIOS and reset the date and time. If you have a BIOS password (a lock icon with a picture of a computer next to it), then all we can do is suggest that you try remembering what it might be. Forum rules prevent open discussion of any techniques/methods to bypass this mechanism.

rkawakami wrote:Those error numbers (should be 161, not 162) are indicative of a loss of power in the backup battery to the motherboard. The system is telling you that the date and time needs to be reset. In order to do that, you must be able to access the BIOS (by pressing F1 at power on). If the password is protecting the BIOS, then you must supply that password in order to get at the date and time settings.

I'm considering a 600x, but it has errors 161 and 163. Is the backup battery you're referring to the CMOS battery? Is it easy to install? They seem to be pretty common on ebay. Thanks.

edit: Is this the backup battery?

Yes, to both questions. The backup (CMOS or RTC) battery can be found inside the memory bay on the bottom of the 600X (larger panel). The battery is tucked up between the front edge of the case and the Ultrabay. You can follow the wires back to the small connector. Follow the directions in the Hardware Maintenance Manual which can be found here:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... IGR-4DGNTQ

Even if your CMOS battery is good, you'll get those errors after removing the battery until you set the RTC.

Hi Ray,

"The backup (CMOS or RTC) battery can be found inside the memory bay on the bottom of the 600X (larger panel). The battery is tucked up between the front edge of the case and the Ultrabay. You can follow the wires back to the small connector."

Just as an aside, do you have any idea why IBM in its wisdom(?) re-designed the CMOS battery connections with nearly every Thinkpad?

The system in the 770E is absolutely ideal: just push the battery into the slot, and you're in fine shape.

In ther 600 series, the thing is enclosed in a shrink wrap with a plastic plug, and the battery itself is attached to the plug wires with tabs welded onto the battery. Inconvenient for battery replacement.

And now I've bought a T21, where the CMOS battery is hooked up something like in the 600, but is additionally enclosed in an incredibly complex plastic housing, with the plug for the battery hidden and nearly inaccessible under the computer base.

Is this change for the sake of change, or to prevent simple and inexpensive replacement of the CMOS battery? The same question occurs to me when I see the constant change in the design of the main batteries.

Or has this topic already been discussed to death elsewhere here?

Robbyrobot wrote:Just as an aside, do you have any idea why IBM in its wisdom(?) re-designed the CMOS battery connections with nearly every Thinkpad? <snip> And now I've bought a T21, where the CMOS battery is hooked up something like in the 600, but is additionally enclosed in an incredibly complex plastic housing, with the plug for the battery hidden and nearly inaccessible under the computer base.

You forgot to mention that the plugs between the 600-series and the T2x (and others) are totally different. Even to the point of which sides the positive and negative leads are on. I don't have an answer to why it was changed. Possibly to keep people from stocking ONE type of backup battery but maybe more likely, IBM used whatever was easily and/or cheaply available for each new major design of Thinkpad. I agree with you 100% that the T2x backup battery is overly complex. If you have ever tried replacing the battery in the holder (be sure to note how the connector is arranged - i.e., which side is "down") and then how you have to insert the plug almost blindly, then you can appreciate the simplicity of your 770E (and other older systems like it).

The main batteries are somewhat different (IMO). The case design mainly dictates what the shape of the main battery is and where it can go. Although there are small differences there too. For example, at first glance the T2x and T30 batteries look identical. However, the T2x batteries cannot fit into the T30, while the T30 battery can be installed in the T2x systems. Why? The T30 system requires a higher capacity battery than the T2x systems. IBM must have realized that if people put a T2x battery into a T30 laptop, then they would not get the same run time as a T30 battery. A notch was designed into the T30 battery bay which matches a cutout in the T30 battery. The T2x batteries do not have this cutout and therefore can't fit into a T30 laptop.