Thinkpads Forum

I'm getting an error reading of 161 and 163 when I start up the 380ED which, online research indicates, reflects a dead CMOS battery. I found it after removing a screw and lifting a compartment next to the main battery. It's a CR1220 Sony 3v lithium and it's held down by a round rubber holder bordering part of it. Questions: can I just lift out the battery and replace it or are there any leads which need be attached somewhere beneath it? Thanks.

The Hardware Maintenance Manual for the 380ED says you basically pry out the battery with a screwdriver (page 218). Pressed in from the opposite side of the leaf spring (closest edge to battery bay), this should allow the battery to tilt up.

Thanks. Replaced it--bought battery at Radio Shack. Computer now runs OK though the LCD screen seems dimmer than my newer (3 year old) laptop. Which may be expected: the 380ED is 10 years old and I paid $48 for it on E-Bay. It passes all tests except the RAM test which it freezes at. This may reflect a non-IBM RAM addition at some time in the past, IBM laptops seem sensitive to this. Also the screen isn't TFT but DMST.

lannybudd wrote:It passes all tests except the RAM test which it freezes at.

Are you sure it is not just going *really, really* slow? The memory tests can appear to be doing nothing for quite a while. If you haven't already done so, I would try leaving it overnight when running the memory test and see if it is still "frozen" in the morning.

Phil.

Thanks. I'll try what you suggest but use of the entire computer including the cursor then freezes.

Thanks--your explanation was correct. The RAM test for the 380ED did take overnight and came up OK. For whatever reason the RAM test on my 760XD only took 20 minutes or so. It also came up OK.