Thinkpads Forum

I decided to installed XP SP2 on my 600E using a spare 6GB HDD.

After numerous attempts , the install kept crashing at "34 minutes remaining" resulting in a blue screen with the message :

"*** STOP : 0x000000E ( 0x00000001 , 0x80000003, 0x00008080, ox80e4c000)

I eventually went into BIOS and ran the "Test" option.

It reported Error System Board:

DEV 001
ERR 91
FRU 3610

When I checked out the HMM , FRU "36" was battery problem.

I knew that the battery was dead BUT did not think it would cause any problems when installing XP. When I removed the battery , XP installed OK. I guess the installation process must include a hardware check or something!!

I have been running into this problem more and more recently.

EDIT: I just realized that the machines that I am having this problem with, might have an outdated BIOS....maybe there is an update that might correct this. What BIOS version does your 600E have?

Well, XP requires the last BIOS that was issued for the 600E so anything less than current could likely be causing any and all of these problems. I had the last BIOS that was posted for the 600E and my computer ran the OS fine, albeit a little slower than I would like. I went back to 98 until I sold it.

The BIOS version is INET24WW 99-05-24.

I need to check whether this is the latest.

After removing the dead battery , XP installed OK - I'm typing this on the 600E!!

As you need a good battery to update the BIOS (although there is a work around), maybe the XP install process checks that the battery is OK and if not , halts the install??

I keep reading about the "dangers" of updating the BIOS - is this true??

I've also installed DVD Express (the original 600E DVD player) - originally I was just getting a black screen - I think I resolved this by switching the display from 24 to 16 bit color. I also checked out DirectX and ticked the box in DXDiag which checks for up to date "rights" or whatever. Anyway , both WMP and DVD Express now play DVD's OK.

I also installed Spybot - I think the TeaTimer feature is causing some problems, probably due to limited 160MB of RAM - so I will uninstall and reinstall without TeaTimer enabled.

Yes, it can be dangerous....but if you have a good battery, then you should be ok, as long as you get the correct BIOS....since there are two different ones for the 600E series...

sktn77a is correct that XP requires the latest BIOS to operate safely, but it will install with a lower BIOS. I haven't worked on 600Es in a while, and when I did, it seemed like they were all already updated. Guess I have some work to do, since I have 7 machines sitting in the basement right now, and 6 of them are NOT at the latest BIOS level...

I've put XP on several 600's, and I've always started with the BIOS upgrade. Just dumb luck that I chose the "correct" way I guess.

BIOS flashing is simple if you follow the directions to the letter.

Joe

joester wrote: BIOS flashing is simple if you follow the directions to the letter.

Joe

And if you have a fully charged battery................................

What errors or where do you get stuck at with the battery?