Thinkpads Forum

Okay, here's the problem for and 770 gurus out there. I have a 770X 9549-72U machine. This came with a 14.1" XGA LCD. When I was first putting this together, I installed a video card from a 13.7" SXGA model and upgraded it to PIII 500. Since then the video has always lacked color depth. It looks like 16 bit even when set to 32 bit.

I've always thought that maybe the problem was the mismatch between the video card and the LCD. Tonight I had some free time, so I swapped the card out with a 10L0889 from a 14.1" 770ED. Its not the same part number as the video card for a 14.1" 770X, but it looks the same and it fits.

Well, after getting it installed (PITA by the way) the machine boots and throws out the date/time errors. When the date/time screen comes up, everything seems correct... I click "OK." At this point it freezes. I've tried removing and reinstalling the CMOS battery. That resets the date/time, but after I set it and click "OK" it freezes.

Any one else experience this before? Any solutions?

I know that it was a PITA, but did you try going back in and reseating it, or swapping it back? It could be that it recognizes it on the front end, but then won't accept it for the purposes of booting.

For example, there are times where an older thinkpad will take a larger memory stick than it allows, but it initially reads only half of the ram....then it won't finish booting. I think that this might be the same thing.

I don't have much advice for resolving your data/time/bios/freeze issue. I would make sure to "reset"/"initialize" the BIOS now that you've swapped in this new video card. If you are freezing before getting that far, then you can also use the physical reset button found in the small hole behind the power switch. I think you are supposed to turn on the machine while depressing it.

However, it seems very possible to me that the 770E video card is simply not compatible with the 770X. I know that the 770E/ED has a DEVA (DVD and Enhanced Video Adapter) card that is not compatible with the 770X/Z machines even though they appear to be identical physically.

virge wrote:This came with a 14.1" XGA LCD. When I was first putting this together, I installed a video card from a 13.7" SXGA model [...] Since then the video has always lacked color depth. It looks like 16 bit even when set to 32 bit.

Your theory about where this problem comes from is probably correct. Note that the actual 13.7" screen is not capable of displaying 32 bit colour at full screen resolution with the 8MB video card. A 770X/Z with the 13.7" screen can display 1024x768x32 with a black border or 1280x1024x16 at full screen resolution. As you suspect, I bet that when you combine your 14.1" (1024x768 max) screen with the 8MB video card that you are getting strange screen resolution results.

Thanks for the suggestions and comments. I took it apart again last night and reseated the video card and still got the same problems. Tried reseting it a few times, but that didn't work either. Put in the old card and it works again.. albeit with the same low color depth issue.

I guess I'll have to be on the lookout for the right video card: 10L0908 is apparently the FRU I need. This is a low priority problem, so it might take me a while, but I'll post an update when I find the right card.

I just bought a really cheap (but nice) 770X and have the exact same 163 / 173 error codes and freezing right after setting the date / time. I can't get into Easy Setup... it just gives the 163 / 173 codes and prompts for the date / time, then 2 beeps when OK is pressed... then it freezes. Also, it takes about 10-20 tries to get it to start / post upon power up. Most times only the fan starts up and the speaker icon flashes in the status bar with no display or backlight. I replaced the CMOS battery with a new CR2025 with no change. I see no password icons when it does try to post.

Any ideas? Sounds like it might be worth a try to reseat the CPU on the motherboard. Anything else?

Steve

Steve, while you have the machine apart to reseat the CPU, write down the FRU number for the video card. You can check the HMM to see if it has been replaced with the wrong model or not.

My situation is similar to yours except that I don't have the intermittent booting issue. With the wrong video card, it still boots every time. It just freezes at that date/time screen.

I would try and reseat the CPU just to make sure.

I may be wrong but I remember that the 770’s had an engineering/design defect.

The CPU board was secured on only three sides and the side that was not secured with a screw would rise up and become disconnected.

Just a thought.

Good luck.

Just wanted to post an update to this thread. I finally got my hands on the right video card (FRU 10L0908 ) and the problems have gone away. No video corruption and 32 bit color.

I received an old ThinkPad 770X recently. I was getting the 163/173 error codes at boot-up, also.
I replaced the CR-2025 Lithium 3volt CMOS battery (in the memory area on the bottom of the laptop), rebooted it, set the time/date/OK, and it boots up fine now.
Try replacing the CMOS battery.
Good luck.
Tri.

Steve,
Seems like the hard drive may be dead. Try booting into DOS and run a hard disk diagnostics utility to check the status of the drive.
Tri.