Thinkpads Forum

Hi, this is my first post, so "Hi" to everyone.

I have a TP 600e 2645, and I got the 161 163 error, so I changed the CMOS battery, but now I have a different problem when I started it up with the new battery:

The OS gets started up, and it gets past the "Windows 98" screen. Then it gets stuck on:

New Hardware Found
Communications Port
Windows is installing the software for your new hardware

I've tried Ctl-Alt-Delete, but then it just gets stuck on a blue screen.

I thought it might be an OS problem, so I went to this site:
://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=DSHY-3TLQ2L#Note1

and downloaded a BIOS executable from the computer I'm using now. When I mashed on F1, I chose to launch from the CD, but then the TP just asks for a floppy disk with the BIOS.

So, I'm asking the board, what's the next step in trouble-shooting this? I do have a floppy drive for my TP, but I don't for the computer I'm using now (floppies are almost antiques at this time).

Thanks in advance for any help.

Welcome to the forum!

As you know from the page you linked, the 600E has two different BIOS versions, depending on your system board. 2645-xxx is the key.

The file you download must be run in Windows, and it will make a floppy that you can boot on the 600E. That diskette will then update your BIOS.

You might also read Windows 98 Second Edition setup guide - ThinkPad General and Installing Windows 98 and its device drivers - ThinkPad 600E.

Your communications port is one of the many COM ports that the 600 series computers had problems with (more COM ports than available IRQs) in Win98. Updating the BIOS tended to scramble the IRQ table so you may still have this problem after loading the new BIOS. Trawl the old IBM web pages for the list of optional IRQ configurations that will suit your needs and re-set the resource allocation, if necessary.

Yes! Disable the serial port, modem and infrared devices if you won't be using them. That will help free up those precious resources.