Thinkpads Forum

I've got a 600E that I set up about 3-4 years ago with help from this forum. The trackpoint device is bad so I just use an external mouse. Well, I haven't used the 600E for about a year and the CMOS battery finally died. Well, it was still putting out about half a volt... ;>

I replaced the CMOS battery by putting a piece of shrink wrap around a watch battery (2605?) with the old leads stuck in each side. Should be much better than tape!

The problem is I can not get into Easy Setup to make the change to bypass the trackpoint error again. I got it to go into Easy Setup ONCE before I changed the battery, and then only after 5-6 restarts while holding F1 down (before powering on). I've tried many times since then, and the computer simply won't go into Easy Setup! Anyone else had this problem? I'm powering off, waiting 10+ seconds, holding F1 down, then powering up. I get the error screen, hit ESC (whicle still holding F1), and it then starts to boot or whatever, flashes the "RTFM" screen, then starts to boot Windows (XP). I've tried releasing hte F1 key after getting the first error screen and between the error screen and the RTFM screen -- no difference. Is there another way to get into Easy Setup after booting Windows (I can't see how...)? alternately, is there another way to edit the BIOS code to get rid of the keyboard error screen? The error screen is just an anoyance I know, but it's REALLY annoying since I easily got rid of it the first time and now can't!

Perhaps try: Power on,
at the 161 163 error screen,
navigate to ok to set date and time.(If the bird won't move just hit enter.)
set date and time (with the arrow keys) (or perhaps again just hit enter.)
This brings up an error screen with the test option. Click Enter.
This should bring up the test screen.
Now press ESC. you should be at the Easy setup.

There is a hex edit for the bad Track point. On this site.
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=37402
Good luck

That did it! I couldn't figure out how I stumbled across it that once, then couldn't get back! I took care of the 161/163 error with the new CMOS battery. Just wanted to edit the keyboard error out. Now to remember to hit "ESC" when in the test menu to get to Easy Setup! Thanks a lot, I knew it had to be something simple.

Still, I wonder why holding F1 when powering up doesn't work? Only the TrackPoint is bad on the keyboard, but maybe the keyboard error interferes -- bypasses the keyboard somehow? I guess it really doesn't matter though...