Error 0200: Failure Fixed Disk 7 - Z60m

[rkawakami]

I received a Z60m (2531-76U) system a few months ago and finally got around to replacing the fan (known problem disclosed by eBay seller). Upon booting, it threw the 0200 error message. There was no HD installed. Removing everything except the USB floppy from the boot device menu still did not solve the problem. Loading BIOS defaults also did not remove the error message. When the error message was displayed I could access the BIOS by pressing the F1 key or I could press the Escape key and get the system to boot from either the floppy or CD. The F12 option did not work directly; it did display the "Preparing Boot Device List" message but it simply took a few seconds longer to display the 0200 error. Pressing the Escape key at that time would present the boot device menu. So, it's like this:

- Power up, get 0200 error message, press F1 and access BIOS
- Power up, get 0200 error message, press Escape and system would boot according to the boot list
- Power up, press F12, see Preparing Boot Device List message, get 0200 error message, press Escape, get Boot Menu

Installed a blank HD and the error went away. The system booted "normally" and eventually gave me the "Operating System not found" message. I Googled the problem and the first link was to the summary of changes for the BIOS update page (!). The Z60m had BIOS version 1.14 (77ET54WW) and Embedded Controller version 1.14. The most current versions are BIOS 1.24 and EC 1.18. Reading the BIOS release notes says that version 1.19 (next one released after 1.14) corrected this issue. Performed the update on both BIOS and EC and now no 0200 error when there's no hard drive in the system.

If you are getting this 0200 error only sometimes, then that probably means the connection of the hard drive to the motherboard is flaky. As mentioned elsewhere, this could be a problem with the Southbridge chip or it may simply be some contamination / dirt on the HD contacts.

[RealBlackStuff]

The Z60m is a glorified T43, but without the SATA/PATA conversion chip, i.e. it runs natively with SATA drives.
After a SATA mod, a T43/R52 without (SATA) hard disk installed throws the same error!
Just insert any SATA drive and the error should go away.