thinkpad 600x help!

[technique]

Right, big problem! (thinkpad 600x)

I deleted the hdd partition and restarted the laptop with the windows xp cd in, nothing... so i tried getting into the BIOS but every button i press doesnt take me to it...I need to get this fixed for someone at work as it now seems to be worse than it was when i got it...i just get an error "I9990305".... HELP! i will buy whoever helps me fix it a domain!

[JHEM]

Press and hold the F1 key while turning on the system.

Release after the MEMCOUNT completes and you hear the POST beep.

Fly the Birdy to Startup and set the CD as the first BOOT device.

Restart with the CD inserted and you'll be off and running.

Regards,

James

[technique]

the small mouse is broke, and all i get is a 08611 error...i do not get to the BIOS page, help! i tried plugging in a mouse but nothing

[Laptop_wizard]

Contact me at Joelmc@outdrs.net, I can help

[pkiff]

the small mouse is broke, and all i get is a 08611 error...i do not get to the BIOS page, help! i tried plugging in a mouse but nothing

Error 8611 is a TrackPoint error. From what you say, your TrackPoint is broken. Did the machine work before you got it? One possible fix would be to replace the keyboard assembly (including the TrackPoint). If the TrackPoint worked a couple days ago, then you could try blowing air in and around the Trackpoint, and underneath the keyboard to see if that makes it work again. Or you could try reseating the connectors attached to the keyboard. But replacing the keyboard is the most common recommendation in your situation.

You say that you tried plugging in a mouse -- was it a PS/2 mouse? If you can get into the BIOS using the instructions the James gives above, then you should be able to disable the TrackPoint in there. That may eliminate the error on startup -- though you will still not have a functional TrackPoint.

If you had Windows already installed, then you might have been able to get into Windows by following these steps:
When you press the power to start, after the first error screen loads, hit ESC. Then eventually you will see another error screen (possibly with three little pictures communicating "error 8661=bad=consult IBM"). At this screen hit F1,and wait. With luck, you may be able to boot up despite the error, then you can use the keyboard only to run your ThinkPad configuration utility and disable the Trackpoint from there.

But you may not be able to install a fresh OS with a broken TrackPoint I don't know.

Contact me at Joelmc@outdrs.net, I can help

It is more useful for current and future users of this Forum if answers can be supplied on the board I think. That way, others can find the answer by searching for it in the future. I would be interested in knowing about other solutions that work, if you have experience with any.

Phil.