The Return of the R30 Problems

[EnsYamato]

Hey Everyone,

I'm a long time reader but first time caller I have a Thinkpad R30 that I seem to be having strange problems with.

A: I took the Screen off a dead R31 and the system seems to running hot all the time now. I was wondering if this is normal.

B: When I first got the system I was sure the CMOS Battery was dead. I So I was looking for the battery which is a CR 1220 But I could only find a CR1260 (I beleive I would have to check the battery one more time.) Well I changed it and the system kept saying that the System CMOS checksum is bad. No matter what I do I can't get the system to stop doing that. This is what is says:

0251: System CMOS Checksum bad - Using Default Configuration.

I was wondering what might be happening. What I can do to fix it and what be the best way to get this system back to is original state.

C: Is there still a place I can get parts for this system?

Thanks guys and gals

Brad

[RealBlackStuff]

Welcome to the forum.

A: are we to understand, that you took the screen OFF an R31 and put it ON your R30?
Check that the CPU fan cable is connected and/or that it is working and not full of dust bunnies.
If you removed the fan, make sure to have replaced the thermal paste between CPU and fan.

B: go into BIOS, press F9 to load default values, press F10 to save that. Reboot. Any better?

C: parts are available via posting (WTB ad = want to buy) in our Marketforum or via eBay and/or Google.

[EnsYamato]

sorry if u guys didnt understand. yes the screen was taken off a R31 and placed on the R30. although i was read a thread on here saying that the R series normally run hot (like most laptops nowadays). I have cleaned tbe system out aleady and made sure everything is functioning correctly but I forgot to put on fresh thermal paste (smacks forehead). The issue with the bios is ticking me off. i even found a battery that was like the original (cr1220) and put it in the tbhinkpad and it said that it was dead and it came out of a system that didn't object even one bit. could the bios battery make this message keep showing up?

[RealBlackStuff]

The CMOS battery is a smaller version of the standard 3V CR2032 that's used in most other Thinkpads.
Any size 3V battery that fits in the R30 space will work.
You need a working battery to 'reset' the default BIOS values and store them.
Only then might that error msg go away.

[EnsYamato]

Thank you everyone for the feedback.

I have replaced the battery with a CR1260 3v. But It still does the 0251 Error code...... Although I did notice that there seems to be burn marks on the system board just above CMOS battery holder under what looks like hot glue or something... So i was wondering if the this thing is worth salvaging?

Thanks
Brad

[RealBlackStuff]

You could try and update (or downgrade) the BIOS, then do the F9/F10 as described above.
If it doesn't go away, either live with it or dump it.
A working R30 is worth maybe $50-60 at best.
That machine (R30 and R40 series) was made under license by Acer, so it's not a 'real' IBM Thinkpad.

[n4vgm]

"That machine (R30 and R40 series) was made under license by Acer, so it's not a 'real' IBM Thinkpad."

GASP!

[GMAC-R61]

0251 System CMOS checksum bad. Default configuration used. Replace the backup battery. Then run BIOS Setup Utility to reset the time and date.