IBM ThinkPad 600e Problem

When I power it up first off, I get 2 short beeps,
then it goes into the time and date setting (in big letters not in a full BIOS),
after I set the comp clock and enter,
I get a display box and in it is:
o >> I (circle, a arrow and a I or 1 or perpendicular line I don't know how to read it)
and that's it,
and from there on I can't go further, no matter which key I press.
I don't know what this means,
but I thought that it might be a BIOS battery thing 'cause the BIOS doesn't keep the time that I've set it seem to be obvious that the battery is dead,
but I would like to know about that yallow display box with the circle, arrow and that I or line that looks like a I thing! I've never seen this before.

I had the exact same problem on my ThinkPad 385D. See my thread on
Post problem. The battery is under a cover on the back side of the computer.
Remove 1 screw and you will see the battery. Pry up one edge and replace
the battery. After you do it will go into the time set screen and this time
accept the changes. Then the thinkpad will start right up.

Jerry

This is the thread being referred to
http://discussions.virtualdr.com/sho...d.php?t=210012

Very good info jerry, and Nix for the link with the graphic and a Pdf, it's not the same computer but it's probably close!
It's a starter anyway, :)
the error massages are the same as mine, but without the double zero in front of the numbers, now where to find a battery for a old notebook like that, I guess I'll have to do a little googling.
Thx guys

If it's a CR2032, like this:

http://images.google.com/images?hl=e...&tab=wi&nojs=1

they usually have them at the local drug, convenience and grocery stores around here. Radio Shack, WalMart and Kmart should have them too.

It's not the same battery at all,
those battery are nothing like the one that is on the laptop in question,
the battery that you've pointed on your link are mostly for desktop pc's.
most laptops battery are wrapped with a thin film of plastic and 2 short wires welded on with a small 2 prong plug in the end,
they cannot be found easily, maybe Fry's electronic, or Radio shack may carry them.

This is the pic I posted in the thread referred to above about the CMOS battery in an IBM Thinkpad 385D:

http://www.spywaredrguide.com/Virtua.../ibm385d01.gif

Don't have time to look it up in the manual right now and see if it's a CR2032 but it does look similar ... may be a bit smaller though.

Thx but I already know about the bat location, I got a pdf breakdown for the 600e and it's a little different in mine the bat have 2 wire welded on a with a connector at the end :cool:

It's a CR2025-WR and looks like
http://www.mdsbattery.co.uk/images/p.../cr2025-wr.jpg

Go here for instructions on how to replace.

The " 0 > 1 " means turn off your laptop.
Use the switch on the side,let the drive spin down ,and then turn it back on.
You can find those batteries on eBay for about $10 .
Yes, it is time to replace the CMOS battery :-) .
It should keep all of your settings, except for the time/date.
So, it is a painless process . :cool:

cleaverb thx for solving the mystery of the infernal o > I thing, they could've just said, turn off the damn thing! :D

No problem. It's an obscure reference to the I / O symbols
they place beside the power switches . And the only time I have
seen that kind of language..
Think binary !

The I > O symbol refer to IDE chanel change at least from a IBM scanned info page sent to me,
but I'm a bit stumped about this since this is a laptop what chanel change is the BIOS talking about here, maybe this will be resolved soon after I get around replacing the BIOS battery, and get to setup and see what's going on in there.

Okay,thanks for the info. Maybe your lappy is connected to a dock,
and you are switching between portable and dock mode ?

cleaverb No there is no dock with this laptop. I haven't pulled the battery yet, so we don't know what's happening until I replace that thing.
I'm keeping this "project" in the back burner for now but I'll post as soon as I get around to buy a battery and see if it's something else that need to be done. :D