I can't seem to get into the bios proper and there is some time/date issue. When I boot it shows the memory count and then the numbers 161 and 163. Then it shows a white window with Error in black letters and 00161, 00163 then an OK and Cancel buttons. I press OK and change or not change the date/time. Then I get a window that seems to indicate that I am to turn off the machine. It is a O and I -sort of symbols. I turn off the machine, wait a few seconds and then I can boot into Linux. I have wanted to look into the bios and am supposed to press F1 but it doesn't go into it at all. I think because the battery seems dead it may not keep the time but as far as I know the bios battery is a different thing and the time is not kept with the big battery if you know what I mean. I only got this laptop yesterday and am sizing it up as a possible replacement of my laptop I have already or sell. If I have the machine off for a little while it doesn't keep the time/date so would I have to open up and see if I can change the battery. That is if it is like a desktop one that I can change? I have looked at some ibm user guides and can't see anything so far about the bios...here is what I have been looking at http://support.dell.com/support/edo...

"The meaning of life is to be happy and useful" Tenzin Gyatso the 14th Dalai Lama

Model/Manufacturer: Ibm thinkpad 600x

Just in case you didn't know ...in December 2004, IBM sold the entire Personal Computer division to a Chinese company called Lenovo.

Below is Lenovo BIOS access key codes and BIOS access procedures.

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/l...

Your model is listed under the chart for Older ThinkPad Systems.

i_Xp/VistaUser

161 and 163 are common bios error codes.
I believe the first means the bios needs to be reset, the second means the bios (cmos) battery is dead or too weak.
Once you replace the battery and save bios settings (you need to at least correct the time and date) both errors will go away.

Some info here:

http://www.howtomendit.com/answers....

For some reason now I am getting 163 and 173 error codes and just keeps going into me changing the date/time settings. It won't boot into the OS at all now. Well the instructions on changing the bios battery are very clear so I will go and get one of those tomorrow. This website seems to have a little more info but I don't quite understand it as far as the 173 error is concerned where they mention system board. http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/s...
Do they mean the motherboard could be faulty?

Btw F1 doesn't work right now but well it may do when I get the battery.

I was aware that Lenovo owns the business now as I repaired another notebook for a friend a year ago. When I got the right info on that one it was within the Lenovo site.

The 173 error. Does that mean there is a password needed to get into the bios? Google seraches seem to suggest that. Maybe after the battery is replaced it might delete that. I have a spare hd if that is also a fix for that.

"The meaning of life is to be happy and useful" Tenzin Gyatso the 14th Dalai Lama

The battery is what allows the cmos part of the bios to retain the time and date etc. If it is dead, you have to re-enter the bios and set them again frequently.

For most computers, you tap the key to get into the bios repeatedly while booting - holding it down doesn't work.

It appears your for computer, you probably have to hold down the F1 key.

"Bios access instructions"

""With the unit powered off, hold the F1 key and power the unit on. Keep F1 held down until Easy setup appears.""

or similar.

161 cmos battery dead
163 need to reset bios settings
(I had those backwards)
173 - configuration data was lost

All of those are cured when you replace the battery and save bios settings (having at least corrected the date and time).

Many error codes in this.
This manual may be quite useful to you:
http://panopticon.csustan.edu/thood...

Thanks Tubes yeah I tried getting into the bios that way and it didn't work. Will get the battery tomorrow. I understand what your saying. I have opened the laptop to find out how to change the battery and I have scooped out the old one. It is easy so will report tomorrow how things go! :0)

"The meaning of life is to be happy and useful" Tenzin Gyatso the 14th Dalai Lama

Alls good now. Easy to change battery, got into the bios and did whatever I had to do. The machine is working well and I have even bought a battery(the bigger one...he he) from someone on ebay. Thanks everyone.

"The meaning of life is to be happy and useful" Tenzin Gyatso the 14th Dalai Lama

Success! That's the result we love to hear about.

Me too!!!

"The meaning of life is to be happy and useful" Tenzin Gyatso the 14th Dalai Lama