Error 00173, 00163

I think it is a thinkpad error message related to CMOS battery, Try to enter the configuration utility and set the properly date and time. If this solve the problem you should replace the cmos battery.

These errors are system options not set, and time/date not set (if I recall correctly off the top of my head)
Basically, you need to replace the CMOS battery.
I would order one online from a place like EVERCORP.com ( a link for YOUR battery is here... http://www.evercorp.com/catalog/batteries/Laptop/Laptop+CMOS/IBM/ThinkPad+600%2C+600D%2C+600E%2C+600X/CR2025-WR/ )
It will cost a lot of money though...almost $10 ! And there will be shipping on top of that, and the battery weighs almost a whole ounce!
If you can maybe second mortgage your house so that you can afford these hefty costs, the installation is almost as hard as the price is high.
Fear not though, installation instructions should come with the battery (which hides in the RAM compartment as I recall).
Once the battery is replaced, set the system options and the time/date, and you should never see that error again!

this error is the battery by the sound of things, you need to replace the cmos battery , then enter the configuation utlity and set date and time, hope this helps

According to the error codes, you have a dead backup battery and the time is not set.

Start with the machine OFF. HOLD DOWN and CONTINUE TO HOLD THE "F1" key.
WHILE STILL HOLDING "F1", turn the power on, and CONTINUE TO HOLD "F1" This will get you into the bios "setup." You should check the date

The "hardware maintenance manual" shows you how to maintain this machine, and it explains the meaning of the error codes.
This will get you started on looking for the manual:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/multiplefiledownload.do?validate=true

Usually this means a hardware failure. I would suggest reseating the CMOS battery overnight to reset the system. Also you might want to replace it as well. It could also be more serious such as a motherboard component failure.
Also IBM error code # 189 according to Scott Mueller's Upgrading and Repairing PC's (8th edition) - "Excessive incorrect password attempts." Is there a password on your CMOS ?
Also try hitting ESC key on boot to bypass. Good luck!

Try swapping / reseatting the memory

Booting without the battery / hard drive / and dvd drive.

If that doesn't work, there isn't much you can do besides having a local tech look at the machine.

They'll probably say, bad motherboard. In which case it's time for a new laptop!

Hi, sorry I was out last night.
Errors 00161/00163/00173 mean you need to replace the CMOS/BIOS battery and update the time, date etc, like you did.. and Error 00301 means a keyboard error. Just press CtrlAltDel past this.. or try using an external PS-2 keyboard..

So, when you startup and then get to the errors, just press CtrlAltDel to restart, then tap F1 to enter the Advanced Settings and try to load Windows in Safe Mode, and let it do a Scan Disk.

It's possible that the machine won't be able to load any hardware drivers for the machine because the CMOS information might have been corrupted due to the flat battery, but try and boot into Safe Mode anyway and see how you get on.

This is a really old machine but still has driver and troubleshooting support at the Lenovo website, and it might be fun and interesting to resurrect..

Hardware Maintance Manual - June 1999: ThinkPad 600, 600E
On pages 109 and 115of the attached pdf file (actual pages 103 and 109), the Li-Ion batterypack part number should read 12P4064 replaces 02K7018.
Battery test utility diskette - ThinkPad 600/E/X

BIOS Update (Diskette) - ThinkPad 600
PCMCIA SelectaDock I/II driver for Windows 95/98 - ThinkPad 600, 770

Windows 98 installation supplement files - ThinkPad 600, 760, 765, 770
This is the Setup Guide for the thinkpad 600.

Of course, it may very well load Windows fine after a new battery and a scandisk and you'll find it has Windows 2000 on it, so maybe I'm jumping the gun with the Win98 stuff there, but let me kow how you get on..

Chris (ziraffa)

Oh by the way, if we are going to be using a different Solution thread this time, can you go back to the other page and rate it as Fixya! so that they can take it off the system? It saves the unrated pages filling up the servers..

try replacing the cmos battery

the following data is from the hardware maintenance manual for the thinkpad 600 series and is readily available from http://www.lenovo.com/support


Symptom or error FRU or action, in
sequence
161
Dead battery.
1. Go to “Checking the
backup battery” on
page 12.
2. Backup battery.
3. System board.
163
Time and date were not set.
1. Set time and date.
2. System board.
173
Configuration data was lost.
1. Select OK in the error
screen; then set the
time and date.
2. Backup battery.
3. System board.
192
Fan error.
1. Go to “Testing the
computer” on
page 7.
2. Measure the voltage of
the backup battery. If
the voltage is not
correct, replace the
backup battery.
3. Fan.
4. System board.

Your bios battery needs replacing

http://www.bioscentral.com/misc/ibmdiag.htm

Hope that fixes it for you? :)