Ibm 380ed 00161 & 00163 errors on boot. What do they mean?

Error code 161 means your CMOS battery is dead and 163 is that system date and time are not set (which make sense as the CMOS battery is dead).
You need to replaced your CMOS motherboard battery to resolved this issue.

The CMOS Backup battery may be faulty, change the cmos battery. Check Think Pad battery ensure you place it correctly

When my Think Pad starts up it shows Error codes 00161 and 00163

The 161 CMOS error means the CMOS/BIOS battery is dead/flat and needs to be replaced.
The 163 CMOS error means the Date and Time could not be updated when you change the Date and Time setting. This is caused by the flat CMOS/BIOS battery.
When you replace the battery with a new one, the BIOS will go back to the default settings, go into to BIOS setting (press F2 when you boot up) and change the Date and Time, then save and exit.

161 &163 error messages indicate that the C-mos battery is dead and needs replaced.

I do not think you fixed the CMOS battery - (backup battery = CMOS battery) According to the error codes, you have a dead backup battery and the time is not set. Makes sense? 161
(Dead battery.) 1. Go to Checking the Backup Battery
2. Backup battery.
3. System board.
163
(Time and date were not set.) 1. Set time and date.
2. System board.

hope this will help.

had same problems changed small battery under cover near normal battery solved problems cr1220

the cmos batters ar soled at walmart in the watch dep

Firs go to BIOS and setup date and time if it wont work soo  You have to change the little batery ini laptop

1) This is a typical problem when the CMOS battery is very weak or dead, it will continually display the date and time and reboot with the same errors until you change the CMOS battery. On this model it is behind the door that houses the memory chip, above the battery, if you have the laptop turned over and battery closest to you. <--best bet, its a dead CMOS battery.

2) You can get to the BIOS to run tests, one of 2 ways, either hit the ESC key and other keys to get a 301 error or hold the F1 key and boot, you should get into BIOS. (You probably won't be able to do this until you replace the CMOS battery.) From there you can run diagnostic tests on various components.

3) Lastly, you can update the BIOS. From inside the EASY-SETUP bios you should be able to copy the BIOS part number, date, etc. Look for the BIOS update based upon model # either thru a search on the web or directly on the IBM website (a search on google of "bios update thinkpad 380ed" will bring up a link for the IBM page.) If you choose to do a BIOS update, read the directions carefully and remember not to power off the machine while the update is happening. If you've never updated a BIOS before, get someone who has to walk you thru it before attempting it by yourself.

GOOD LUCK :)