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Grex Hardware Item 164: IBM PS/2 POST error codes
Entered by rtg on Sun May 23 00:26:23 UTC 1999:

Does anyone have access to an old IBM PS/2 mod 70 manual?
  My trusty machine won't boot, and is giving me only two beeps, and the
  cryptic messages '162'
and '163'.  
  Can anyone help me interpret these POST error codes?

8 responses total.

#1 of 8 by rtg on Sun May 23 23:56:29 1999:

I found a resource on the web which listed the codes.  162 and 163 refer to
CMOS configuration parameters not set, and Date/Time not set.  Apparently, the
backup battery went dead.
  While I'm tracking down a replacement battery, does anyone have a PS/2 model
  70/386 setup
disk?  I can't seem to find a built-in setup program, so this must have been of
the generation that shipped the CMOS update on disk.  I'll need it to bring the
machine to life, once I get that battery replaced.

#2 of 8 by gull on Mon May 24 04:49:13 1999:

I've got the disk, and can give you an image of it if need be.  You can get
a self-extracting image of it from IBM's site, though...don't ask me where,
it's been a long time.

I have one of those Model 70/386's myself. :)

#3 of 8 by rtg on Mon May 24 16:57:45 1999:

The IBM site seems to disavow any PS/2 info.  They're only refrencing PS/1 and
Aptiva models now.  Would you e-mail me a copy of the disk image?

#4 of 8 by gull on Tue May 25 02:28:19 1999:

I can, but I'm not sure that's a good idea.  It'll be almost 2 megs by the
time it's MIME encoded, and I think that's big enough to get you hate mail
from the Grex staff.  How about if I put it up on my web page elsewhere, and
tell you where to grab it from?  Would that work for you?

#5 of 8 by wlevak on Tue May 25 03:23:50 1999:

For IBM PS/2 support, go to http:///www.pc.ibm.com
Select support on the first screen.
Scroll down the screem to "IBM PC" and select.
Go to the Select your family.  You will find PS/2 at the bottom of the list.
Reference disks, drivers and service information are available.

Another IBM site for service information is:
http://Servicepac.mainz.ibm.com/eprmhtml/index.htm
This is the electronic reference manual at Mainz, Germany IBM site.

#6 of 8 by rtg on Tue May 25 03:56:13 1999:

Thanks, William. I'm downloading the 'reference diskette' image now.  I had
searched that web page, and never thought that the PS/2 would be listed
under 'PC', when the PS/1 and Aptiva lines had their own section, I
expected the PC section wouldn't have anything newer than the AT.

#7 of 8 by gull on Tue May 25 04:39:11 1999:

Need an ethernet card for that 70, by any chance?  I ended up with two 3com
Etherlink/MC 10base2 cards, and I don't have use for more than one.

#8 of 8 by rtg on Wed May 26 15:46:44 1999:

Well, it doesn't have one, but I don't think I've got enough space on
the 60M HD to load the drivers and IP stack.  I'm trying to convince my
roommates to invest in an upgrade.  I'm even dragging my feet on buying
a new CMOS battery.  If I have my way, the Kiwanis will see this machine
soon.  Mebbe Sindi & company would like to build a PS/2 network?

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