Reset IBM ThinkPad 390E laptop BIOS? 1

[RICHINMINN]

I'm working on a friend's old laptop, which is an IBM ThinkPad 390E. The system hadn't been powered up for several months, but with the AC adapter attached, it booted up just fine. I went into the BIOS setup, and saw that the startup video setting was set at 'CRT', which was OK since I had an external monitor hooked up to it. I thought that since she wanted to use the laptop as a portable unit, I should set the startup video setting to 'LCD', or 'LCD and CRT'. I picked 'LCD' and then shut the system down. There must be a problem with the LCD screen, since now when the system boots, I can't see a thing on the LCD screen!

How can I reset the BIOS to set the active display to 'CRT' when I can't see a thing on either screen?

(Scratchin' my head...)

Rich (in Minn.)

 

[wahnula]

You're in luck...according to the HMM (Hardware Maintenance Manual) I found on the Lenovo site, on page 69 it shows the CMOS battery under a removable cover on the bottom that also houses the modem.

Removing the AC adapter, the laptop battery and this little sucker should reset the CMOS and get you to a bootable BIOS. Best of luck!

Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[wahnula]

Here is the link to the manual:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=DSHY-45WM2V

Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[RICHINMINN]

Tony,
Yes, that did it! The LCD's still not working, but at least I can see everything on the CRT, which will have to do for now.

Thanks for your assistance.

Rich (in Minn.)