IBM ThinkPad z61m 4 cycles of 4 beeps.

[Vasyu_06]

Hello, I have an old ThinkPad(z61m), that has worked before, that beeps 4x4 times. The main battery is dead. In the manual I found out that it is a system board(security chip) issue. The cmos battery - CR2032-BV1(LF) is also dead(0.03v), and it has 2x1gb ram configuration. How do I start troubleshooting?

Beitrag automatisch zusammengeführt: 19 Jan. 2026

Hello, I have an old ThinkPad(z61m), that has worked before, that beeps 4x4 times. The main battery is dead. In the manual I found out that it is a system board(security chip) issue. The cmos battery - CR2032-BV1(LF) is also dead(0.03v), and it has 2x1gb ram configuration. How do I start troubleshooting?

Type: 9452-CTO

 

[hikaru]

Apparently, replacing the CMOS battery and (temporarilly?) changing the RAM configuration might help:

Four short beep error code on X60 - Thinkpads Forum

 

[Vasyu_06]

Apparently, replacing the CMOS battery and (temporarily?) changing the RAM configuration might help:

Four short beep error code on X60 - Thinkpads Forum

So i need to find a cmos/or modify one so it has a 2 pin cable, and find a 512mb ram stick. Ok, I'll try that

 

[hikaru]

So i need to find a cmos/or modify one so it has a 2 pin cable,

[..] and find a 512mb ram stick.[/QUOTE]I'm not sure that's necessary. Maybe it's enough to just remove one of the 1GB sticks.

 

[Vasyu_06]

[..] and find a 512mb ram stick.

I'm not sure that's necessary. Maybe it's enough to just remove one of the 1GB sticks.
[/QUOTE]
I tried all possible slots and sticks and no sticks and still the same 4x4 beeps

 

[Mornsgrans]

Four cycles of four short beeps and a blank screen.

System board (security chip)

As mentioned in each Hardware Maintenance Manual
The security chip seems to be damaged. - Try to access BIOS and disable the security chip. - Maybe you can access to BIOS after pressing Esc or F1 key after the error message appears.

The empty CMOS-battery may have enabled the security chip at startup as it is enabled by default.

 

[Vasyu_06]

As mentioned in each Hardware Maintenance Manual
The security chip seems to be damaged. - Try to access BIOS and disable the security chip. - Maybe you can access to BIOS after pressing Esc or F1 key after the error message appears.

The empty CMOS-battery may have enabled the security chip at startup as it is enabled by default.

I tried that just now with ESC, F1, ThinkVintage but still no post and only the same 4x4 beeps. Only now that i have fully reassembled it the hard drive spins.