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IBM PC Series 300 Troubleshooting Guide

From RetroTechCollection

This guide documents fault diagnosis for the IBM PC Series 300 family — IBM's corporate desktop line from 1994 through 2000. PC Series 300 troubleshooting inherits the classic IBM POST numeric error code series (161 / 162 / 163 CMOS battery cluster, 2xx memory, 6xx floppy, 17xx hard disk) and adds IBM SurePath BIOS beep codes plus generation-specific failure modes — particularly the CHHSI capacitor plague on PC 300PL 6862 / 6892 and the EDO vs SDRAM DIMM keying trap on the 6577 / 6587 / 6588 / 6589 boards.

Reference Documents

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  • PC 300GL 6272 / 6282 TIM d4as3tim.pdf.[1]
  • PC 300GL 6268 / 6278 / 6288 TIM d4bp5tim.pdf.[2]
  • PC 300GL 6561 / 6591 TIM 6561tim.pdf.[3]
  • PC 300PL 6862 / 6892 + PC 300GL 6275 / 6285 TIM 6275tim.pdf.[4]
  • PC 365 6589 TIM S84H-0334-01.[5]
  • PC 300XL 6588 / IntelliStation M Pro TIM d4aw1bas.pdf.[6]
  • IBM PC 300PL driver levels (per-MT BIOS images).[7]

Entering Setup

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PC Series 300 uses IBM SurePath BIOS (Phoenix-derived). Entry key:

  • F1 during the SurePath BIOS splash screen — enter Setup.

Exception: the 6586 uses an Intel-designed planar with Intel / AMI BIOS instead of SurePath — entry is typically Del or F2 rather than F1.[8]

Initial Diagnosis

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Power on the system and observe in order:

  1. Power LED lights, fan spins.
  2. IBM SurePath BIOS splash screen appears.
  3. Memory count completes.
  4. Single short beep at end of POST.
  5. Drive enumeration / boot menu (per Setup boot order).
  6. OS loads.

If any of these does not happen, stop and diagnose at that stage.

Stage 1 — No Power

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  • Front-panel power button cable seated on planar header? (ATX / NLX soft-power required.)
  • Internal PSU green LED on planar lit? If dim or off, +5 VSB regulator on PSU has failed. Replace PSU or recap.
  • Voltage selector switch on rear of PSU set correctly (where present).

Stage 2 — Fan Spins But No SurePath Splash / No Video

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  • No POST beep, no video — Capacitor plague on PC 300PL 6862 / 6892 (CHHSI 560 µF 25 V). See IBM PC Series 300 Capacitor Replacement Guide.
  • No POST beep, no video — CPU cartridge (Slot 1) not fully clipped in. Reseat.
  • Memory training fails — wrong DIMM type. Verify EDO vs SDRAM for your MT.
  • Single long beep then nothing — memory module failure.

Stage 3 — Video Present, Halts at SurePath Splash with Error Code

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Match the code in the table below.

Stage 4 — POST Passes, OS Won't Load

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  • Drive type set correctly in Setup?
  • Boot order correct?
  • If error code I 99903 05 — no startable device found.

POST Numeric Error Codes

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PC Series 300 inherits the IBM PC / PS/2 numeric POST series, with PC 300-specific extensions.[9][10]

1xx — Planar / CMOS

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Planar POST codes
Code Meaning First-action FRU
101 Interrupt failure Planar IRQ controller
102 Timer failure
110 Memory parity / general system error Memory Module, System Board
161 Battery dead (CMOS configuration empty) Replace CR2032
162 CMOS checksum bad / configuration mismatch Run Setup; if recurs, replace CR2032
163 Time and date not set Run Setup; if recurs, replace CR2032
164 Memory configuration changed Run Setup
165 PCI / option ROM mismatch
173 Real-time clock failure RTC chip itself (rare)
1XX General planar fault System Board

2xx — Memory

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Memory POST codes
Code Meaning
201 Memory test failure (address shown is failing block)
202 Memory address line error
203 Memory address line error
215 Wrong memory speed
218 Continuity required in unpopulated slot (rare)
225 Unsupported memory — wrong type (e.g. SDRAM in EDO slot)
229 ECC memory error (where supported)

The 225 code is the canonical PC Series 300 fault when a 3.3 V SDRAM DIMM is fitted in a 5 V EDO slot on the 6577 / 6587 / 6588 / 6589 boards. Pull the wrong module, fit correct EDO DIMMs.

3xx — Keyboard / Mouse

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  • 301 — keyboard not responding.
  • 303 — keyboard error.
  • 305 — +5 V fuse on planar blown (keyboard / mouse fuse).
  • 365 — PS/2 mouse fault.
  • 8602 / 8603 — pointing device (mouse) error.

6xx — Floppy

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  • 601 — floppy drive failure.
  • 604 — floppy diagnostic error.
  • 662 — wrong floppy drive type set in Setup.

8xx — Math Coprocessor

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  • 801 — coprocessor test failed (integrated FPU on Pentium+).

17xx — Hard Disk

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  • 1701 / 1711 — drive 0 fault.
  • 1702 — disk controller failure.
  • 1730 — drive 1 fault.
  • 1782 — disk controller failure on planar.

24xx — Video

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  • 2401 / 2402 — on-planar S3 video failure.
  • 2410 / 2420 — graphics adapter failure (add-in card).

I 99903 — Boot

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  • I 99903 01 — Hard disk reset failure.
  • I 99903 05 — No startable device — re-check boot sequence in Setup.

POST Beep Codes

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PC Series 300 uses an IBM SurePath beep-code pattern:[11]

PC Series 300 SurePath beep codes
Pattern Meaning First-action FRU
1 short POST passed; normal boot
1-3-1, 1-3-2 Memory failure Memory Module, System Board
1-4-4 Keyboard / system board
2-1-1, 2-1-2 Setup not run / configuration error Run Setup, System Board
2-2-2 Video card / on-planar video failure Video chip, System Board
2-3-2 Memory module failure Memory, System Board
2-4-3, 2-4-4 Run Setup / Memory / System Board
1 long, 2 short Display / planar video
3 short Memory failure
Continuous System board fault
Repeating short Stuck key on keyboard / cable / System Board

Capacitor Plague Symptoms (PC 300PL 6862 / 6892)

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The PC 300PL 6862 / 6892 is community-confirmed as a CHHSI capacitor plague victim. Specific fault:

  • CHHSI 560 µF / 25 V electrolytics, date codes 1998–1999 (typically WG(M) series), around the VRM and CPU power filtering.[12]

Symptoms:

  • System will not POST at all (worst case).
  • POSTs intermittently — stable cold, reboots when warm.
  • Random reboots under load.
  • System fails to leave standby / no response to Wake-on-LAN.
  • USB drops out, then PCI / AGP, then crash (staged failure).

Recap procedure: IBM PC Series 300 Capacitor Replacement Guide.

Memory Faults

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  • 201 with address — failing block address shown on screen. Identify the failing DIMM / SIMM.
  • 225 — wrong memory type. Specific PC 300 traps:
6577 / 6587 DIMM-168 slot — 5 V EDO only. SDRAM will halt at 225.
6588 / 6589 / 6598 — 168-pin 3.3 V unbuffered EDO DIMM only. SDRAM physically fits but does not work — halts at 225.
6862 / 6892 / 6275 / 6285 — 3.3 V SDRAM DIMM only. EDO will halt at 225.
  • 6862 / 6892 hard maximum — 384 MB official memory ceiling; community reports of 512 MB with BIOS update.[13] Larger or unsupported configurations halt at 164 / 225.

Setup Auto-Prompt on Configuration Change

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The PC 350 / 300XL boards (6586 / 6587 / 6588) trigger a "press F1 for setup" prompt on any configuration change including:

  • Unplugging the mouse.
  • Unplugging the keyboard.
  • Adding or removing a drive.
  • Adding or removing memory.
  • Adding or removing a PCI card.[14]

This is normal behaviour. Press F1, save the configuration, save and exit Setup, and reboot.

Coppermine Boot Blocker (6862 / 6892)

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A Pentium III Coppermine 800 MHz (or 866 MHz, or higher) fitted to a 6862 / 6892 board with a pre-update BIOS will fail to POST — the board only certifies up to 550 MHz at factory. Update the IBM SurePath BIOS to the latest image for your specific MT before fitting Coppermine.[15][16]

PowerLeap adapters for Tualatin 1.3 GHz are reported to work on 6862 with updated BIOS.

NLX AGP Card Compatibility (PC 300PL 6862 / 6892)

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The 6862 / 6892 AGP slot is at the offset NLX position (i.e. the bracket hole is high-mounted rather than low-mounted). Standard ATX AGP cards will physically plug in but the bracket will not align with the chassis I/O cutout — the card is electrically present but unsupported mechanically.

If POST detects no AGP video:

  1. Boot with a known-good NLX-form AGP card (S3 Trio3D, NVIDIA TNT2 M64 NLX, Matrox MGA-G200 NLX).
  2. Verify in Setup that "Primary VGA" is set to AGP.
  3. Run the latest IBM display driver from the kev009 driver-level archive.[17]

Storage Faults

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  • 1701 / 1702 — IDE drive 0 fault. Verify drive type in Setup (LBA enabled?); reseat cable.
  • Drive detected as wrong capacity — older SurePath BIOS revisions have known issues with drives > 8.4 GB or > 32 GB. Update BIOS.
  • 1782 — disk controller failure on planar.
  • Ultra ATA performance below spec on 6275 / 6285 — 80-conductor cable required for UDMA-33.

PSU Faults

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  • Dead — no fans, no green LED — PSU 5 VSB regulator failed or primary side dead. Replace PSU.
  • Fans spin briefly, click-retry — Power Good not asserted in 150 ms. PSU fold-back, or shorted planar tantalum, or CHHSI cap plague.
  • Boots cold, fails when warm — aged PSU secondary electrolytics.
  • Audible whine, smell of fish — X2 mains suppression cap (RIFA-branded) venting.
  • Random reboots under load — PSU +12 V rail sag, or planar CHHSI cap failure.

Bundled Monitor Issue (CPSC Recall)

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A US Consumer Product Safety Commission recall covers the IBM G51 CRT monitor bundled with some PC 300 systems (MT 6541-Q0E/G/N/S, 6541-02E/N/S) for overheating risk.[18] If your PC 300 came as a system with one of these monitors, check the model number against the recall list and contact IBM / Lenovo support for replacement guidance.

Common Field Symptoms

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  • 161 / 162 / 163 at every cold boot — CR2032 dead. Replace cell.
  • Won't POST, fans run — CHHSI cap plague on 300PL 6862 / 6892. Recap.
  • POSTs OK, won't enter Setup — F1 timing critical; press F1 during SurePath splash (not memory count).
  • 225 / 164 on cold boot — wrong-type DIMM or wrong-speed SIMM fitted.
  • Random freezes in Windows — VRM caps degrading on Pentium II / III board.
  • Wake on LAN not working — +5 VSB rail too low; PSU recap or replace.
  • AGP card not detected — wrong form factor (ATX AGP in NLX board); chassis bracket misalignment.
  • Coppermine 800 MHz won't boot on 6862 / 6892 — BIOS update required.
  • SCSI controller fails to enumerate on 300PL — ServeRAID firmware mismatch.

Diagnostic Workflow

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  1. Power on; watch for fans, beeps, SurePath splash.
  2. If no beep / no video: check PSU rails, then inspect for CHHSI caps (300PL).
  3. If beep code: match to table.
  4. If numeric POST code: match to table; 161/162/163 → CR2032 replacement.
  5. Press F1 to enter Setup; verify drive types, boot order, memory configuration.
  6. If POST passes but OS won't load: Setup boot device order, then suspect drive.
  7. Run IBM PC 300 diagnostic disk if available, or boot Memtest86+ for memory verification.
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References

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  1. ↑ http://ps-2.kev009.com/pccbbs/commercial_desktop/d4as3tim.pdf
  2. ↑ https://ftpmirror.infania.net/sites/pccbbs/commercial_desktop/d4bp5tim.pdf
  3. ↑ http://ps-2.kev009.com/pccbbs/commercial_desktop/6561tim.pdf
  4. ↑ http://ps-2.kev009.com/pccbbs/commercial_desktop/6275tim.pdf
  5. ↑ http://ps-2.kev009.com/pccbbs/commercial_desktop/s84h0334.pdf
  6. ↑ http://ps-2.kev009.com/pccbbs/intellistation/d4aw1bas.pdf
  7. ↑ https://www.infania.net/misc/pcpartnerinfo/ctstips/259a.html
  8. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_PC_Series
  9. ↑ https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/troubleshooting-post-numeric-error-codes
  10. ↑ http://ps-2.kev009.com/pcpartnerinfo/ctstips/ad96.htm
  11. ↑ http://ps-2.kev009.com/pcpartnerinfo/ctstips/ad96.htm
  12. ↑ https://www.badcaps.net/forum/troubleshooting-hardware-devices-and-electronics-theory/troubleshooting-desktop-motherboards-graphics-cards-and-pc-peripherals/86515-ibm-300pl
  13. ↑ https://ancientelectronics.wordpress.com/2020/11/21/ibm-pl300-type-6862/
  14. ↑ https://ancientelectronics.wordpress.com/2021/12/16/ibm-pc-300xl-model-6588/
  15. ↑ https://ancientelectronics.wordpress.com/2020/11/21/ibm-pl300-type-6862/
  16. ↑ https://www.infania.net/misc/pcpartnerinfo/ctstips/259a.html
  17. ↑ https://www.infania.net/misc/pcpartnerinfo/ctstips/259a.html
  18. ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20030803071351/https:/www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml03/03088.html
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