IBM PS/ValuePoint Troubleshooting Guide

IBM PS/ValuePoint 325T. (Image: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0)

Fault finding on the IBM PS/ValuePoint (machine types 6381, 6382, 6384 and 6387, and the later 64xx types) follows IBM's PS/ValuePoint Hardware Maintenance Manual: a general checkout with the diagnostics diskette, a power supply check, and a Symptom-to-FRU Index that maps each POST error, beep pattern and symptom to the parts to try in order. The tables below are taken from that manual and from the August 1996 edition, which adds the 64xx types.

Setup and diagnostics diskettes

Setup (the Configuration Utility) is in ROM: press F1 while the memory count runs at power-on. There is no reference or starter diskette. Esc stops the memory count.

IBM's Advanced Diagnostics come on four diskettes that are not interchangeable:

Diagnostics diskette by machine

Diskette	Machines	IBM file
Type 1	6384 and 6382 325T/S	VPADV100.DSK (dealer BBS)
Type 2	6382 /S, 6384 /D, 6387 /T	VP2DIAGS.EXE
Type 3	6381	VPSIDIA2.EXE
Type 4	6384 P60/D	P60DGS.EXE

General checkout

IBM's sequence, in brief:

1. Power off the computer and external devices, check all cables and cords, remove any diskettes, then power on and watch for a POST error.
2. For a 162 error after an intentional configuration change, press Enter to run the Configuration Utility. For any other POST error, go to the Symptom-to-FRU Index.
3. Boot the diagnostics diskette (the P60/D has its own procedure), select Test the system, then System Checkout, and check the installed devices list.
4. Run the tests. If a test stops and cannot continue, replace the last device tested.
5. For an intermittent fault, check cables and connectors, reseat adapters, drives and modules, check the fan, and run the tests repeatedly with an error log on a DOS-formatted diskette.

If nothing is found, IBM's "Undetermined Problem" procedure is to check the supply voltages, then remove non-IBM devices, external devices, the P60/D snap-in fan, coprocessor, OverDrive processor, adapters, riser card, memory, hard disk and diskette drive one at a time, powering on after each. If the fault remains with everything removed, the system board is replaced.

No power

If the power-on light is off or the supply fan does not run, check the power cord and the voltage-selector switch, then measure the supply at the system board connector with the cables connected. If a voltage is out of range and the cord is good, replace the supply. The limits are +4.75 to +5.25 V, −4.5 to −5.5 V, +11.4 to +12.6 V, −10.8 to −13.2 V, and +4.75 to +5.25 V on Power Good (table in the maintenance guide).

IBM's 6384 support notes give two common causes of a machine that will not power on or off: a cover that is not seated properly, and the supply's voltage switch left at its preset 230 V on 115 V mains.

Beep and display symptoms

Symptoms without an error code (IBM Symptom-to-FRU Index)

Symptom	FRU or action, most likely first
No beep during POST, computer works	System board
No beep during POST	Undetermined Problem procedure; system board, memory, any adapter or device, riser card, power cord, power supply
One long and two short beeps	System board
Three short beeps	Memory procedure; system board
Continuous beep	System board
Repeating short beeps	Keyboard (stuck key), keyboard cable, system board
Changing colours	Display
Other display problems, including blank or illegible display	Display procedure; system board, display
Power-on or hard disk light off, computer works	Power supply, system board
Diskette in-use light stays on or does not light	Diskette drive, system board, diskette cable
Keys do not work	Keyboard, keyboard cable, system board
Clock inaccurate	Clock battery, system board

On a 6384 /D with a SoundBlaster card installed, the beeps come through the card. If there is no beep, remove the card and power on; if the beeps return, the card is at fault.

The 6381 and the 64xx types also signal some errors with beep sequences:

6381 and 64xx beep codes

Beeps	FRU or action
1-3-1, 1-3-2	Memory module, system board
1-4-4	Keyboard, system board
2-1-1, 2-1-2	Run Setup, system board
2-2-2	Video card, system board
2-3-2	Memory module, system board
2-4-3, 2-4-4	Run Setup, memory module, system board
Any other sequence	System board

POST error codes

An X stands for any digit. Where IBM lists several FRUs, try them in the order given.

PS/ValuePoint POST errors (63xx)

Error	FRU or action
110	Follow screen instructions; memory module kit, system board
161	Run Configuration Utility; clock battery, system board
162	Run Configuration Utility; clock battery, system board
162, unable to run diagnostics	Diskette drive, system board, diskette cable
163	Time and date set?; clock battery, system board
164	Run Configuration Utility; memory procedure, system board
199	Installed devices list
1XX (others)	System board
225	Unsupported memory
2XX	Memory procedure; memory module kit, system board
305	System board, keyboard, keyboard cable, mouse
3XX (others)	Keyboard, keyboard cable, system board
604 or 662	Wrong diskette drive type
663	Wrong media type
6XX (others)	Diskette drive, system board, external drive adapter, diskette cable, power supply
7XX	Math coprocessor, system board
9XX	System board
1047	16-bit AT SCSI Fast Adapter
10XX, 12XX, 15XX	Alternate parallel, alternate serial or SDLC adapter; riser card
11XX	System board
17XX	Power supply check; hard disk drive, system board, hard disk cable, power supply
209X	Diskette drive, diskette cable, 16-bit AT SCSI Fast Adapter
21XX	SCSI device, 16-bit AT SCSI Fast Adapter, alternate BSC adapter, riser card
2401, 2402	System board, display
2409	Display
2410	System board
86XX	Mouse, system board
12902	Run diagnostics; system board
12904	Run diagnostics; L2 cache adapter
I9990301	Hard disk reset failure; possible hard disk problem
I9990305	No startable device; restart from diskette or check the startup sequence; system board

The system board has a non-replaceable fuse that a defective keyboard or mouse can blow, giving error 305. IBM's note is to replace a suspect keyboard or mouse at the same time as the system board.

The 1996 manual's 64xx index differs in a few entries: 303 with an 8603 error points to the mouse first, 303 without one to the keyboard; 604 points to drive A if diagnostics cannot run and drive B if they can; and 17X0 to 17X3 identify the first to fourth hard disk.

The 6384 P60/D uses the same POST errors but its own diagnostic codes: for example 004XXXXX memory (remove kits one at a time), 005XXXXX real-time clock, 007XXXXX hard disk, 01EXXXXX processor, 02BXXXXX and 029XXXXX video controller, 02CXXXXX flash EEPROM.

Memory

IBM's memory procedure ignores 164 (memory size) errors, runs the memory tests once from the diagnostics diskette, and if the tests cannot run or find nothing, replaces memory kits one at a time until the fault clears, then the system board. Memory type and fitting rules for each generation are in the maintenance guide.

Things that are not faults

• On the 1992 486 models the memory count is 384 KB less than the memory fitted; on the 325T it is 128 KB less, which disabling ROM shadowing recovers.
• Setup shows only two COM ports even when three or four serial devices are installed.
• The 5.25-inch diskette drive will not read until the button on its bezel is pressed after the diskette is inserted.
• The 1992 models have a piezo beeper, not a speaker.

Known software and configuration faults

• The OS/2 2.00.1 SVGA drivers for the 486 models were written for an ICS video frequency controller; later boards use a Chrontel part, just left of the Tseng video chip, and need the revised driver. Without it, video fails when OS/2 changes mode.
• The on-board video uses IRQ 2 by default and conflicts with adapters such as Token-Ring cards that also use it. The jumper that frees it is JP305 on W52 and Mxx models, JP17 on Fxx models and JP16 on Cxx models (not fitted to the first Cxx boards).
• For 162 and 163 errors under OS/2, IBM supplied a replacement CLOCK01.SYS. After copying it into the OS2 directory, cold-boot the machine twice.
• IBM's fix for keyboard lockups in Windows 3.1 and Windows for Workgroups is IBMKBFIX.EXE for the /D models and 6381WG31.EXE for the 6381.
• IBM's notes on the 1992 models record problems with MS-DOS where the machine fails a cold boot but not a warm boot, and suggest checking whether IBM DOS is installed.

Clock battery

Errors 161, 162 and 163 lead to the clock battery after the Configuration Utility and the time and date have been checked. The battery is FRU 33F8354 (CR2032) in a holder; the P60/D uses FRU 71G6630. Replacement and password-clearing procedures are in the maintenance guide.

Related pages

• IBM PS/ValuePoint
• IBM PS/ValuePoint Maintenance Guide
• IBM PS/ValuePoint Capacitor Replacement Guide