Editing IBM PC Series 300 Troubleshooting Guide

[[File:IBM PC Series 300 (photo).jpg|thumb|right|300px|IBM PC Series 300. Source: Wikimedia Commons.]]
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 ==

* '''PC 300GL 6272 / 6282''' TIM '''d4as3tim.pdf'''.<ref>http://ps-2.kev009.com/pccbbs/commercial_desktop/d4as3tim.pdf</ref>
* '''PC 300GL 6268 / 6278 / 6288''' TIM '''d4bp5tim.pdf'''.<ref>https://ftpmirror.infania.net/sites/pccbbs/commercial_desktop/d4bp5tim.pdf</ref>
* '''PC 300GL 6561 / 6591''' TIM '''6561tim.pdf'''.<ref>http://ps-2.kev009.com/pccbbs/commercial_desktop/6561tim.pdf</ref>
* '''PC 300PL 6862 / 6892 + PC 300GL 6275 / 6285''' TIM '''6275tim.pdf'''.<ref>http://ps-2.kev009.com/pccbbs/commercial_desktop/6275tim.pdf</ref>
* '''PC 365 6589''' TIM '''S84H-0334-01'''.<ref>http://ps-2.kev009.com/pccbbs/commercial_desktop/s84h0334.pdf</ref>
* '''PC 300XL 6588 / IntelliStation M Pro''' TIM '''d4aw1bas.pdf'''.<ref>http://ps-2.kev009.com/pccbbs/intellistation/d4aw1bas.pdf</ref>
* '''IBM PC 300PL driver levels''' (per-MT BIOS images).<ref>https://www.infania.net/misc/pcpartnerinfo/ctstips/259a.html</ref>

== Entering Setup ==

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.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_PC_Series</ref>

== Initial Diagnosis ==

Power on the system and observe in order:

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

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

=== Stage 1 — No Power ===

* '''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 ===

* '''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 ===

Match the code in the table below.

=== Stage 4 — POST Passes, OS Won't Load ===

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

== POST Numeric Error Codes ==

PC Series 300 inherits the IBM PC / PS/2 numeric POST series, with PC 300-specific extensions.<ref>https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/troubleshooting-post-numeric-error-codes</ref><ref>http://ps-2.kev009.com/pcpartnerinfo/ctstips/ad96.htm</ref>

=== 1xx — Planar / CMOS ===

{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:100%; text-align:center;"
|+'''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 ===

{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:100%; text-align:center;"
|+'''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 ===

* '''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 ===

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

=== 8xx — Math Coprocessor ===

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

=== 17xx — Hard Disk ===

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

=== 24xx — Video ===

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

=== I 99903 — Boot ===

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

== POST Beep Codes ==

PC Series 300 uses an IBM SurePath beep-code pattern:<ref>http://ps-2.kev009.com/pcpartnerinfo/ctstips/ad96.htm</ref>

{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:100%; text-align:center;"
|+'''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) ==

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.<ref>https://www.badcaps.net/forum/troubleshooting-hardware-devices-and-electronics-theory/troubleshooting-desktop-motherboards-graphics-cards-and-pc-peripherals/86515-ibm-300pl</ref>

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 ==

* '''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.<ref>https://ancientelectronics.wordpress.com/2020/11/21/ibm-pl300-type-6862/</ref> Larger or unsupported configurations halt at 164 / 225.

== Setup Auto-Prompt on Configuration Change ==

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.<ref>https://ancientelectronics.wordpress.com/2021/12/16/ibm-pc-300xl-model-6588/</ref>

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

== Coppermine Boot Blocker (6862 / 6892) ==

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.<ref>https://ancientelectronics.wordpress.com/2020/11/21/ibm-pl300-type-6862/</ref><ref>https://www.infania.net/misc/pcpartnerinfo/ctstips/259a.html</ref>

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

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

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:

# Boot with a known-good '''NLX-form''' AGP card (S3 Trio3D, NVIDIA TNT2 M64 NLX, Matrox MGA-G200 NLX).
# Verify in Setup that "Primary VGA" is set to AGP.
# Run the latest IBM display driver from the kev009 driver-level archive.<ref>https://www.infania.net/misc/pcpartnerinfo/ctstips/259a.html</ref>

== Storage Faults ==

* '''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 ==

* '''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) ==

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.<ref>http://web.archive.org/web/20030803071351/https:/www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml03/03088.html</ref> 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 ==

* '''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 ==

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

== ⚠️ Power-supply RIFA capacitor and tantalum shorts ==

Two age-related failures are near-universal on this era of IBM hardware:

* '''RIFA mains-filter capacitors''' in the power supply are metallised-paper parts that crack and fail '''short''' with age, producing acrid smoke shortly after power-on. Replace them pre-emptively with modern X2-class parts.<ref name="ibm_rifa">[https://www.minuszerodegrees.net/failure.htm minuszerodegrees.net — IBM failure symptoms]; [https://www.classic-computers.org.nz/blog/2010-11-04-restoring-an-IBM-xt.htm Repairing and Restoring an IBM XT]; and [https://retrorepairsandrefurbs.com/2025/05/15/1983-ibm-pc-5160-xt-power-supply-rebuild-modifications/ Adam's Vintage Computer Restorations]. Source for the RIFA mains-filter capacitor failing short (smoke) and the tantalum capacitors failing short and preventing the PSU from firing.</ref>
* '''Tantalum capacitors''' on the planar (system board) and on ISA cards fail short with age. A shorted tantalum will '''prevent the power supply from starting''' (dead machine, PSU protection latched) &mdash; look for a cracked or discoloured tantalum and lift suspect ones to find the short.<ref name="ibm_rifa">[https://www.minuszerodegrees.net/failure.htm minuszerodegrees.net — IBM failure symptoms]; [https://www.classic-computers.org.nz/blog/2010-11-04-restoring-an-IBM-xt.htm Repairing and Restoring an IBM XT]; and [https://retrorepairsandrefurbs.com/2025/05/15/1983-ibm-pc-5160-xt-power-supply-rebuild-modifications/ Adam's Vintage Computer Restorations]. Source for the RIFA mains-filter capacitor failing short (smoke) and the tantalum capacitors failing short and preventing the PSU from firing.</ref>

IBM PC/XT switching supplies also need a '''minimum load''' to start, so a bare supply on the bench may not run without a dummy load.<ref name="ibm_rifa">[https://www.minuszerodegrees.net/failure.htm minuszerodegrees.net — IBM failure symptoms]; [https://www.classic-computers.org.nz/blog/2010-11-04-restoring-an-IBM-xt.htm Repairing and Restoring an IBM XT]; and [https://retrorepairsandrefurbs.com/2025/05/15/1983-ibm-pc-5160-xt-power-supply-rebuild-modifications/ Adam's Vintage Computer Restorations]. Source for the RIFA mains-filter capacitor failing short (smoke) and the tantalum capacitors failing short and preventing the PSU from firing.</ref>

== ⚠️ CMOS / RTC battery ==

This machine keeps its configuration in battery-backed CMOS, and the battery is a common failure. On AT-class boards the clock/CMOS is often a '''Dallas DS1287/DS12887''' module with the cell sealed inside; it lasts about ten years and then dies, giving '''161 / 163''' CMOS and clock errors at POST (and sometimes spurious floppy-drive errors). PS/2 planars use a rechargeable barrel or pack battery that '''leaks''' and corrodes the board. Replace a dead Dallas module (or rework it with an external coin cell), and on a leaking planar battery remove it and clean the corrosion before it eats the traces.<ref name="ibm_batt">[https://www.classic-computers.org.nz/blog/2009-10-10-renovating-a-dallas-battery-chip.htm Fixing a Flat Dallas DS1287 RTC], Classic Computers; and [https://www.ardent-tool.com/misc/Dallas_Rework.html Reworking Dallas RTC Modules], Ardent Tool. Source for the Dallas DS1287/DS12887 internal-battery death (161/163 CMOS errors) and the leaking planar battery.</ref>

== References ==

<references />

== Related Pages ==

* [[IBM PC Series 300]]
* [[IBM PC Series 300 Maintenance Guide]]
* [[IBM PC Series 300 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]

== References ==

* [http://ps-2.kev009.com/pcpartnerinfo/ctstips/ad96.htm IBM PS/ValuePoint and PC 300 Beep-Code Index, kev009]. POST and beep-code reference (PC 300 inherits the same series).
* [https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/troubleshooting-post-numeric-error-codes IBM Support — POST numeric error codes].
* [http://ps-2.kev009.com/pccbbs/commercial_desktop/6275tim.pdf IBM PC 300PL 6862 / 6892 TIM (kev009)]. Authoritative service manual.
* [http://ps-2.kev009.com/pccbbs/commercial_desktop/d4as3tim.pdf IBM PC 300GL 6272 / 6282 TIM].
* [http://ps-2.kev009.com/pccbbs/commercial_desktop/s84h0334.pdf IBM PC 365 TIM S84H-0334-01].
* [http://ps-2.kev009.com/pccbbs/intellistation/d4aw1bas.pdf IBM PC 300XL / IntelliStation M Pro TIM d4aw1bas].
* [https://www.infania.net/misc/pcpartnerinfo/ctstips/259a.html IBM PC 300PL 6862 / 6872 / 6892 driver levels]. Per-MT BIOS image reference.
* [https://www.badcaps.net/forum/troubleshooting-hardware-devices-and-electronics-theory/troubleshooting-desktop-motherboards-graphics-cards-and-pc-peripherals/86515-ibm-300pl Badcaps.net — IBM PC 300PL recap]. CHHSI 560 µF 25 V capacitor plague.
* [https://ancientelectronics.wordpress.com/2020/11/21/ibm-pl300-type-6862/ ancientelectronics — IBM PC 300PL Type 6862]. NLX, AGP offset, Coppermine BIOS update.
* [https://ancientelectronics.wordpress.com/2021/12/16/ibm-pc-300xl-model-6588/ ancientelectronics — IBM PC 300XL Model 6588]. EDO DIMM keying trap; auto-setup prompt.
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20030803071351/https:/www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml03/03088.html CPSC recall — IBM G51 CRT monitor].

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