IBM PS/ValuePoint Troubleshooting Guide - Revision history

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2026-07-16T12:07:30Z

Add representative photo (Wikimedia Commons, attributed on file page)

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			[[File:IBM PS-ValuePoint (photo).jpg\|thumb\|right\|300px\|IBM PS/ValuePoint. Source: Wikimedia Commons.]]
	This guide documents fault diagnosis for the '''[[IBM PS/ValuePoint]]''' family — machine types '''6381 / 6382 / 6384 / 6387''' (1992–1995). PS/ValuePoint inherits the classic IBM PC/PS/2 POST numeric error code series — 161 / 162 / 163 CMOS battery cluster, 2xx memory codes, 6xx floppy codes, 17xx hard disk codes — plus PS/ValuePoint-specific behaviour around the on-planar SVGA, VLB / PCI riser, and ICS-vs-Chrontel video clock generator.		This guide documents fault diagnosis for the '''[[IBM PS/ValuePoint]]''' family — machine types '''6381 / 6382 / 6384 / 6387''' (1992–1995). PS/ValuePoint inherits the classic IBM PC/PS/2 POST numeric error code series — 161 / 162 / 163 CMOS battery cluster, 2xx memory codes, 6xx floppy codes, 17xx hard disk codes — plus PS/ValuePoint-specific behaviour around the on-planar SVGA, VLB / PCI riser, and ICS-vs-Chrontel video clock generator.

Josh: Expand troubleshooting: RIFA/tantalum + Dallas/planar battery (161/163) + POST codes; cited

2026-07-15T23:17:09Z

Expand troubleshooting: RIFA/tantalum + Dallas/planar battery (161/163) + POST codes; cited

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 # If POST passes but OS won't load: run Setup, verify boot device, then suspect drive.
 # Run the Advanced Diagnostics Diskette for sustained hardware self-test.
 == Related Pages ==

Josh: Deep technical PS/ValuePoint pages with verified sources (IBM HMM S61G-1423, kev009 mirror)

2026-05-23T14:33:43Z

Deep technical PS/ValuePoint pages with verified sources (IBM HMM S61G-1423, kev009 mirror)

New page

This guide documents fault diagnosis for the '''[[IBM PS/ValuePoint]]''' family — machine types '''6381 / 6382 / 6384 / 6387''' (1992–1995). PS/ValuePoint inherits the classic IBM PC/PS/2 POST numeric error code series — 161 / 162 / 163 CMOS battery cluster, 2xx memory codes, 6xx floppy codes, 17xx hard disk codes — plus PS/ValuePoint-specific behaviour around the on-planar SVGA, VLB / PCI riser, and ICS-vs-Chrontel video clock generator.

== Reference Documents ==

* '''IBM Hardware Maintenance Manual S61G-1423-01''' (September 1993) — authoritative HMM covering 6381 / 6382 /S / 6384 / 6384 /D / 6384 P60/D / 6387 /T.<ref>http://ps-2.kev009.com/pccbbs/valuepnt/s61g1423.pdf</ref>
* '''IBM HMM S61G-1423-02''' (August 1996) — covers 638x and the later 64xx transitional machine types.<ref>http://ps-2.kev009.com/basil.holloway/boo-to-pdf/S61G_1423_02.pdf</ref>
* '''IBM PS/ValuePoint and Model 64xx Beep-Code Index''', kev009 mirror.<ref>http://ps-2.kev009.com/pcpartnerinfo/ctstips/ad96.htm</ref>

== Entering Setup ==

'''PS/ValuePoint is NOT Reference-Diskette-based.''' Setup is in ROM. Entry keys:

* '''F1 during memory count''' — enter Setup. The system counts memory at boot; F1 must be pressed during that count.
* '''ESC during memory count''' — skip the memory count and boot directly.<ref>http://ps-2.kev009.com/pcpartnerinfo/ctstips/e1f6.htm</ref>

The optional '''Advanced Diagnostics Diskette''' is a separate floppy (VPADV100.DSK on the original 6384, vp2diags.exe / vpsidia2.exe / p60dgs.exe on later boards) for hardware self-test only — not for Setup.

== Initial Diagnosis ==

Power on the system and observe in order:

# Power LED lights, fan spins.
# Memory count appears on screen (you can interrupt with ESC).
# Single short beep at end of POST.
# Boot device located; OS loads.

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

=== Stage 1 — No Power, No Fans ===

* '''Voltage selector switch on rear''' set correctly for your mains (115 V or 230 V)? IBM ships in 230 V position; a 230 V switch on 120 V mains is the most common "DOA" symptom.
* '''Mains power good and on'''? Test the lead.
* '''Cover-interlock switch''' depressed? Some PS/ValuePoint chassis have a cover interlock — the system will not power on if the cover is not seated.<ref>http://ps-2.kev009.com/pcpartnerinfo/ctstips/e1f6.htm</ref>

=== Stage 2 — Fan Spins But No POST Beep / No Video ===

* Listen for beep codes (see table below).
* Reseat RAM modules (in matched banks where required).
* Reseat the L2 cache module if present.
* Reseat the on-planar CPU if socketed.
* If the L2 cache module is the wrong type for the board (Type 1 vs Type 2), POST will halt with 12902 / 12904 — see "Cache Codes" below.

=== Stage 3 — Beeps But Video Absent ===

* '''2-2-2''' or '''1 long + 2 short''' — video adapter fault. Reseat planar video subsystem (no removable cards on PS/ValuePoint — video is on-planar).
* Try connecting a known-good ISA VGA card and disable the planar video (see Setup).

=== Stage 4 — Video Present, Halts at BIOS with Error Code ===

Match the code in the table below.

=== Stage 5 — POST Passes, OS Won't Load ===

* Drive type set correctly in Setup?
* Boot order correct in Setup?
* If '''I 99903 05''' appears — no startable device found. Verify boot sequence.<ref>http://ps-2.kev009.com/pcpartnerinfo/ctstips/ad96.htm</ref>

== POST Numeric Error Codes ==

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

{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:100%; text-align:center;"
|+'''PS/ValuePoint POST numeric codes'''
! Code !! Meaning !! First action FRU
|-
| '''110''' || Memory parity / general system error || Memory Module, System Board
|-
| '''161''' || '''Battery dead / disconnected''' || Run Configuration Utility, Clock Battery (CR2032), System Board
|-
| '''162''' || '''System options not set''' (CMOS checksum bad) || Run Configuration Utility, Clock Battery, System Board
|-
| '''163''' || '''Time and date not set''' || Clock Battery, System Board
|-
| '''164''' || Memory configuration changed (memory size mis-match with CMOS) || Run Configuration Utility, Memory, System Board
|-
| '''199''' || Installed-devices list mismatch || See "Installed Devices List" in HMM supplement
|-
| '''1XX''' || General planar fault || System Board
|-
| '''225''' || Unsupported memory || Memory Module
|-
| '''2XX''' || Memory error (address shown is failing block) || Memory Module, System Board
|-
| '''303 + 8603''' || Pointing-device error || Mouse, Keyboard, cable, System Board
|-
| '''303''' (no 8603) || Keyboard error || Keyboard, cable, System Board
|-
| '''305''' || Keyboard / keyboard cable || System Board, Keyboard
|-
| '''3XX''' || Keyboard || Keyboard, cable, System Board
|-
| '''604''' || Diskette drive || Drive A or B, cable, System Board
|-
| '''662''' || Wrong diskette drive type || Configure in Setup
|-
| '''663''' || Wrong media type ||
|-
| '''6XX''' || Diskette subsystem || Drive, System Board, cable, PSU
|-
| '''7XX''' || Math co-processor || FPU, System Board
|-
| '''9XX''' || System board || System Board
|-
| '''1047''' || 16-bit AT Fast SCSI Adapter || SCSI adapter
|-
| '''10XX''' || Alternate parallel adapter || Riser, adapter
|-
| '''11XX''' || System board (built-in serial) || System Board
|-
| '''12XX''' || Alternate serial adapter || Adapter, Riser
|-
| '''13XX''' || Game / joystick adapter || Adapter
|-
| '''14XX''' || Printer || See HMM Printer chapter
|-
| '''15XX''' || SDLC comms adapter || Adapter, Riser
|-
| '''1701 / 1711 / 1730 / 1780 / 1782''' || Hard disk 1 || PSU, HDD, cable
|-
| '''1702''' || Hard disk adapter || System Board, controller
|-
| '''17X0 / 17X1 / 17X2 / 17X3''' || Hard disk 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 || PSU, HDD, cable
|-
| '''209X''' || Diskette / 16-bit SCSI || Drive, cable, SCSI
|-
| '''21XX''' || SCSI subsystem || SCSI device, adapter, cable
|-
| '''2401''' || On-planar video / display || System Board, Display
|-
| '''2402''' || On-planar video || System Board
|-
| '''2409 / 2410''' || Display / planar video ||
|-
| '''30XX / 31XX''' || PC Network adapter ||
|-
| '''86XX''' || Mouse || Mouse, System Board
|-
| '''12902''' || L2 cache adapter || L2 cache module
|-
| '''12904''' || L2 cache adapter / system board || L2 cache module, System Board
|-
| '''I 99903 01''' || Hard disk reset failure ||
|-
| '''I 99903 05''' || No startable device || Re-check boot sequence in Setup
|}

The '''161 / 162 / 163''' cluster on a PS/ValuePoint always points to the same fault: the '''CR2032 lithium coin cell''' at B1 / BT1 is dead. Replace the cell and re-enter Setup (F1 during memory count). See [[IBM PS/ValuePoint Maintenance Guide]].

== POST Beep Codes ==

PS/ValuePoint uses a '''piezo beeper''', not a magnetic speaker.<ref>http://ps-2.kev009.com/pcpartnerinfo/ctstips/e1f6.htm</ref>

{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:100%; text-align:center;"
|+'''PS/ValuePoint beep codes'''
! Beep 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 ||
|-
| Other patterns || System Board ||
|}

== Memory-Specific Faults ==

* '''201 with address''' — failing memory address shown on screen. Identify the failing SIMM bank from the address.
* '''225''' — unsupported memory. PS/ValuePoint requires '''parity''' SIMMs; a non-parity SIMM will halt POST.
* '''2-3-2''' beep + 201 — memory module fault.
* '''110''' — memory parity error during POST.

Memory installation rules:

* '''325T''' — 2 sockets, 72-pin parity, 70–85 ns.
* '''Original 6384 (1992)''' — '''30-pin parity''' SIMMs in '''banks of 4'''. All 4 slots in a bank must be populated; partial banks halt at 225.
* '''6381 /Si, 6382 /S, 6384 /D, 6387 /T''' — 4 × 72-pin parity sockets, may be installed individually or in pairs depending on submodel.
* '''P60/D''' — 4 × 72-pin parity, '''must be installed in pairs''' (dual-channel).

== Cache Codes ==

The '''12902''' and '''12904''' codes specifically reference the L2 cache module:

* '''12902''' — L2 cache module fault. Reseat or replace the module.
* '''12904''' — L2 cache adapter or system board. Check that the module is the correct type for the planar (Type 1 boards use a different cache module than Type 2).

== Video Faults ==

* '''2401 / 2402 / 2409 / 2410''' — on-planar video fault.
* '''2-2-2 beep''' — video chip not responding.
* '''Blank screen, no beep''' — possible video clock generator failure. Look for the '''ICS / Chrontel''' chip just left of the Tseng video chip. If the system worked before a driver install and now fails, the OS/2 2.00.1 SVGA driver does not work with Chrontel-equipped boards — install the revised driver.<ref>http://ps-2.kev009.com/pcpartnerinfo/ctstips/e1f6.htm</ref>

== Storage Faults ==

* '''1701 / 1702 / 1711''' — IDE hard disk drive 1 fault. Verify drive type in Setup; clean / reseat cable; suspect drive failure (PS/ValuePoint era IDE drives are 25+ years old).
* '''1782''' — disk controller failure on planar.
* '''604 / 611 / 613''' — floppy drive fault. Common cause: aged SMD electrolytic on Alps drive logic board has leaked.<ref>https://www.zx.net.nz/computers/ibm/psvaluepoint_425sxsi/</ref>
* '''662''' — wrong floppy drive type set in Setup. Re-enter Setup; verify A: and B: types match physical drives.
* '''663''' — wrong media type (e.g. 1.44 MB drive but disk formatted 720 KB).

=== 2.88 MB Floppy Note ===

The '''486 boards do not support 2.88 MB drives'''. Only the P60/D supports 2.88 MB. A 2.88 MB drive installed on a 486 board will halt with 662 / 663 errors.

== Keyboard Faults ==

* '''301 / 303''' (no 8603) — keyboard fault.
* '''303 + 8603''' — pointing device (mouse) fault.
* '''305''' — keyboard cable / fuse.
* '''86XX''' — mouse fault.
* '''Repeating short beep''' — stuck key on keyboard.

The widely-documented PS/ValuePoint '''Windows 3.1 / WfWg 3.11 keyboard lockup''' requires the '''IBMKBFIX.EXE / 6381WG31.ZIP''' SYSTEM.INI patch — not a hardware fault.<ref>http://ps-2.kev009.com/pcpartnerinfo/ctstips/859e.htm</ref>

== SCSI Faults (Optional Adapter) ==

* '''1047''' — 16-bit AT Fast SCSI adapter (Future Domain).
* '''21XX''' — SCSI subsystem. Check termination, cable, device addresses.

== Common Field Symptoms ==

* '''161 + 163 at every cold boot''' — Battery dead. Replace CR2032.
* '''Powers on intermittently when cover is replaced''' — cover-interlock switch fault. Clean / replace.
* '''Will not power on at all''' — Voltage selector switch on rear set to wrong position; or PSU dead.
* '''Random reboots, especially under heavy disk activity''' — PSU caps aged on 200 W supply. See [[IBM PS/ValuePoint Capacitor Replacement Guide]].
* '''Floppy drive reads disks but writes corrupt them''' — Alps drive SMD electrolytic leaked. Recap drive logic board.
* '''DOS reports "Bad CMOS" on boot''' — 162 / 163 cluster. Battery, then Setup.
* '''Windows blue-screens with hardware error on cold start''' — IBMKBFIX issue; or PSU rails sagging.
* '''OS/2 SVGA video fails on mode change''' — ICS / Chrontel chip mismatch with old OS/2 SVGA driver.

== ECAs and Defects ==

* '''Defect 57012''' — F-Disk error during boot — required fix for OS/2 1.30.1 / 1.30.2 on the 325T.<ref>http://ps-2.kev009.com/pcpartnerinfo/ctstips/e1f6.htm</ref>
* '''Defect 57146''' — Date/Time 162 / 163 error — required fix for OS/2 on the 325T.<ref>http://ps-2.kev009.com/pcpartnerinfo/ctstips/e1f6.htm</ref>
* '''6384-F20 hard-drive upgrade''' — 80 MB → 120 MB; dealer return path through 1-800-426-9733 before 26 February 1993.<ref>http://ps-2.kev009.com/pcpartnerinfo/ctstips/e1f6.htm</ref>

No formal ECA numbers (in the IBM "ECA-nnn" sense used on PS/2 line) were located for the PS/ValuePoint family. Updates and bug fixes were handled by Technical Information Letters and BIOS / driver updates rather than ECAs.

== Diagnostic Workflow ==

# Confirm the voltage selector switch is correct for your mains.
# Power on; observe power LED, fans, memory count, beep.
# If no power: voltage selector, mains, cover interlock, PSU.
# If power but no POST beep: reseat memory, cache module, CPU.
# If beep code: match to table above.
# If numeric POST code: match to table above. 161/162/163 → CR2032 replacement.
# Press F1 during memory count to enter Setup; verify drive types, boot order, video config.
# If POST passes but OS won't load: run Setup, verify boot device, then suspect drive.
# Run the Advanced Diagnostics Diskette for sustained hardware self-test.

== Related Pages ==

* [[IBM PS/ValuePoint]]
* [[IBM PS/ValuePoint Maintenance Guide]]
* [[IBM PS/ValuePoint Capacitor Replacement Guide]]

== References ==

* [http://ps-2.kev009.com/pcpartnerinfo/ctstips/ad96.htm IBM PS/ValuePoint and Model 64xx Beep-Code and POST Code Index].
* [http://ps-2.kev009.com/pcpartnerinfo/ctstips/e1f6.htm IBM PS/ValuePoint Tips & Tricks Section, kev009 mirror]. F1 enters Setup, no Reference Diskette, ICS/Chrontel video chip.
* [http://ps-2.kev009.com/pcpartnerinfo/ctstips/859e.htm IBM PS/ValuePoint /S, /D, /T system info]. IBMKBFIX Windows keyboard fix, OverDrive jumpers.
* [http://ps-2.kev009.com/pcpartnerinfo/ctstips/5e9a.htm IBM PS/ValuePoint P60/D system info]. Pentium 60 board, 2.88 MB FDD support.
* [http://ps-2.kev009.com/pccbbs/valuepnt/s61g1423.pdf IBM Hardware Maintenance Manual S61G-1423-01 (Sep 1993)].
* [http://ps-2.kev009.com/basil.holloway/boo-to-pdf/S61G_1423_02.pdf IBM HMM S61G-1423-02 (Aug 1996)].
* [https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/troubleshooting-post-numeric-error-codes IBM Support — Troubleshooting POST numeric error codes].
* [https://www.zx.net.nz/computers/ibm/psvaluepoint_425sxsi/ zx.net.nz — IBM PS/ValuePoint 425SX/Si]. Field report.

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