Thinkpads Forum

Hi all

Sorry to bother you all with this, I have searched all over this site but I'm not getting the right answers.

I'm trying to resuscitate the first IBM thinkpad that I bought a 760XL, it's been sitting in my cupboard after it packed in a few years ago.

I installed a new CMOS and backup battery but now I'm getting the 00174 error. I know it's some sort of configuration error, after fitting the new Cmos battery the screen came up for me to alter the date and time.

I'm not able to access the Bios, not sure if it's because I've got a password on it, but when I fire it up and keep F1 pressed it just goes straight into the error code.

It won't boot from a floppy either.

Any help, ideas, greatly appreciated.

Best regards

Tony

The Hardware Maintenance Manual says that error code 174 means 'Configuration Error' and it describes a procedure
called 'Checking the Installed Devices List' to go through. (page 238)

To get into bios: Press and hold the F1 key; then power-on the computer. Hold the F1 key down until the Easy-Setup screen appears.

Click here to go to the Hardware Maintenance Manual

SMA wrote:The Hardware Maintenance Manual says that error code 174 means 'Configuration Error' and it describes a procedure
called 'Checking the Installed Devices List' to go through. (page 238)

To get into bios: Press and hold the F1 key; then power-on the computer. Hold the F1 key down until the Easy-Setup screen appears.

Click here to go to the Hardware Maintenance Manual

Hi there

Thanks for that, truth is; it's so long since I've looked at this computer that I'd forgotten some of the basics. Pretty sure it's the hard drive playing up.

Best regards

Tony

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Hello!
Sorry for my English.

I have an IBM ThinkPad 760CD, the same as yours. By chance, I have the same problem too. My hard disk is working fine because I tested it on my computer using an IDE-to-USB adapter. However, when I put it into my ThinkPad 760CD, I get a "174" error. Like you, I replaced the CMOS battery and the BIOS battery. I tried pressing F1 to enter the BIOS when the computer starts, but on the screen I only see "OK" and "Cancel" – I can't get into the Easy-Setup screen. Could you help me solve this problem? Thank you very much!

Li Ky
2/5/2026

Hello, are you sure your hard drive is compatible ? These old IBM HDDs have reversed master/slave configuration.
Try to remove the HDD and see if you go further.
On mine, I've exchanged the old HDD for a two-slots compact flash IDE adapter : I put the card in one or the other slot until the system accepts it. It won't accept two cards.
Regards.

You can see my thread on this issue here viewtopic.php?f=6&t=137791&p=885360#p885360
There is an incompatibility between different models and hdd caddies. for more details please follow the link

Hello aka_mg and Bondi ,
Thank you very much for replying to me!
As I mentioned, this problem appeared after I replaced the BIOS and CMOS batteries. The hard disk I am using now is the original one that came with this computer. Before I changed the batteries, it worked normally and when i remove my hard disk "174" error was disappeared. So I think it's a BIOS problem.
I also tried using a CF card to start the computer, but it was hard for my computer to recognize it. The hard drive indicator light on the computer's LED panel was flashing, and the computer became laggy. In the end, the computer could not detect the CF card at all.
I will try cutting some pins, which might help my computer work better.
Thanks!