Hi,

I have an IBM i series 1476 Thinkpad (laptop) that I bought about 5 years ago (I live in Japan).

In July of last year I had to replace the mother board and it cost me about $300.

Recently, on startup I get the following message -

071. CMOS Battery Bad

so I presumed that I need a new CMOS battery.

I took it back to the shop where I bought it and while I was waiting they called IBM. I was told that I would have to replace the mother board again becuse the battery is attached to it and it would cost me $300 AGAIN. The said that the guarantee on the mother board was only 3 months and it's been 8 months since it was replaced. I was as angry as hell and stormed out of the shop.

Does anyone know if this sound right??

Thanks.

Simon.

That sounds really bad, and not right. But you never know.

I had a problem with my old Dell laptop once, where I forgot the Bios password. From what I could understand from Dell, I too would have to replace the motherboard, as the battery was not something that could be removed. I did not buy into this. I wish I had of opened that computer up to see if they were telling me a bunch of BS.

I would not be forking over $300 due to a battery problem! I phoned Dell two years after my warranty ran out, and I was still able to talk to someone (at no charge), thouh I do know that this no longer happens at Dell.