The following is specific to the IBM 5170 (IBM AT).

 

 Certain portions will not be applicable to clones that were made of the IBM 5170.

 Execution of tests is not always done in numerical order.

 

 For example, the hard drive tests are done in order of 1782, 1780, 1781, 1790, 1791

  161

161-System Options Not Set-(Run SETUP)

Battery problem.

Possible causes:
  * Battery is dead/low - replace it and then run the SETUP procedure.
  * A dead/low battery was replaced with new but the SETUP procedure has yet to be done.
 

  162

162-System Options Not Set-(Run SETUP)

CMOS/RTC checksum problem, or other configuration issue.

Known causes:
  * A hiccup of some kind has corrupted CMOS/RTC configuration (SETUP). Correct this by running the SETUP procedure.
  * Battery is dead/low. Some 5170 motherboards, for unknown reason, don't produce a 161 error. Check/replace battery, and then run the SETUP procedure.
  * A CGA video card is fitted, but the CMOS/RTC configuration (SETUP) is set for MDA (monochrome), or 'special' (EGA/VGA).
  * An MDA ( monochrome) video card is fitted, but the CMOS/RTC configuration (SETUP) is set for CGA, or 'special' (EGA/VGA).
 

  163

163-Time & Date Not Set-(Run SETUP)

Clock (RTC) error.         [ detection of invalid time values in RTC chip, or clock not ticking over]

Possible causes:
  * The SETUP procedure was started but not finished.
  * Motherboard failure (in RTC related circuitry).
 

  164

164-Memory Size Error-(Run SETUP)

164 NOT PRECEDED BY A 201 ERROR

    The amount of base RAM and expanded (extended) RAM discovered by the POST is more than the two amounts recorded in CMOS/RTC configuration (SETUP).
    Possible causes:
      * User has added RAM but failed to then perform the SETUP procedure.
      * User ran the SETUP procedure, and during that procedure, entered incorrect amounts for the RAM (ones lower than fitted).


164 PRECEDED BY A 201 ERROR

    Deal with the 201 error first. Correcting that will probably remove the 164 error as well.
 

  201

201-Memory Error

RAM related problem.

Displayed on screen in the format of "AAAAAA  BBBB  201-Memory Error",
where AAAAAA is the hexidecimal address (in bytes) of the failing word and BBBB shows which bits in the word have failed.

You may see an address that is one word beyond the actual failing address, e.g. 040002 instead of 040000

201 error example:
"040002 8000 201-Memory Error" -----> "040002" = 256 KB, "8000" = bit 15


NOTE: If the BBBB portion (failing bits) contains many "F", example: "FFFE", then it is highly likely that non-existing RAM is being tested.
           For example (one of many), this would occur if the machine SETUP is configured for 640K of RAM, but only 512K is fitted.
           For example (one of many), a RAM card has failed completely.
 

  301

301-Keyboard Error

Keyboard problem.

Possible causes:
  * No keyboard.
  * Wrong type of keyboard - AT class keyboard required - PC/XT class keyboards won't work.
  * Faulty keyboard.
  * Faulty motherboard (specifically the keyboard circuitry on it).
  * In certain AT clones, a keyboard error can be caused by the front panel keyswitch being in the 'locked' position.
  * In certain AT clones, a keyboard error can be caused by a blown keyboard fuse on the motherboard. (Note: The IBM 5170 does not have a keyboard fuse.)
 

  401

401-CRT Error

A known cause: Having only a CGA video card fitted, but motherboard switch SW1 is incorrectly set to the MDA position (rear).
 

  501

501-CRT Error

A known cause: Having only an MDA (monochrome) video card fitted, but motherboard switch SW1 is incorrectly set to the 'CGA' position (front).
 

1780

1780-Disk 0 Failure

The 5170's POST, upon seeing that a hard drive is included in the CMOS/RTC configuration (SETUP), asked the hard disk controller to perform an 'internal diagnostic' (see 1782 error). That passed. The POST then asked the controller to issue a 'Recalibrate drive' command to the first hard drive (C:). The 1780 error was displayed because that command failed.

Possible causes:
  * Control cable (34 pin) is missing.
  * Control cable (34 pin) is no longer seated correctly on controller or drive.
  * Control cable (34 pin) is faulty.
  * On the controller, control cable (34 pin) accidentally connected to J1 (for floppy drives) instead of J5 (for hard drives). See this diagram.
  * On the controller, control cable (34 pin) is connected to J5 upside down. See this diagram.
  * Drive Select jumper on hard drive is in wrong position for the type of control cable being used. See this diagram.
  * A twisted control cable is being used but is the wrong type - floppy drive type instead of hard drive type. (photo of difference)
  * Hard drive does not have power to it (either +5V or +12V, or both).
  * Hard drive is faulty.
  * Hard drive controller card is faulty (even though it earlier passed its 'internal diagnostic' [test 1782]).
  * Hard drive controller card is in an 8-bit slot (example: 5170 slot 7) instead of a 16-bit slot.
  * Hard drive controller card has 'dirty' edge connectors (ones that affect this test).
 

1781

1781-Disk 1 Failure

Per 1780 error, but for second hard drive (D:)
 

1782

1782-Disk Controller Failure

The 5170's POST, upon seeing that a hard drive is included in the CMOS/RTC configuration (SETUP), asked the hard disk controller to perform an 'internal diagnostic'. The 1782 error was displayed because, either the controller responded in the negative, or the controller did not respond within a minute.

Possible causes:
  * Hard drive controller card missing.
  * Hard drive controller card is not seated properly in its slot.
  * Hard drive controller card has 'dirty' edge connectors (ones that affect this test).
  * Wrong type of hard drive controller card is fitted (example: XT class controller is fitted).
  * Faulty hard drive controller card.
  * Hard drive controller card is incorrectly jumpered (example: set for secondary address range, not primary).
 

1790

1790-Disk 0 Failure

The 5170's POST, upon seeing that a hard drive is included in the CMOS/RTC configuration (SETUP), asked the hard disk controller to perform an 'internal diagnostic' (see 1782 error). That passed. The POST then asked the controller to issue a 'Recalibrate drive' command to the first hard drive (see 1780 error). That passed. The POST then asked the controller to read certain sectors on the first hard drive. The 1790 error was displayed because one of those reads failed.

Possible causes:
  * Data cable (20 pin) is missing.
  * Data cable (20 pin) is no longer seated correctly on controller or drive.
  * Data cable (20 pin) is faulty.
  * On the controller, data cable accidentally connected to J3 (for D:) instead of J4 (for C:). See this diagram.
  * On the controller, data cable is connected to J4 upside down. See this diagram.
  * A new hard drive was fitted but its low-level format doesn't match that of the controller. Low level format the drive.    <----- Common, if new drive
  * Hard drive has fewer cylinders or heads than the drive C: type in the CMOS/RTC configuration (SETUP) indicates.
  * Hard drive C: is faulty.
  * Faulty hard drive controller card (specifically the drive data processing area).
  * Hard drive C: is getting +12 volts, but not the hard drive controller card. See note 1.
  * The hard drive controller card is not getting -12 volts. See notes 2 and 3.
 

1791

1791-Disk 1 Failure

Per 1790 error, but for second hard drive (D:)