IBM ThinkCenter boot problem

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E

Estam

Member
Sep 27, 2007
81
2
71
IBM ThinkCenter MT-M 8183 Small business table model.
Helping an older friend and his computer boots up to a
"PXE-E61 Media test failure, check cable"
"PXE-M0F Exiting Intel boot agent.
No Operating System found. (then re-boots)

Computer has been running fine, was left running for a few
minutes and on returning found this message and keeps re-booting.
I replaced the ribbon cable with same results.
Changed Hard Drive with same results.
Tried re-installing XP but nothing after selecting F8.
Any suggestions before deep sixing.
Many thanks...
 
Last edited:
Burpo

Burpo

Diamond Member
Sep 10, 2013
4,223
473
126
Either the hard drive is bad, the cable is bad, the connection is loose, or the motherboard is bad..
Deep six it..
 
Last edited:
Shmee

Shmee

Memory & Storage, Graphics Cards Mod Elite Member
Super Moderator
Sep 13, 2008
8,039
2,985
146
My old suggestion is to save the HDD for data recovery if needed...
 
VirtualLarry

VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
56,570
10,202
126
http://www.cnet.com/products/ibm-thinkcentre-s50-8183-p4-2-66-ghz/specs/

Is this your PC? Seriously, that's junk-machine territory.

Recycle or trash it, and get a $50 Celeron 847 board to replace it.

Edit: Sorry if I was harsh. Just I guess my personal preference is to use / own nothing older than a Core2 machine. Even those are getting a bit long in the tooth. Pentium4 is just so slow and power-guzzling and generally obsolete (most don't support 64-bit, only the latest Socket 775 P4 Pentium CPUs did), it doesn't make much sense to keep it. Especially if you have to pay for parts to fix it. (AGP!?)

You can get tons of refurb Core2-based units, with 2-4GB RAM, 160+GB HDD, Windows 7 (sometimes Pro and/or 64-bit), at Newegg for around $100-150.
 
Last edited:
E

Estam

Member
Sep 27, 2007
81
2
71
Thanks everyone, finally found I had two bad ribbons, one had been trapped and was cut and the other I can't figure out but the bios now recognizes the hard drive but is now missing a windows start up file. I originally installed windows xp on this machine, can I re-install windows from the same disk without loosing the files. Then I think were into that machine that Larry suggested. Thanks....
 
E

Estam

Member
Sep 27, 2007
81
2
71
Yes, all up and running, info off the hd and looking for the 847 motherboard upgrade.
Thanks to all.....
 
DigDog

DigDog

Lifer
Jun 3, 2011
14,293
2,753
126
Welcome to IBM, my name is DigDog, can i take your customer number please?
 
redzo

redzo

Senior member
Nov 21, 2007
547
5
81
Estam said:
IBM ThinkCenter MT-M 8183 Small business table model.
Helping an older friend and his computer boots up to a
"PXE-E61 Media test failure, check cable"
"PXE-M0F Exiting Intel boot agent.
No Operating System found. (then re-boots)

Computer has been running fine, was left running for a few
minutes and on returning found this message and keeps re-booting.
I replaced the ribbon cable with same results.
Changed Hard Drive with same results.
Tried re-installing XP but nothing after selecting F8.
Any suggestions before deep sixing.
Many thanks...
Click to expand...

IBM BIOS's are quite tricky. If a hardware storage configuration change happens, all BIOS storage devices are going to be removed from the boot list by the BIOS. This could be triggered by anything actually: connecting a removable usb storage device, connecting an additional storage device internally, BIOS reset due to failed BIOS battery at each power on, etc..

I advise you to do the following:
1. Access BIOS.
2. Make sure that the hdd is properly detected.
3. Place the hdd as first bios boot device in the storage devices boot list by pressing the "+" and "-" keys for going up and down. Save changes and exit the BIOS.

*Somewhere in the BIOS you should find a screen listing all storage devices slots available. The screen should be cut in half. On the top half you should have the bootable slots available. On the bottom half there are all the detected storage devices. You should move the required storage device on the top half screen by pressing the "+" key and then save changes.

**My advice is based on the behavior of the ibm a51p BIOS(https://support.lenovo.com/en/downloads/ds002190). I had to deal with about 50 of those. I suspect that the BIOS behavior may be similar to other so called "MTM" models. On the a51p, you access the The BIOS by pressing the enter key at the first post screen and then pressing the F1 key.

Don't forget that you should first make sure that that the pc properly detects the hdd, otherwise it may mean that the hdd is malfunctioning. Also, if the system date and time are screwed up in the BIOS, it means that you've got yourself a failed bios battery and, as a result, all storage boot devices are being dropped on the bottom half(the list with the detected devices but not the bootable ones) of the screen at each power on. I hope this helps. Good luck!
 
Last edited:
DigDog

DigDog

Lifer
Jun 3, 2011
14,293
2,753
126
"MTM" or more accurately, MT-M as the OP wrote, just means Machine Type and Model. its not an actual model, that would be "8183" .. which we call "type". we use "model" for the 3-characters alphanumeric code which comes after 8183. (even though it was never implemented and its there just for show)

OP, you can get the machine serviced on a per-call basis from IBM, regardless of the age of the machine or of any support agreement, just ring IBM.
(it's totally possible it will be me picking up the phone)

however, i *do* second Larry, getting a new machine is the better choice between the two; that P4 just can't go on anymore, let it go.
 
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