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[Leonbidet]

I'd like to put Peppermint 3 on an old IBM Thinkpad which used to have Windows on it.

I haven't used it in a while and when I started it up I get:
ERROR
0271
Press <F1> to setup

When I press F1 I get to the IBM BIOS Setup Utility. I can't seem to get to Windows at all.

Can I install Peppermint from this point and if so, how - or does my laptop have some bigger problems?

[Mark Greaves (PCNetSpec)]

Reset the time and date n the BIOS .. it should then boot

If the BIOS clock goes out at every boot, you need a new BIOS battery .. This is NOT the same battery as the large one for the laptop, it's a tiny battery inside the laptop. Similar (depending on model) to the one pictured top right here:
http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Repairing+IBM+ThinkPad+T41+BIOS+Battery/2916/1 (http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Repairing+IBM+ThinkPad+T41+BIOS+Battery/2916/1)

Usually (but not always) a "Coin Cell" CR2032 battery that either clips into a holder on the motherboard .. or as with the thinkpad T41 (above link), a CR2032 that has wires and a plug soldered to it and is then shrink wrapped.

Fitting can be anything from a doddle (battery accessible through a trap door), to a nightmare (semi or total stripdown of the laptop).

That said .. some older PC's had rechargeable BIOS batteries .. so try just giving it time (turned on) to charge, then see if the BIOS clock has retained its settings for a useful amount of time.

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[Leonbidet]

Thanks for that. Changing the the time/date settings fixed it.

[Mark Greaves (PCNetSpec)]

[Tramlink]

I had to change my bios battery on an IBM Thinkpad T22 was not an issue.  I found that on the older models made by IBM access for users was pity good.

[Mark Greaves (PCNetSpec)]

Not all of em .. see the tutorial for an IBM Thinkpad T41:
http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Repairing+IBM+ThinkPad+T41+BIOS+Battery/2916/1 (http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Repairing+IBM+ThinkPad+T41+BIOS+Battery/2916/1)

It appears to be one of those laptops that has the RAM (and BIOS battery) under the keyboard .. and removing the keyboard requires half the laptop to come apart

Problem is Leonbidet didn't give an exact Thinkpad model .. so I thought I'd better mention "some are easy, some aint".

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