IBM ThinkPad A31 help

[tibboh]

My friend tried switching on his lappie last week and only got as far as this on his boot-up:

F1 Bios set up
F12 To choose temp boot device

Whether he presses either buton or leaves it, it then comes up with:
ERROR
0271 check date and time settings

then opens up with an icon of a padlock.

Any ideas (could the backup battery have gone flat and caused this)?

 

[Mastershakes]

Get new CMOS battery. Put her in. (It will boot up, and since you swapped the CMOS out, the padlock (password protected BIOS) will be gone as well)

 

[tibboh]

Thanks for that, Mastershakes, but still the same powering up with battery pack removed and back-up batery disconnected.

Any other advice (non-violent)?

 

[tibboh]

According to the maintenance manual, code 0271 means run IMB BIOS setup utility to reset the time and date - but like I said, whatever key I press (or leave) it always comes up with that message, and then shows the padlock icon