[Closed] Computers for idiots : SYSTEM BATTERY VOLTAGE IS LOW

There is a battery on the motherboard that keeps the clock running while the computer is switched off. It is usually just a CR2032 watch battery or the like.

It needs replacing.

Here is how, complete with 80's soft porn music:

There'll be a "coin" type battery somewhere used to maintain "system stuff" (I don't actually know whatbbut assume some sort of system clock)..they need replacing after a few years

PS there's this thing now called Google..you should try it

PS there's this thing now called Google..you should try it

Thanks Twobogs, but I trust the opinions of people on here over Google.

As for the consequences of not swapping it, clock my go out and need reseting when you start it up.

Boot order may get screwy (if different from normal, which is doubtful).

Generally nothing.

But that exact search term comes up on Google...and you get an instant answer from such untrustworthy sources as PC Advisor and Tom's Hardware.

Sorry for wasting your time.

As for the consequences of not swapping it, clock my go out and need reseting when you start it up.

Boot order may get screwy (if different from normal, which is doubtful).

Generally nothing.

This ^ ,however is what I want to hear. Thanks.

Just change it, it's easy.

Shut the PC down and switched off at the mains, but leave it plugged-in. This way the case is grounded to prevent static buildup while you work on the machine.

With bare arms, bare feet and a cotton shirt [no synthetics!] change the battery without moving about much. Put the new battery next to the machine first to help.

That should be it. If it's full of fluff while you're in there maybe blow what you can out. If you happen to have a vaccum nozzle with a horsehair end, you can use that very gently to suck the fluff away. Don't do this with plastic bristles.

Bon Chance.

What Graham said. It'll almost certainly be a CR2032, held in with a clip. You can swap it 'live' if you're careful, with the PC powered up, and it [i]probably[/i] won't lose any settings.

If you don't swap it, it'll probably complain every time you switch it on. The date and time will reset to a few years ago which will break Windows Update.

Also as well as the clock, you might lose all your BIOS settings - which will also be a pain.

Just replace it. It's not hard, just like replacing a battery in anything else really.

Ta.

I doubt you'll lose any settings, as it takes power to erase them - hence having to use a jumper to wipe them by connecting power from the battery to the CMOS_Erase pin.

I pondered suggesting doing it with the machine connected to power, but if you fumble the battery you could short something and cause damage. I'd risk losing the time and do it plugged-in but switched off at the socket.

You can correct the time manually after reboot, any problems should go away after you correct it.

Done. Thanks again.

I hate machines that I don't understand!

I doubt you'll lose any settings, as it takes power to erase them

No. If that were true you wouldn't need a CMOS battery at all.

It's volatile memory - it takes power to keep the settings. You [b]will[/b] lose all the settings if there's no power either internally (from the cell) or externally.

I had to reset the clock/date.

You see Bootogs, this is why STW is so much better than Google.

I guess it depends on the board. I just took the battery out of my board and unplugged it and only changed the time 😛

TBF I know it's flash memory, 8mb on this board.

It does depend on the board, but other configurations are comparatively rare.

If you had to reset the clock, it's because it's lost the settings. (-: Most other default settings are adequate.

Not a lot of default settings [url= http://www.overclock.net/t/1594174/i7-990x-poor-overclock/0_40#post_24986914 ]on my board[/url], homie

Anyway I think Harry's gonna be fine so, I'll put my handbag away 🙂

It started up again so I'm happy.

Manbag, dear.

can anyone tell me more about this Google ?

[IMG] [/IMG]

Further reading: [url= https://www.google.nl/#hl=en&q=recursion ]linky[/url]

Help !
I think I'm trapped
wait - I see a map

err, ...

[img] [/img]

You think that's weird, you wait til they upload the new streeview image of my shirt....

EDIT - This still makes me chuckle, 8 years[!] later 🙂

[img] [/img]
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/09/28/giant_insect/