Motherboard/CMOS/bios backup battery ??

Osem · 30-01-2007, 11:09

Hi Guys - it's not often that I dare look inside a PC but when I last did I noticed that the motherboard of my PII Dell machine (1999 vintage) had only a CR2032 (or similar) backup battery on the motherboard.

Some years ago I had a problem when the rechargeable battery inside my old 486sx PC failed with the result that each time I needed to turn it on I had to enter certain bios information concerned with things like the hard drive type, sectors etc etc etc (all gobbledegook to me). This was a real pain until a friend fitted a new battery which did the trick.

Thinking ahead, fearing the worst and having had several power cuts lately, I'm wondering what I do when the lithium battery on the Dell PC fails. Will it create a similar problem with the Bios? If so, where do I find the information I will need to get the PC up and running again?

Of course these things may well have moved on a lot in the time since all this happened before but I like to be prepared for the worst if I can

Thanks in anticipation

Stuart · 30-01-2007, 11:24

CR2032s are fairly common batteries. They are often used in Cameras or Clocks, so you'll probably find some in your local Boots (or any chemist or camera shop) or your local Jewellers.

Just buy a new one, then use a flat blade screwdriver (or similar) as a lever to pull the old one out of it's socket, then push the new one in, making sure it's facking the right way,

Quam256 · 30-01-2007, 11:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart C

CR2032s are fairly common batteries. They are often used in Cameras or Clocks, so you'll probably find some in your local Boots (or any chemist or camera shop) or your local Jewellers.

Just buy a new one, then use a flat blade screwdriver (or similar) as a lever to pull the old one out of it's socket, then push the new one in, making sure it's facking the right way,

That may still reset your settings in the Bios when you take out the old battery .

Stuart · 30-01-2007, 11:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quam256

That may still reset your settings in the Bios when you take out the old battery .

However, in my experience, most of the time, the default settings will ensure a working computer.

Quam256 · 30-01-2007, 11:36

True.

Wicked_and_Crazy · 30-01-2007, 11:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quam256

That may still reset your settings in the Bios when you take out the old battery .

Dont turn the power off then

30-01-2007, 11:52

That really does not sound safe to me

nffc · 30-01-2007, 14:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by zinglebarb

That really does not sound safe to me

Me neither, it's a no brainer, lose your BIOS settings or fry the board.

Osem · 30-01-2007, 14:46

Cheers guys. I have the batteries - I just don't want to lose the bios settings and then be 'stuffed' as they say in the trade lol

Halcyon · 30-01-2007, 14:57

Even if you do loose the settings, you will just have to set the date and time and then just select load optimum settings, or best settings from the Bios menu.

Osem · 30-01-2007, 15:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halcyon

Even if you do loose the settings, you will just have to set the date and time and then just select load optimum settings, or best settings from the Bios menu.

Excellent news!!!!!!!!

Now how does one go about accessing the bios settings ??

30-01-2007, 15:08

f2 or del key at post.

Osem · 30-01-2007, 15:58

ty guys - you always come up trumps!