Replace motherboard battery
Located on the motherboard in most computers is a small battery. It's usually a CR2032 batery which is flat, coin shaped. This battery (otherwise known as the CMOS battery) keeps a very small electrical current flowing through the motherboard so that basic settings can be stored. These settings will be everything that you can amend on the BIOS screen when your computer boots up. They include the time and date and settings related to devices integrated into, or, connected to the motherboard, such as on board audio and video or hard drives and optical drives.
These batteries usually last a long time, but they do run out. An easy way around replacing the battery is to keep your computer switched on at the mains. This will, in most cases, keep that small current flowing through the motherboard. However, we are in the 21st century and we are all environmentally concious aren't we? What I really mean is, every penny less we spend on electricity is a penny more we can spend on our gadgets! Besides, this is a very easy fix.
Please refer to the "Open and close computer tower" page for details on getting into your computer and getting it back together safely.
Once you have your case open, you want to locate the battery. As previously mentioned, the battery looks like a silver coin and usually stands out like a sore thumb. Once you've found it, remember or note which way it is inserted and determine how to remove it. The common method is to prise a small piece of metal from the top of the battery (with a screwdriver) in order to release it. Easy does it, don't go damaging anything!
So, you've got your dead battery. Don't go binning it just yet. Get close and have a read. If you've already got a replacement in line, make sure that it is of the same type. If it's not, be patient, and order the correct one. It's not worth the gamble to put the wrong battery in.
Once clipped in, you're almost done. Get everything back together as explained on the Open and close tower page.
You'll most likely want to get into your BIOS settings and set the correct them for one last time. Usually you can get to them by continuously pressing "Delete" or "F2" as your computer loads up. Settings here will be specific to your setup. Navigation instructions will be specific to the motherboard, but are usually displayed on the screen. If you are in any doubt, there are usually options similar to "Load Fail Safe Settings", or "Load Optimal Settings". The latter should do you fine. Make sure that you "Save and Exit" rather than "Exit Without Saving".
If you have corrected the date and time in the BIOS settings and are getting a different time in Windows, it is because you have previously adjusted the time in Windows to compensate for the inaccurate BIOS. Simply change these settings in Windows too.
To test your repair, shut down your computer. Disconnect it from the mains and press the power button to remove any electricity stored within the power supply. Reconnect to the mains and power up. The settings should now be maintained.
Not fixed it? Did you get your battery from a reliable source? Was it the exact same type? Is it inserted the right way? Are all of the connectors touching the battery? If the answer to those questions is "Yes", the motherboard is at fault. A motherboard fault is almost never this 'harmless' and is likely to have other, more serious effects.
These batteries usually last a long time, but they do run out. An easy way around replacing the battery is to keep your computer switched on at the mains. This will, in most cases, keep that small current flowing through the motherboard. However, we are in the 21st century and we are all environmentally concious aren't we? What I really mean is, every penny less we spend on electricity is a penny more we can spend on our gadgets! Besides, this is a very easy fix.
Please refer to the "Open and close computer tower" page for details on getting into your computer and getting it back together safely.
Once you have your case open, you want to locate the battery. As previously mentioned, the battery looks like a silver coin and usually stands out like a sore thumb. Once you've found it, remember or note which way it is inserted and determine how to remove it. The common method is to prise a small piece of metal from the top of the battery (with a screwdriver) in order to release it. Easy does it, don't go damaging anything!
So, you've got your dead battery. Don't go binning it just yet. Get close and have a read. If you've already got a replacement in line, make sure that it is of the same type. If it's not, be patient, and order the correct one. It's not worth the gamble to put the wrong battery in.
Once clipped in, you're almost done. Get everything back together as explained on the Open and close tower page.
You'll most likely want to get into your BIOS settings and set the correct them for one last time. Usually you can get to them by continuously pressing "Delete" or "F2" as your computer loads up. Settings here will be specific to your setup. Navigation instructions will be specific to the motherboard, but are usually displayed on the screen. If you are in any doubt, there are usually options similar to "Load Fail Safe Settings", or "Load Optimal Settings". The latter should do you fine. Make sure that you "Save and Exit" rather than "Exit Without Saving".
If you have corrected the date and time in the BIOS settings and are getting a different time in Windows, it is because you have previously adjusted the time in Windows to compensate for the inaccurate BIOS. Simply change these settings in Windows too.
To test your repair, shut down your computer. Disconnect it from the mains and press the power button to remove any electricity stored within the power supply. Reconnect to the mains and power up. The settings should now be maintained.
Not fixed it? Did you get your battery from a reliable source? Was it the exact same type? Is it inserted the right way? Are all of the connectors touching the battery? If the answer to those questions is "Yes", the motherboard is at fault. A motherboard fault is almost never this 'harmless' and is likely to have other, more serious effects.