AlanHo Posted March 6, 2006 Report Share Posted March 6, 2006 My 4 year old desktop computer has started to lose the date and time in the BIOS. After booting it up in the morning I reset the BIOS date and time and all is then OK for the rest of the day - even if I close down and reboot later.However - overnight it loses the information again and next orning I have to reset the BIOS again.Could this be a battery problem or is it something else?If it is a battery that needs changing - is it a staightforward job and are there any special precautions needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r4may Posted March 6, 2006 Report Share Posted March 6, 2006 Looks like the battery, should not be that difficult to change depends on the motherboard.Use an Earthing wristband tho. and switch off of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted March 6, 2006 Report Share Posted March 6, 2006 HiIt sounds to me as if it is the battery. Especially since the PC is 4 years old.It is no problem changing it, just use the normal safty precautions when opening up the PC and poking about. The battery should be either a CR-2022 or a CR-2032 and should only cost you a quid or so.Good luckTony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan2273 Posted March 6, 2006 Report Share Posted March 6, 2006 When you change the battery it could reset to the lowest FSB available, so you may have to enter the BIOS and reset the FSB.I have changed 3 batteries and 2 of them went back to the 100 FSB, I had to reset the one to 133 and the other to 166. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted March 7, 2006 Report Share Posted March 7, 2006 When you change the battery it could reset to the lowest FSB available, so you may have to enter the BIOS and reset the FSB.I have changed 3 batteries and 2 of them went back to the 100 FSB, I had to reset the one to 133 and the other to 166.My computer is now three years old, and so may need a new battery one day. Please enlighten me as to what the FSB is , and what should it be set to? How do we know whether is should be 100 or whatever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted March 7, 2006 Report Share Posted March 7, 2006 FSB = Front Side Bus (yes, that's right)Easiest to refer you to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Front_side_bus for an explanation.Note there is also Back Side Bus :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted March 7, 2006 Report Share Posted March 7, 2006 FSB = Front Side Bus (yes, that's right)Easiest to refer you to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Front_side_bus for an explanation.Note there is also Back Side Bus :blink:Thanks, but I put up my hands and admit that I don't have the foggiest idea what they are on about. :DEDIT. PS. Just had a look in the Bios and can't see anything about buses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted March 7, 2006 Report Share Posted March 7, 2006 Have a look in the motherboard manual under Advanced Chipset Features (or similar): CPU External Frequency (and similar) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted March 7, 2006 Report Share Posted March 7, 2006 Have a look in the motherboard manual under Advanced Chipset Features (or similar): CPU External Frequency (and similar)Many thanks. I have the manual tucked away and will look after breakfast. Just out of curiosity, what goes wrong if the setting is incorrect? Will I need to involve the fire brigade? :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted March 7, 2006 Report Share Posted March 7, 2006 Too fast = computer doesn't work.Too slow = computer, likewise, slow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanHo Posted March 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2006 Thanks for all the advice guys. Bought and fitted a new CR2032 battery today - Maplins £1.99. It was quite easy actually and the computer booted up OK afterwards (no doubt helped by a silent prayer and crossed fingers).Regarding the FSB factor - I havn't a clue whether anything has been changed because I know not where to look and what to look for. My ASUS Motherboard manual is written in gobbledegook and I understand little of it. So far as I can tell the computer seems to be back to normal - but the acid test will be tomorrow morning when I boot it up after both of us have a nights sleep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted March 7, 2006 Report Share Posted March 7, 2006 If it's running to your satisfaction now, Alan, I would leave it alone.Messing about in the BIOS if you're not exactly sure about what you're doing can cause much mischief. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanHo Posted March 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2006 popsNo worries, I have no intention of meddling with the BIOS. I learned a long time ago that the time to quit was when you are ahead.Anyway - meddling with a BIOS sounds to be borderline illegal - knowing my luck I would get caught. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted March 7, 2006 Report Share Posted March 7, 2006 popsNo worries, I have no intention of meddling with the BIOS. I learned a long time ago that the time to quit was when you are ahead.Anyway - meddling with a BIOS sounds to be borderline illegal - knowing my luck I would get caught.Six months in prison. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted March 7, 2006 Report Share Posted March 7, 2006 If your FSB changed after the battery change you would see that your CPU is slower that it was or should be. When you first turn on your PC, look at the POST screen and see if the CPU speed has changed, if it has then you need to go into the bios and set it back to what it should be.But wait for further advice before doing so.What make of bios do yu have?Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan2273 Posted March 7, 2006 Report Share Posted March 7, 2006 If you have Everest home or a similar program just check what it says your processer (CPU) is.ExampleA CPU with a locked multiplier of 12.5 on 100FSB would equal 1.25ghz 133FSB 1.66ghz 166FSB 2.07ghz 200FSB 2.5 ghz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted March 8, 2006 Report Share Posted March 8, 2006 If your FSB changed after the battery change you would see that your CPU is slower that it was or should be. When you first turn on your PC, look at the POST screen and see if the CPU speed has changed, if it has then you need to go into the bios and set it back to what it should be.But wait for further advice before doing so.What make of bios do yu have?TonyIf this is addressed to me, at present I do not need to change the battery. I have looked in the BIOS and is shown as giving 3.4 volts. I was just finding out what I may need to do in the future. THANKS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted March 8, 2006 Report Share Posted March 8, 2006 No sorry it was for AlanHo, but you can use it when you need to change your MoBo battery. :)Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanHo Posted March 8, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2006 TonyThanks for the info - but all was well when I booted the computer this morning and there is no discernible loss in performance. If anything it seems quicker - but I am sure that is just my euphoria at having had a successful "meddle in the innards"I will therefore not tinker further with it - it aint broke so I won't fix it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted March 9, 2006 Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 TonyThanks for the info - but all was well when I booted the computer this morning and there is no discernible loss in performance. If anything it seems quicker - but I am sure that is just my euphoria at having had a successful "meddle in the innards"I will therefore not tinker further with it - it aint broke so I won't fix it.GO ON I dare you, have a fiddle about. :D :D :D :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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