Thread: Flat computer battery, almost

It sounds like a battery problem, how old is the computer?

In more recent system, the BIOS is in non volatile memory that does not need battery backup. The battery is used to keep the time of day clock accurate.

Very often, the BIOS update utilities that run as an executable under Windows, have the ability to save the existing BIOS values. As far as I know this would be the only way you'll avoid rekeying the lot.

Just how different to the stock BIOS settings is your system?

Hi Snowy.

My computer is about 5 years old, I use Windows XP as the operating system.

I wouldn't know if my BIOS is standard or not. I would really like to be able to do a print-out, but I can't do a printscreen because the computer hasn't fired up, when interupted to view the BIOS. In my case it's hold down the delete key when first booting up. I could photograph each BIOS page, but that would be a pain in the bum.

Mmmmm, any clues.

Ken

Ken,

If you haven't changed any BIOS settings then there's a good chance the defaults will be just fine.

About the only thing I can think of that might need adjusting is the order the system checks for bootable devices when starting up. In most cases (certainly for me) first boot device is the DVD/CD followed by the hard disk. Most of the other BIOS options are for tuning or enabling optional or legacy devices. The default is usually to enable them.

My computers are never turned off so I haven't had the option/need to touch the BIOS in a very long time.

Hi Snowy,

I've hand written a couple of pages of BIOS settings including the order of device boot up.

Reckon I'll just take a chance, and rip the battery out, or should I wait for a few more responses.

Someone might know of a sneeky way of recording the BIOS settings.

Ken

Bugger,

I took a chance, and carted my computer down to the local shop. Two minutes later. it had a new battery fitted.

Guess what, I can't fire my computer up, push the button and nothing happens, zilch, zip, nix.

A few weeks back, I had a problem of not being able to turn my computer on until I had physically pulled the power lead out for say 30 seconds, then plugged it back in. Now, not even that trick works.

I'm typing this post on another computer.

Any clues?

Ken

Was there any problems starting it at the (computer) shop?

Perhaps a loose connector. If they didn;t actually test it at the shop, perhaps they forgot to plug something back in.

Take it back to the shop if it hasn't been right since they did what they did.

Could be dead power supply.

I only took the bare bones of the computer into the shop, so it was not tested whilst I was there. As for cables, none had to be disturbed to refit the battery. I've had a bit of a look, and can't see anything that looks out of place.

Does the cmos battery have any bearing on starting up the computer, apart from holding BIOS info. I know power is available at the plug, I can hear a faint crackling noise coming from the power supply, when I plug the power cord in.

I shall return my computer tomorrow morning. Just hope it is something simple.

Ken

Ken the crackling your hearing is not always a good sign.

The CMOS battery has cables to it, or to the area, might not be seated properly, flat itself. Some good computer shops do remove the cables to change batteries so no adverse discharge from putting it as it can cause static through the board or them.

It's not uncommon for an old PC to die when disconnected from the mains - the power supply has happily been going to 'soft-off' when turned off for umpteen years, but the extra demand of having to start from a 'hard-off' state can be a little too much for aging capacitors! Swap in a new power supply and I'd expect it to womble into life.

Originally Posted by Master Splinter

It's not uncommon for an old PC to die when disconnected from the mains - the power supply has happily been going to 'soft-off' when turned off for umpteen years, but the extra demand of having to start from a 'hard-off' state can be a little too much for aging capacitors! .

I can second that from fairly recent experience. I shutdown my server for the first time in many, many months to install a new motherboard/CPU etc. When I powered back on, there was loud bang and a brown smell. No worries, I've got a spare power supply that worked when I took it out of a system 12 months ago. Switched it on to get a 'click' and no power. Had to buy a new supply - which I'll never, ever turn off

Thanks guys,

It's looking like the power supply has tihs itself. Might sniff around to see if I can find a donor computer, to prove the point.

Ken

Originally Posted by neksmerj

I only took the bare bones of the computer into the shop, so it was not tested whilst I was there. As for cables, none had to be disturbed to refit the battery. I've had a bit of a look, and can't see anything that looks out of place.

Does the cmos battery have any bearing on starting up the computer, apart from holding BIOS info. I know power is available at the plug, I can hear a faint crackling noise coming from the power supply, when I plug the power cord in.

I shall return my computer tomorrow morning. Just hope it is something simple.

Ken

The battery in your PC does more than just run the clock. The battery also helps to store your computer’s BIOS information that help your computer boot up. The BIOS stores information about your computer’s disk drives, memory, boot options, and more. Without this information, your computer might not start up correctly.


Since you turn off or sometimes unplug your computer, your PC needs a battery to store data in the volatile memory where the BIOS information is stored. When the battery dies, the BIOS can no longer store this information which can lead to boot errors if the boot process is dependent on the BIOS information.

Many, if not most modern computers store this BIOS information in non-volatile memory and does not require a battery to store the information in the BIOS.Even if the battery goes dead, the PC will still boot up without problems except for the RTC (real time clock) not being able to tell the date or time therefore even computers that have non volatile memory still need a battery to the internal quartz clock to function.


Considering you hear crackling sounds coming from your PSU. It would appear that is where the problem lies and not with the company that replaced the battery for you.
As mentioned in posts above, the PSU , if faulty, can give up the ghost after you have unplugged the computer and then try to plug it back in, the sudden impulse in power that you get when you plug it in can be the final straw for the PSU


Word of advice, if you hear crackling sounds coming from your power supply, its a good idea to unplug the computer and if you can't do it yourself, have a computer geek check it out for you.

Originally Posted by snowyskiesau

I can second that from fairly recent experience. I shutdown my server for the first time in many, many months to install a new motherboard/CPU etc. When I powered back on, there was loud bang and a brown smell. No worries, I've got a spare power supply that worked when I took it out of a system 12 months ago. Switched it on to get a 'click' and no power. Had to buy a new supply - which I'll never, ever turn off

Long ext cord from Syd to Tassie Geoff