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Have to reset the CMOS everytime PC starts up

  • 18-10-2007 2:16pm
    #1
    white_falcon
    Closed Accounts Posts: 793 ✭✭✭


    Hey guys,
    I have to reset my CMOS on my PC everytime I turn on my PC. It was working fine for about 2 weeks, then one day I turned it off, and turned it back on the next morning and it didnt beep on start up and the mobo came up with AO (memory error) on the diagnostic light thingy. So, as I had problems with that before when setting up the PC, I flicked the switch on the mobo to reset the CMOS and it comes back on fine

    However, I have to do this everytime.

    I have:

    OCZ 4 gigs ram
    ABIT nForce 680i IN9 32X
    Vista 64bit

    think thats all the info u need...seems strange tho...any ideas?


Comments

  • #2
    Anti
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,401 ✭✭✭✭Anti


    Sounds like a dead cmos battery. Replace it. or swap one from another board to see if that helps.


  • #3
    white_falcon
    Closed Accounts Posts: 793 ✭✭✭white_falcon


    Anti wrote: »
    Sounds like a dead cmos battery. Replace it. or swap one from another board to see if that helps.


    any idea where i can buy a new CMOS battery...is it just a normal lithium one or is it a special one?


  • #4
    Anti
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,401 ✭✭✭✭Anti


    Its a standard enough battery. Most pc shops will have them. Same will electrical stores too.


  • #5
    awhir
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,227 ✭✭✭awhir


    get them in chemists to i think.


  • #6
    Anti
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,401 ✭✭✭✭Anti


    Or any watch shop i think.. Best thing is to take your old battery with you to check against it.


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  • #7
    white_falcon
    Closed Accounts Posts: 793 ✭✭✭white_falcon


    So I tried replacing the CMOS battery - still the same. My PC even shut down lately by itself, and had the "AO" message on the MOBO diagnostic thing again (memory error)

    Any other ideas?


  • #8
    PogMoThoin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,874 ✭✭✭✭PogMoThoin


    Download this (iso image version) & burn it 2 a cd. Set your boot order to boot from cd drive 1st & boot to it & leave it running for several hours (preferably overnight). This willl test your memory for any errors. Report back when done.


  • #9
    unnameduser
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,081 ✭✭✭unnameduser


    Good thinking pogmothoin.

    Just a thought OP. Have you tried upgrading your BIOS?


  • #10
    white_falcon
    Closed Accounts Posts: 793 ✭✭✭white_falcon


    unnameduser wrote: »
    Good thinking pogmothoin.

    Just a thought OP. Have you tried upgrading your BIOS?

    nope havent tried that. how do u do so and does it mean i have to reinstall everything on the PC again no?

    I presume I just go to the Abit website and look for the latest BIOS for my MOBO ye?


  • #11
    unnameduser
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,081 ✭✭✭unnameduser


    No. Go into your bios and check the version number. Then check the manufacturers site to see if their is an updated version, Usually it is only a matter of downloading it to floppy and then booting to the floppy. Be careful when you are doing it, messing this up will cause you ALOT of hassle.

    Do try memtest also. As the error messages point you towards your RAM.

    Also, remove and add the different sticks of RAM to troubleshoot and see if one is causing the problem. Does the computer still behave the same when you switch between the different sticks.


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  • #12
    white_falcon
    Closed Accounts Posts: 793 ✭✭✭white_falcon


    unnameduser wrote: »
    No. Go into your bios and check the version number. Then check the manufacturers site to see if their is an updated version, Usually it is only a matter of downloading it to floppy and then booting to the floppy. Be careful when you are doing it, messing this up will cause you ALOT of hassle.

    Do try memtest also. As the error messages point you towards your RAM.

    Also, remove and add the different sticks of RAM to troubleshoot and see if one is causing the problem. Does the computer still behave the same when you switch between the different sticks.

    yea same issue with ram

    must try the CD image so and see what happens
    only problem with updating the bios is...i dont have a floppy drive...whoops


  • #13
    unnameduser
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,081 ✭✭✭unnameduser


    You can create a bootable BIOS ISO image file using another computer with a floppy drive and something like Nero Burning ROM.

    But first of all try memtest.

    Takes a few mins to set up and then you can walk away from it and let it do its trick.


  • #14
    here.from.day.1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,211 ✭✭✭here.from.day.1


    Falcon I had the same problem as you with the same board but I couldnt even load vista. I eventually got the bios loaded via floppy after having to try numerous versions of the flash program. Just id be fairly confident a bios upgrade will sort your problems and that the memory is probably fine.


  • #15
    white_falcon
    Closed Accounts Posts: 793 ✭✭✭white_falcon


    so i finally got around to trying to fix the PC...just put both the RAM sticks into the other two slots...works fine now lol. weird but hey, i dont care - it works now!


  • #16
    unnameduser
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,081 ✭✭✭unnameduser


    Perhaps it was a damaged memory module.

    Glad you got it sorted.


  • #17
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 93,583 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    to test the battery, unplug the PC from the mains, then press the on/off button to dischage any residual power. In the old days 15 minutes was enough to wait, these days better to wait over night. Power up PC and check the date/time in the BIOS, if it reset then you need a new battery.


  • #18
    white_falcon
    Closed Accounts Posts: 793 ✭✭✭white_falcon


    Capt'n Midnight wrote: »
    to test the battery, unplug the PC from the mains, then press the on/off button to dischage any residual power. In the old days 15 minutes was enough to wait, these days better to wait over night. Power up PC and check the date/time in the BIOS, if it reset then you need a new battery.

    yea i always turn off the PC fully at night - as in unplug it completely so there is no power. seems to be fixed now anyway. seems to be working fine :)

    might have been a dodge memory slot oh well!


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