CMOS Checksum error on power on

[Ricky Romaya]

Hi,

I got a "CMOS Checksum Error" every time I power on my pc. How can I solve
this? What's going on? I have replaced the cmos battery recently.

TIA

 

[Ricky Romaya]

battery is in backwards or is defective. you did not enter cmos, make
appropriate changes, and then save those changes.

I have entered the CMOS, made appropriate changes and save. As for the
battery, I haven't any troubles before after the change. The problem is,
the error would come up again on the next power up.

TIA

 

[JAD]

battery is in backwards or is defective. you did not enter cmos, make
appropriate changes, and then save those changes.

 

[JAD]

I have entered the CMOS, made appropriate changes and save. As for the
battery, I haven't any troubles before after the change.

Is this before and after? after the change? before the change? If your
saying 'no troubles' before, why did you change the battery?

If this started happening after the battery change, then the battery is
wrong type or defective. A checksum error occurs when the cmos chip drains
the power of the battery or there is no current to support the saving of
information. The most obvious sign is when your time is incorrect after each
boot.


The problem is,

 

[kony]

I have entered the CMOS, made appropriate changes and save. As for the
battery, I haven't any troubles before after the change. The problem is,
the error would come up again on the next power up.

TIA

Just for the heck of it, go into the bios menus again, and
exit saving changes (even if you make no changes)... just do
again even if you had already.

I suppose it's a silly question but when you changed the
battery, are you sure it was a fresh battery installed?
Some places don't rotate stock properly and so inevitably
someone ends up buying old batteries.

 

[philo]

Just for the heck of it, go into the bios menus again, and
exit saving changes (even if you make no changes)... just do
again even if you had already.

I suppose it's a silly question but when you changed the
battery, are you sure it was a fresh battery installed?
Some places don't rotate stock properly and so inevitably
someone ends up buying old batteries.

it could also (possibly) be slightly tarnished connections

 

[BobN]

Hi,

I got a "CMOS Checksum Error" every time I power on my pc. How can I solve
this? What's going on? I have replaced the cmos battery recently.

TIA

After changing the battery, did you short the pins next to the battery with
the computer OFF?

 

[Ricky Romaya]

After changing the battery, did you short the pins next to the battery
with the computer OFF?

I guess a full story is in order. Sorry if I don't explain it sooner.

The problem started with the old battery. Because of it, I changed it.
No, I didn't short any jumper when I changed it. After the change, the
problem persists for the next 2 power up boots, then everything back to
normal. No checksum errors since then. This is what I meant by "I have no
problem with the new battery before."

About three days ago, I have what I believe is a blackout. Luckily I used
UPS, and I can turn off my PC. Then I found out that my wall mounted
power outlet have melted, somehow. Even the walls surrounding the outlet
is searing hot. I panicked, cut the main power for my home and replaced
the electrical wirings. The new wiring scheme seemed to work fine, at
least I tried a dozen other appliances and they work fine for me.

Then I tested my PC last. That's when the checksum error occurs again,
and still until this day.

So, am I required to short the pins when I change cmos battery? Strange,
AFAIK it's not required. Which pins do you refer to anyway? The Clear
CMOS jumper?

TIA

 

[philo]

So, am I required to short the pins when I change cmos battery? Strange,
AFAIK it's not required. Which pins do you refer to anyway? The Clear
CMOS jumper?

TIA

you are not required to clear the CMOS when you change the battery...
but since you are having problems you might as well do so and see if it
can solve your problem.

 

[JAD]

I guess a full story is in order. Sorry if I don't explain it sooner.

The problem started with the old battery. Because of it, I changed it.
No, I didn't short any jumper when I changed it. After the change, the
problem persists for the next 2 power up boots, then everything back to
normal. No checksum errors since then. This is what I meant by "I have no
problem with the new battery before."

About three days ago, I have what I believe is a blackout. Luckily I used
UPS, and I can turn off my PC. Then I found out that my wall mounted
power outlet have melted, somehow. Even the walls surrounding the outlet
is searing hot. I panicked, cut the main power for my home and replaced
the electrical wirings. The new wiring scheme seemed to work fine, at
least I tried a dozen other appliances and they work fine for me.

Then I tested my PC last. That's when the checksum error occurs again,
and still until this day.

So, am I required to short the pins when I change cmos battery? Strange,
AFAIK it's not required. Which pins do you refer to anyway? The Clear
CMOS jumper?

TIA

that would be the one
sometimes when changing the battery, you attempt to put it in and it slips
out and proceed to reinsert it, this process powers the MOS temporarily and
can corrupt it....clearing helps to fix this.

 

[Ricky Romaya]

battery is in backwards or is defective. you did not enter cmos, make
appropriate changes, and then save those changes.

I have tried this:
1. Enter the CMOS, make appropriate changes, and save, enter CMOS again,
and save again (as Suggested by Kony), re-enter CMOS once again, and save
again.

2. Short the clear CMOS jumper, then do the above (in no. 1).

3. Change the CMOS battery, then do the above (in no. 2).

All this doesn't resolve the problem.

As for Ken's suggestion, to load up the default and see anything
incorrect, I fail to see what's incorrect with my setup, which deviates
from the default only in th following:

a. Boot sequence: HDD, floppy, CD-ROM (default: Floppy, HDD, CDROM)
b. Limit CPUID length to 3: Disabled (default: enabled) (I'm using Win
XP)
c. AC97 Audio: Disabled (default: auto) (because I use a soundcard)
d. Game port address: Disabled (default: 201)
e. PME Event Wakeup: Disabled (default: Enabled)
f. Wake on Lan: Disabled (default: Enabled)
g. CPU Warning Temp: 70C (default: Disabled)
h. CPU Fan Fail Warning: Enabled (default: Disabled)

Plz Help
TIA

 

[JAD]

I have tried this:
1. Enter the CMOS, make appropriate changes, and save, enter CMOS again,
and save again (as Suggested by Kony), re-enter CMOS once again, and save
again.

2. Short the clear CMOS jumper, then do the above (in no. 1).

3. Change the CMOS battery, then do the above (in no. 2).

All this doesn't resolve the problem.

As for Ken's suggestion, to load up the default and see anything
incorrect, I fail to see what's incorrect with my setup, which deviates
from the default only in th following:

a. Boot sequence: HDD, floppy, CD-ROM (default: Floppy, HDD, CDROM)
b. Limit CPUID length to 3: Disabled (default: enabled) (I'm using Win
XP)
c. AC97 Audio: Disabled (default: auto) (because I use a soundcard)
d. Game port address: Disabled (default: 201)
e. PME Event Wakeup: Disabled (default: Enabled)
f. Wake on Lan: Disabled (default: Enabled)
g. CPU Warning Temp: 70C (default: Disabled)
h. CPU Fan Fail Warning: Enabled (default: Disabled)

Plz Help
TIA

Do you have the IDE set to Auto detect?
Try booting without the keyboard or mouse attached(or any USB firewire ect
attached) and see if you get the checksum error.(you'll probably get a KB
error)

 

[BobN]

I have tried this:
1. Enter the CMOS, make appropriate changes, and save, enter CMOS again,
and save again (as Suggested by Kony), re-enter CMOS once again, and save
again.

2. Short the clear CMOS jumper, then do the above (in no. 1).

3. Change the CMOS battery, then do the above (in no. 2).

All this doesn't resolve the problem.

As for Ken's suggestion, to load up the default and see anything
incorrect, I fail to see what's incorrect with my setup, which deviates
from the default only in th following:

a. Boot sequence: HDD, floppy, CD-ROM (default: Floppy, HDD, CDROM)
b. Limit CPUID length to 3: Disabled (default: enabled) (I'm using Win
XP)
c. AC97 Audio: Disabled (default: auto) (because I use a soundcard)
d. Game port address: Disabled (default: 201)
e. PME Event Wakeup: Disabled (default: Enabled)
f. Wake on Lan: Disabled (default: Enabled)
g. CPU Warning Temp: 70C (default: Disabled)
h. CPU Fan Fail Warning: Enabled (default: Disabled)

Plz Help
TIA

Anytime you receive a CMOS checksum error or remove the battery, the BIOS
should be set to default settings by jumpering the CMOS pins for one minute
with the power off. There are several possible causes of the error, but
you will never find out unless you are working with the default BIOS
settings.

 

[kony]

I have tried this:
1. Enter the CMOS, make appropriate changes, and save, enter CMOS again,
and save again (as Suggested by Kony), re-enter CMOS once again, and save
again.

2. Short the clear CMOS jumper, then do the above (in no. 1).

3. Change the CMOS battery, then do the above (in no. 2).

All this doesn't resolve the problem.

As for Ken's suggestion, to load up the default and see anything
incorrect, I fail to see what's incorrect with my setup, which deviates
from the default only in th following:

a. Boot sequence: HDD, floppy, CD-ROM (default: Floppy, HDD, CDROM)
b. Limit CPUID length to 3: Disabled (default: enabled) (I'm using Win
XP)
c. AC97 Audio: Disabled (default: auto) (because I use a soundcard)
d. Game port address: Disabled (default: 201)
e. PME Event Wakeup: Disabled (default: Enabled)
f. Wake on Lan: Disabled (default: Enabled)
g. CPU Warning Temp: 70C (default: Disabled)
h. CPU Fan Fail Warning: Enabled (default: Disabled)

Plz Help
TIA

make sure the AC power is disconnected when you clear CMOS.
You might as well try loading the CMOS defaults... what do
you have to lose?

Check on a bios update for your board, read the bios release
notes to see if anything like this might be addressed.
Don't try to flash a new bios unless the system seems
(otherwise) stable.

 

[GlowingBlueMist]

make sure the AC power is disconnected when you clear CMOS.
You might as well try loading the CMOS defaults... what do
you have to lose?

Check on a bios update for your board, read the bios release
notes to see if anything like this might be addressed.
Don't try to flash a new bios unless the system seems
(otherwise) stable.

I agree with Kony and others that are suggesting about reloading the default
values.

It is possible to have corrupted CMOS memory locations which may not show
up when viewing the menu screens. The menu screens only show you a portion
of what is stored in the CMOS chip.

Reload the factory settings from the menu and boot the box. It might just
flush out the problem and then you can go back and make the changes you
want.