Start-up problem - CMOS Battery?

[Craig]

When I first load PC on scren it shows "COMPAQ" which is the brand of the
PC. In the top left hand screen it shows 256MB ok. The it shows the follwing
screen:


256MB ok
162-System options not set

The following configuration options were automatcially updated:
Disk 1: 40.0 [GB], Disk 3: CD-ROM, Disk 4: CD-ROM
Total Memory installed: 262144 Kbytes
Diskette Drives
CMOS System invalid, Default values loaded


Pauses for about 10 seconds then just resets itself and repeats the above.

I don't know what was done prior to this happening because it is a friends
computer and she doesn't know.

Any ideas?

If it is the CMOS Battery - then would it cause any problems if I change it,
e.g. files stored on the hard drive etc.

 

[Roby]

When I first load PC on scren it shows "COMPAQ" which is the brand of the
PC. In the top left hand screen it shows 256MB ok. The it shows the
follwing screen:


256MB ok
162-System options not set

The following configuration options were automatcially updated:
Disk 1: 40.0 [GB], Disk 3: CD-ROM, Disk 4: CD-ROM
Total Memory installed: 262144 Kbytes
Diskette Drives
CMOS System invalid, Default values loaded


Pauses for about 10 seconds then just resets itself and repeats the above.

I don't know what was done prior to this happening because it is a friends
computer and she doesn't know.

Any ideas?

If it is the CMOS Battery - then would it cause any problems if I change
it, e.g. files stored on the hard drive etc.

The power-on self test routine thinks the data stored in CMOS is wrong,
most likely because the checksum says so. Probably a dead battery.
A new battery should fix it ... won't cause any problems.

 

[meow2222]

When I first load PC on scren it shows "COMPAQ" which is the brand of the
PC. In the top left hand screen it shows 256MB ok. The it shows the follwing
screen:


256MB ok
162-System options not set

The following configuration options were automatcially updated:
Disk 1: 40.0 [GB], Disk 3: CD-ROM, Disk 4: CD-ROM
Total Memory installed: 262144 Kbytes
Diskette Drives
CMOS System invalid, Default values loaded


Pauses for about 10 seconds then just resets itself and repeats the above.

I don't know what was done prior to this happening because it is a friends
computer and she doesn't know.

Any ideas?

If it is the CMOS Battery - then would it cause any problems if I change it,
e.g. files stored on the hard drive etc.

Assuming this isnt a custom twearkers system, and it doesn sound like
one, remove cmos battery, short the 2 pins marked 'reset cmos' for 10
secs, and put new battery in.

Ah, if its compaq the battery may be soldered, so more hassle.


NT

 

[paulmd]

When I first load PC on scren it shows "COMPAQ" which is the brand of the
PC. In the top left hand screen it shows 256MB ok. The it shows the follwing
screen:


256MB ok
162-System options not set

The following configuration options were automatcially updated:
Disk 1: 40.0 [GB], Disk 3: CD-ROM, Disk 4: CD-ROM
Total Memory installed: 262144 Kbytes
Diskette Drives
CMOS System invalid, Default values loaded


Pauses for about 10 seconds then just resets itself and repeats the above.

I don't know what was done prior to this happening because it is a friends
computer and she doesn't know.

Any ideas?

If it is the CMOS Battery - then would it cause any problems if I change it,
e.g. files stored on the hard drive etc.

Assuming this isnt a custom twearkers system, and it doesn sound like
one, remove cmos battery, short the 2 pins marked 'reset cmos' for 10
secs, and put new battery in.

Ah, if its compaq the battery may be soldered, so more hassle.

No recent Compaq (by this I mean Pentium class or better) that I've
come across has a soldered battery.

And from what I've seen, there isn't much anything to tweak on a
Compaq's BIOS.

 

[meow2222]

And from what I've seen, there isn't much anything to tweak on a
Compaq's BIOS.

it will need resetting if checksum is bad, and it sounds like it
probably is.

cmos battery doesnt affect files stored on disc.


NT