Battery Change - Configuration Pointers

[jaygreg]

I’ve never changed a battery in any of my computers and am about to do
so in my Dell 8300. Instructions directed my to make note of the
computers configuration (using the F2 routine). I’ve done so but
having never altered any of those settings, I want to make sure I know
what to expect when it’s time to reset them after the battery is
replaced. The settings look self explanatory but I’d feel more
comfortable if I run this by a few who’ve been there before me just in
case there’s something I’m overlooking.

I’ve numbered the lines of the configuration for easy reference. I’m a
tad confused on a few of these. For example, lines 4 and 5 have
notations at the bottom of their pop-ups: “+, - to move down/up”.
What’s that all about? The down/up arrows work and leave far less to
the imagination. Or are these characters to be used if I click
“enter”?

And how about 7a? Not that I want to but, how does one change from
“Enabled” to “Disabled”? There were no “+, -“ notations to indicate
some change was possible. Of course… I left this setting alone, but
will it change when I loose power? If so, how do I change it back to
“Enabled”?

1) System Time (time)
2) Date: (date)
3) Drive Configuration <Enter>
a) Diskette Drive A Not installed
b) SATA Primary OFF
c) SATA Secondary OFF
d) Primary Master Hard Drive
e) Primary Slave OFF
f) Secondary Master CD-ROM Device
g) Secondary Slave CD-ROM Device
h) IDE Drive UDMA On
4) Hard Disk Drive Sequence <Enter>
a) System BIOS boot devices
b) USB device (not installed)
5) Boot Sequence <Enter>
a) IDE CD-ROM Device
b) Hard-Disk Drive C:
6) Memory Information <Enter>
a) Installed System Memory: 1024MB DDR SD RAM
b) System Memory Speed: 400 MHz
c) System Memory Channel: Mode Dual
d) AGP Aperture 128 MB
7) CPU Information <Enter>
a) Hyper-Threading Enabled
b) CPU Speed Normal
c) Bus Speed 800 MHz
d) Processor 0 ID F29
1) Clock Speed 2.60 GHz
2) L2 Cache Size 512 KB
8) Integrated Devices (Legacy Select Options) <Enter>
a) Sound Off
b) Network Interface Controller On
c) Mouse Port On
d) USB Emulation On
e) USB Controller On
f) Serial Port 1 Auto
g) Parallel Port <Enter>
1) Mode PS/2
2) I/O Address 378 L
h) Diskette Interface Auto
i) PC Speaker On
j) Primary Video Controller AGP
9) Power Management <Enter>
a) Suspend Mode S3
b) AC Power Recovery Off
c) Low Power Mode Disabled
10) System Security
a) Password Status Unlocked
b) System Password Not Enabled
c) Setup Password Not Enabled
d) Post Hotkeys F2 and F12
e) PXE BIS Default Policy Deny
11) Keyboard Numlock On
12) Report Keyboard Errors Report
13) Auto Power On Disabled
14) Fast Boot On
15) Os Install Mode Off
16) IDE Hard Drive Acoustics Mode Bypass
17) System Event Log <Enter>
a) Current Event Log Status: Unread
b) Display System Event Log
c) Clear System Event Log
d) Mark All Entries as Read
18) Asset Tag

Any comments concerning the handling of this configuration during the
battery change would be appreciated.

 

[JS]

I'll make a few suggestions.
1) Buy the correct battery.
2) Look at the placement and ease of access to the
existing battery on the motherboard. Use good lighting
so everything is easily viable.
3) Make note of the polarity on the surface of the battery
as you see it in the motherboard.
4) Walk thru the steps (before you actually perform them)
of how you plan to remove the old battery and insert the new one.
(I use a very small plastic "Non conductive" flat bladed screwdriver
to help lift out the old battery).
5) Place the new battery on a none conductive surface within easy reach.
6) If you can remove the old battery and insert the new one in about
20 seconds or less you may find all the BIOS setting have not changed
any no action is required on your part.

If all else fails then you can revert to the documentation you have posted
and the others answers you receive to your post.

--
JS
http://www.pagestart.com



I’ve never changed a battery in any of my computers and am about to do
so in my Dell 8300. Instructions directed my to make note of the
computers configuration (using the F2 routine). I’ve done so but
having never altered any of those settings, I want to make sure I know
what to expect when it’s time to reset them after the battery is
replaced. The settings look self explanatory but I’d feel more
comfortable if I run this by a few who’ve been there before me just in
case there’s something I’m overlooking.

I’ve numbered the lines of the configuration for easy reference. I’m a
tad confused on a few of these. For example, lines 4 and 5 have
notations at the bottom of their pop-ups: “+, - to move down/up”.
What’s that all about? The down/up arrows work and leave far less to
the imagination. Or are these characters to be used if I click
“enter”?

And how about 7a? Not that I want to but, how does one change from
“Enabled” to “Disabled”? There were no “+, -“ notations to indicate
some change was possible. Of course… I left this setting alone, but
will it change when I loose power? If so, how do I change it back to
“Enabled”?

1) System Time (time)
2) Date: (date)
3) Drive Configuration <Enter>
a) Diskette Drive A Not installed
b) SATA Primary OFF
c) SATA Secondary OFF
d) Primary Master Hard Drive
e) Primary Slave OFF
f) Secondary Master CD-ROM Device
g) Secondary Slave CD-ROM Device
h) IDE Drive UDMA On
4) Hard Disk Drive Sequence <Enter>
a) System BIOS boot devices
b) USB device (not installed)
5) Boot Sequence <Enter>
a) IDE CD-ROM Device
b) Hard-Disk Drive C:
6) Memory Information <Enter>
a) Installed System Memory: 1024MB DDR SD RAM
b) System Memory Speed: 400 MHz
c) System Memory Channel: Mode Dual
d) AGP Aperture 128 MB
7) CPU Information <Enter>
a) Hyper-Threading Enabled
b) CPU Speed Normal
c) Bus Speed 800 MHz
d) Processor 0 ID F29
1) Clock Speed 2.60 GHz
2) L2 Cache Size 512 KB
8) Integrated Devices (Legacy Select Options) <Enter>
a) Sound Off
b) Network Interface Controller On
c) Mouse Port On
d) USB Emulation On
e) USB Controller On
f) Serial Port 1 Auto
g) Parallel Port <Enter>
1) Mode PS/2
2) I/O Address 378 L
h) Diskette Interface Auto
i) PC Speaker On
j) Primary Video Controller AGP
9) Power Management <Enter>
a) Suspend Mode S3
b) AC Power Recovery Off
c) Low Power Mode Disabled
10) System Security
a) Password Status Unlocked
b) System Password Not Enabled
c) Setup Password Not Enabled
d) Post Hotkeys F2 and F12
e) PXE BIS Default Policy Deny
11) Keyboard Numlock On
12) Report Keyboard Errors Report
13) Auto Power On Disabled
14) Fast Boot On
15) Os Install Mode Off
16) IDE Hard Drive Acoustics Mode Bypass
17) System Event Log <Enter>
a) Current Event Log Status: Unread
b) Display System Event Log
c) Clear System Event Log
d) Mark All Entries as Read
18) Asset Tag

Any comments concerning the handling of this configuration during the
battery change would be appreciated.

 

[VanguardLH]

I¢ve never changed a battery in any of my computers and am about to do
so in my Dell 8300. ...

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim8300/sm/battery.htm

Was that what you read? Then that would be the *CMOS* battery. Not
everyone owns a Dell 8300 to know it isn't a laptop and has another
battery (for main power).

The power supply battery is designed for changeability. Just pop out
the discharged battery and pop in a new one (that presumably you already
charged; otherwise, just charge the one that's already inside).

You have about 3 minutes in which to change the CMOS battery to prevent
loss of customized settings that were modified in the CMOS copy of the
settings copied from the BIOS copy (in EEPROM). Will it take you longer
than 3 minutes to pop out the wafer battery and slide in a new one?
Personally I try to keep it to under a minute but then the whole process
probably takes under 10 seconds unless you're very clumsy or an
explosion gets your attention. If you don't replace the CMOS battery
before the external capacitor discharges, the result is a loss in any
customized settings in the CMOS (temporary) copy of the BIOS settings.
That means the fixed settings from the EEPROM (usually referred to as
the preset or default settings) get copied into the CMOS table.

Unless you have customized the settings and unless you expect a really
long time between when you remove the battery to when you slide in a new
one, you don't need to record all the settings. The worse case that I
ran across was with a defective charge-hold circuit (to keep voltage to
the CMOS while the battery was removed) which resulted in a corrupted
table in the CMOS chip. To fix meant having to short the 2-pin CMOS
clear jumper on the motherboard for 10 seconds. Then the default
settings get loaded from the EEPROM (i.e., the default BIOS settings).

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim8300/sm/parts.htm

Unless you bought the computer used, it is unlikely that anything other
than automatic and/or default settings were used in the BIOS.

 

[VanguardLH]

I'll make a few suggestions.

I would add some additional steps (shown inline):

1) Buy the correct battery.

Check its expiration is 4 years from today.
Get a double pack (in case one of them is defective).
1a) Shutdown the operating system.
1b) Power down the computer.
1c) Pull the power cord; otherwise, with ATX motherboards, a 5V
standby line is still active from the power supply to the
motherboard to power the power-up circuitry (to which goes the
Power button on the front panel).

2) Look at the placement and ease of access to the
existing battery on the motherboard. Use good lighting
so everything is easily visable.
3) Make note of the polarity on the surface of the battery
as you see it in the motherboard.
4) Walk thru the steps (before you actually perform them)
of how you plan to remove the old battery and insert the new
one. (I use a very small plastic "Non conductive" flat
bladed screwdriver to help lift out the old battery).
5) Place the new battery on a none conductive surface within easy
reach.

5a) When you pick up the new battery, wipe it clean of
fingerprints.
5b) After wiping, handle the wafer battery only by its sides (or wear
gloves). Do not touch the flat contact surfaces with your bare
fingers. Body oil results in oxide on the surface that degrades
the contact area.

 

[Paul]

I’ve never changed a battery in any of my computers and am about to do
so in my Dell 8300. Instructions directed my to make note of the
computers configuration (using the F2 routine). I’ve done so but
having never altered any of those settings, I want to make sure I know
what to expect when it’s time to reset them after the battery is
replaced. The settings look self explanatory but I’d feel more
comfortable if I run this by a few who’ve been there before me just in
case there’s something I’m overlooking.

I’ve numbered the lines of the configuration for easy reference. I’m a
tad confused on a few of these. For example, lines 4 and 5 have
notations at the bottom of their pop-ups: “+, - to move down/up”.
What’s that all about? The down/up arrows work and leave far less to
the imagination. Or are these characters to be used if I click
“enter”?

And how about 7a? Not that I want to but, how does one change from
“Enabled” to “Disabled”? There were no “+, -“ notations to indicate
some change was possible. Of course… I left this setting alone, but
will it change when I loose power? If so, how do I change it back to
“Enabled”?

1) System Time (time)
2) Date: (date)
3) Drive Configuration <Enter>
a) Diskette Drive A Not installed
b) SATA Primary OFF
c) SATA Secondary OFF
d) Primary Master Hard Drive
e) Primary Slave OFF
f) Secondary Master CD-ROM Device
g) Secondary Slave CD-ROM Device
h) IDE Drive UDMA On
4) Hard Disk Drive Sequence <Enter>
a) System BIOS boot devices
b) USB device (not installed)
5) Boot Sequence <Enter>
a) IDE CD-ROM Device
b) Hard-Disk Drive C:
6) Memory Information <Enter>
a) Installed System Memory: 1024MB DDR SD RAM
b) System Memory Speed: 400 MHz
c) System Memory Channel: Mode Dual
d) AGP Aperture 128 MB
7) CPU Information <Enter>
a) Hyper-Threading Enabled
b) CPU Speed Normal
c) Bus Speed 800 MHz
d) Processor 0 ID F29
1) Clock Speed 2.60 GHz
2) L2 Cache Size 512 KB
8) Integrated Devices (Legacy Select Options) <Enter>
a) Sound Off
b) Network Interface Controller On
c) Mouse Port On
d) USB Emulation On
e) USB Controller On
f) Serial Port 1 Auto
g) Parallel Port <Enter>
1) Mode PS/2
2) I/O Address 378 L
h) Diskette Interface Auto
i) PC Speaker On
j) Primary Video Controller AGP
9) Power Management <Enter>
a) Suspend Mode S3
b) AC Power Recovery Off
c) Low Power Mode Disabled
10) System Security
a) Password Status Unlocked
b) System Password Not Enabled
c) Setup Password Not Enabled
d) Post Hotkeys F2 and F12
e) PXE BIS Default Policy Deny
11) Keyboard Numlock On
12) Report Keyboard Errors Report
13) Auto Power On Disabled
14) Fast Boot On
15) Os Install Mode Off
16) IDE Hard Drive Acoustics Mode Bypass
17) System Event Log <Enter>
a) Current Event Log Status: Unread
b) Display System Event Log
c) Clear System Event Log
d) Mark All Entries as Read
18) Asset Tag

Any comments concerning the handling of this configuration during the
battery change would be appreciated.

The most important setting could be the "Boot Sequence", as it
has the most effect on the user. Pretty deflating, if the computer
won't boot after you're finished. (That is more likely to be
a problem, if you have more than one hard drive.)

Some people use a digital camera, to take pictures of each screen,
as an archival record. With a little editing in a photo editing
program, you might reduce the pictures to black and white,
and print off a cheap copy on a laser printer.

When playing with a CR2032 battery, it tends to flop and bounce around
while you're poking at it. It takes the pressure off, if you have hard
copy of all the BIOS settings, as then you can take your time.

Another reason for having the pictures, is at some future date,
the battery might be completely flat. And you might not remember
what all the settings do. On my oldest computer, it took me
half an hour to remember how to set it up again. Having a hard
copy, removes the need for a photographic memory.

Paul

 

[jaygreg]

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim8300/sm/battery.htm

Was that what you read?  Then that would be the *CMOS* battery.  Not
everyone owns a Dell 8300 to know it isn't a laptop and has another
battery (for main power).

The power supply battery is designed for changeability.  Just pop out
the discharged battery and pop in a new one (that presumably you already
charged; otherwise, just charge the one that's already inside).

You have about 3 minutes in which to change the CMOS battery to prevent
loss of customized settings that were modified in the CMOS copy of the
settings copied from the BIOS copy (in EEPROM).  Will it take you longer
than 3 minutes to pop out the wafer battery and slide in a new one?
Personally I try to keep it to under a minute but then the whole process
probably takes under 10 seconds unless you're very clumsy or an
explosion gets your attention.  If you don't replace the CMOS battery
before the external capacitor discharges, the result is a loss in any
customized settings in the CMOS (temporary) copy of the BIOS settings.
That means the fixed settings from the EEPROM (usually referred to as
the preset or default settings) get copied into the CMOS table.

Unless you have customized the settings and unless you expect a really
long time between when you remove the battery to when you slide in a new
one, you don't need to record all the settings.  The worse case that I
ran across was with a defective charge-hold circuit (to keep voltage to
the CMOS while the battery was removed) which resulted in a corrupted
table in the CMOS chip.  To fix meant having to short the 2-pin CMOS
clear jumper on the motherboard for 10 seconds.  Then the default
settings get loaded from the EEPROM (i.e., the default BIOS settings).

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim8300/sm/parts.htm

Unless you bought the computer used, it is unlikely that anything other
than automatic and/or default settings were used in the BIOS.

What's all this about charging the battery? I have no way of doing
that.

 

[jaygreg]

The most important setting could be the "Boot Sequence", as it
has the most effect on the user. Pretty deflating, if the computer
won't boot after you're finished. (That is more likely to be
a problem, if you have more than one hard drive.)

Some people use a digital camera, to take pictures of each screen,
as an archival record. With a little editing in a photo editing
program, you might reduce the pictures to black and white,
and print off a cheap copy on a laser printer.

When playing with a CR2032 battery, it tends to flop and bounce around
while you're poking at it. It takes the pressure off, if you have hard
copy of all the BIOS settings, as then you can take your time.

Another reason for having the pictures, is at some future date,
the battery might be completely flat. And you might not remember
what all the settings do. On my oldest computer, it took me
half an hour to remember how to set it up again. Having a hard
copy, removes the need for a photographic memory.

    Paul

Well... though I didn't take pictures, I took the time to outline what
I saw and printed it here so... guess I have my hard copy. My main
focus was to seek comments on changing those screens if I find myself
forced to do so. I'm fairly confident I'll be able to pop that battery
out with a tooth pick and replace it within a few seconds.

 

[Paul]

What's all this about charging the battery? I have no way of doing
that.

He is referring to "charge-holding" of a capacitor downstream of the
battery.

This is how the CMOS/RTC is powered.

+5VSB --- 3V_regulator ---- diode ----+
| ~5 microamps
+------+---------> RTC/CMOS in Southbridge
| |
CR2032_battery --- 1Kohm --- diode ---+ |
resistor --- small ceramic capacitor
--- noise filter
|
|
GND

When the power supply is unplugged (which you're supposed to do, before working
inside the computer), and you've pulled the CR2032 battery out of its socket,
any capacitance on the power rail, helps "hold up" the voltage, until the
capacitor is drained. That helps retain the CMOS settings for a short
time. If the capacitor is too small a value, the circuit may not hold
the settings for ever. To work out how long that time constant might
be, you'd have to visually identify the capacitor, which would be
somewhere near the Southbridge.

Paul

 

[JS]

Strange you should mention the expiration date.
I purchased two double packs about 3 months
ago (well known brand) an no expiration date
was printed anywhere on the package or the
batteries. Unless the date was 2032 ;-)

"After wiping, handle the wafer battery only by its sides"
Good point, something I do by habit (like DVD media)
and forgot to mention.