CMOS memory problem

[titus12]

I am trying to fix my brother's computer. When I turn it on, an error
message appears that says the 'CMOS memory is wrong. Also there is a
keyboard error. Before there was an error about the CMOS battery is low. I
replaced the battery. The motherboard is a Socket A K7S5A Pro. Could my
problem be the power supply?

Thank you;
David

 

[David H. Lipman]

From: "titus12" <[email protected]>

| I am trying to fix my brother's computer. When I turn it on, an error
| message appears that says the 'CMOS memory is wrong. Also there is a
| keyboard error. Before there was an error about the CMOS battery is low. I
| replaced the battery. The motherboard is a Socket A K7S5A Pro. Could my
| problem be the power supply?
|
| Thank you;
| David
|

No, not a power supply issue.
If you changed the battery and reset the BIOS settings then you should not any CMOS errors.
Replace the motherboard.

 

[VanguardLH]

in message

I am trying to fix my brother's computer. When I turn it on, an
error
message appears that says the 'CMOS memory is wrong. Also there is
a
keyboard error. Before there was an error about the CMOS battery is
low. I
replaced the battery. The motherboard is a Socket A K7S5A Pro.
Could my
problem be the power supply?

You replaced the battery. Have you yet jumpered the 2-pin header to
reset the CMOS copy of BIOS to make sure it isn't corrupted?

 

[bojimbo26one]

I am trying to fix my brother's computer. When I turn it on, an error
message appears that says the 'CMOS memory is wrong. Also there is a
keyboard error. Before there was an error about the CMOS battery is low. I
replaced the battery. The motherboard is a Socket A K7S5A Pro. Could my
problem be the power supply?

Thank you;
David

Can you give the error messages properly ?

 

[titus12]

bojimbo26one:

The message is; CMOS memory wrong.
Keyboard error

Also, if I restart the computer again, it beeps and the monitor screen will
stay black. The CD Rom, the CPU and the power supply are on and running.

Thank you;
David

 

[David H. Lipman]

From: "titus12" <[email protected]>

| bojimbo26one:
|
| The message is; CMOS memory wrong.
| Keyboard error
|
| Also, if I restart the computer again, it beeps and the monitor screen will
| stay black. The CD Rom, the CPU and the power supply are on and running.
|
| Thank you;
| David

Replace the MB !

 

[w_tom]

The message is; CMOS memory wrong.
                         Keyboard error

Also, if I restart the computer again, it beeps and the monitor screen will
stay black.  The CD Rom,  the CPU and thepower supplyare on and running.

You have many 'try this and try that' answers. Replies will only be
as good as the information posted. Wildly replacing a CMOS battery
without first measuring accomplished nothing. Smarter techs measure
that battery (without removing anything). Resulting number says
'battery good', 'battery causes a failure', or 'battery still good but
will need replacement in the next year'. Now we still don't know if
the original battery was bad or if the new battery is bad. You still
need to measure the new battery while connected to motherboard.

Same applies to other functions that can create that same error
message. Same multimeter also measures the power supply
'system' (which is more than just a power supply). Currently, that
entire system is 'unknown'. Replace that power supply with a new one
and still have an unknown 'system'. But only two minutes with a meter
can report the 'system' as 'definitively good' or 'definitively bad'.
Answers with the word 'definitively' means accomplishment AND means
the better informed can now provide further useful advice.

Two minute procedure is "When your computer dies without
warning....." starting 6 Feb 2007 in the newsgroup alt.windows-xp
at:
http://tinyurl.com/yvf9vh
Connector chart for where each color wire should be located:
http://www.hardwarebook.net/connector/power/atxpower.html

 

[titus12]

RE:

Could the problem be the video card? Two beeps sound and the monitor remain
blank. The light on the monitor keeps blinking.

Thank you;
David

 

[w_tom]

Could the problem be the video card? Two beeps sound and the monitor remain
blank. The light on the monitor keeps blinking.

First, your problem is why responsible computer manufacturers
provide comprehensive hardware diagnostics.

Second, anything or everything can appear defective if a power
supply 'system' is not 'definitively good'. Any attempts to solve
problems without first determining 'the building's foundation is
intact' can waste time.

It's only a two minute procedure using a tool so complex that only
Kmart shoppers can buy it. Procedure may identify why a video
processor (and other hardware) is failing. Defective CMOS memory has
no relationship to a video processor that will start up in default
text mode (mode 3 or mode 7) no matter what CMOS settings are. You
have numerous (apparently) unrelated problems. All may be created by
one common factor. The foundation of any computer is its power supply
'system'. Not just a power supply. A 'system' that must be
'definitively something' even before executing manufacturer's
comprehensive hardware diagnostics.

'It could be this or that or even what you have posted'. Easily
listed could be 50 such items using wild speculation. The principle
is defined in CSI - 'follow the evidence'. Wild speculation leads to
plenty of work and little accomplished. Provided is how to 'follow
the evidence' and how to get useful replies from the few who actually
know computer hardware. No numbers from a two minute procedure? Then
the better informed cannot post useful replies. Your replies will only
be as useful as the facts you provide.

 

[David H. Lipman]

From: "titus12" <[email protected]>

| RE:
|
| Could the problem be the video card? Two beeps sound and the monitor remain
| blank. The light on the monitor keeps blinking.
|
| Thank you;
| David
|

Absolutely not since you have a CMOS problem. If the BIOS can't communicate properly with
the hardware installed then nothing works. This includes video.

If it was the video card you would never see "CMOS memory is wrong".

 

[Poprivet`]

Absolutely not since you have a CMOS problem. If the BIOS can't
communicate properly with the hardware installed then nothing works.
This includes video.

If it was the video card you would never see "CMOS memory is wrong".

So ... help him figure out what the two beeps means.

 

[w_tom]

So ... help him figure out what the two beeps means.

Two beeps can mean keyboard error, memory error, initialization
error, general failure, or a failure inside the CMOS/Date Time clock
circuit. Further information obtained if BIOS technical specs are
provided. But again, every one of those problems can be created by a
'foundation' failure. Just another reason to first spend 'less than
two minutes' on a procedure defined in an 11 January post.