Replacing Computer Battery:

[Robert]

I was just wondering, how is one to know when to replace the computer
battery? I have a Dell Dimension 8200 with XP which I bought in 2002 I
believe. I recently upgraded my hard drive and cd-drive to a dvd/rw
drive so I have no problems about opening the case and doing this.
Also are batteries all the same and can I just go to Radio Shack to
buy this or should I order online from Newegg? or?

Thanks,
Robert

 

[Newbie Coder]

Robert,

Get one from where ever you want.. Me personally would rather walk into a shop & walk out
with one rather than order one off the Internet

 

[Malke]

I was just wondering, how is one to know when to replace the computer
battery? I have a Dell Dimension 8200 with XP which I bought in 2002 I
believe. I recently upgraded my hard drive and cd-drive to a dvd/rw
drive so I have no problems about opening the case and doing this.
Also are batteries all the same and can I just go to Radio Shack to
buy this or should I order online from Newegg? or?

I have machines that are ancient (in computer years) that have never had
the motherboard battery replaced. When one gets old, usually you'll get
some prompt when you first start the computer (long before the operating
system is booted) to Press F2 (or whatever the Enter Setup keypress is
on your machine) to adjust the BIOS settings. So if things are working
well, there is no reason to mess with it.

Replacing the battery is extremely simple and you can buy these small,
coin-shaped batteries almost anywhere - hardware stores, Target, office
supply stores, even Radio Shack (although I hate Radio Shack), etc. They
cost under $5. Here are some links that may help:

How To Replace The CMOS Battery In Your PC -
http://www.liverepair.com/encyclopedia/articles/cmosreplace.asp
How to replace the CMOS battery -
http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000239.htm
When was the last time you thought about the battery in your PC? -
http://home.i-plus.net/jtmurphy/cmos.htm


Malke

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I was just wondering, how is one to know when to replace the computer
battery?

When the old one dies. You will know that because typically the system
clock will start losing time when the computer is powered *off*.

I have a Dell Dimension 8200 with XP which I bought in 2002 I
believe.

Although batteries sometimes last more than 5 years, you've gotten
good life out of yours. But don't expect it to last much longer.

I recently upgraded my hard drive and cd-drive to a dvd/rw
drive so I have no problems about opening the case and doing this.
Also are batteries all the same

A number of years ago, there were several different types in use. Most
are the same these days, but to be sure, you can remove yours and take
it to the store with you. Or just copy down the info on it.

It isn't always necessary these days, but I am always more comfortable
having a hard copy of all the BIOS settings before removing the
battery, so if necessary I can put back anything that got reset when
the battery was removed. You can make a copy by going into the BIOS
setup program and copying everything down by hand. Although there are
often automated ways to do this, it only takes a few minutes with a
pencil and paper.

and can I just go to Radio Shack to
buy this or should I order online from Newegg? or?

Considering that these cost only a few dollars, and that I would want
to minimize the time without a good battery installed, I just pick one
up locally. Radio Shack is about as good a place as any.

 

[WaIIy]

It isn't always necessary these days, but I am always more comfortable
having a hard copy of all the BIOS settings before removing the
battery, so if necessary I can put back anything that got reset when
the battery was removed. You can make a copy by going into the BIOS
setup program and copying everything down by hand. Although there are
often automated ways to do this, it only takes a few minutes with a
pencil and paper.

I took pictures of it with my digital camera

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I took pictures of it with my digital camera

That's fine. That's one of the ways to do it. You can even use a film
camera. There's also software that can do it, and with some
computers/printers, you can use PrtScrn.

I usually do it the low-tech way, which works fine for me, but the
other ways are fine too.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

I was just wondering, how is one to know when to replace the computer
battery? I have a Dell Dimension 8200 with XP which I bought in 2002 I
believe. I recently upgraded my hard drive and cd-drive to a dvd/rw
drive so I have no problems about opening the case and doing this.
Also are batteries all the same and can I just go to Radio Shack to
buy this or should I order online from Newegg? or?

Thanks,
Robert

Batteries are all the same, in that they will all wear out and they all have
model numbers. Get a replacement that's the correct model number from the
closest place near to you; it shouldn't be more than a few dollars. There
usually isn't a good reason to order one and have it shipped.

HTH
-pk

 

[WaIIy]

That's fine. That's one of the ways to do it. You can even use a film
camera. There's also software that can do it, and with some
computers/printers, you can use PrtScrn.

I usually do it the low-tech way, which works fine for me, but the
other ways are fine too.

Low tech is good. I wonder how well the younger generation can actually
write with pen and paper.

 

[Robert]

When the old one dies. You will know that because typically the system
clock will start losing time when the computer is powered *off*.


Although batteries sometimes last more than 5 years, you've gotten
good life out of yours. But don't expect it to last much longer.


A number of years ago, there were several different types in use. Most
are the same these days, but to be sure, you can remove yours and take
it to the store with you. Or just copy down the info on it.

It isn't always necessary these days, but I am always more comfortable
having a hard copy of all the BIOS settings before removing the
battery, so if necessary I can put back anything that got reset when
the battery was removed. You can make a copy by going into the BIOS
setup program and copying everything down by hand. Although there are
often automated ways to do this, it only takes a few minutes with a
pencil and paper.


Considering that these cost only a few dollars, and that I would want
to minimize the time without a good battery installed, I just pick one
up locally. Radio Shack is about as good a place as any.

I know this is going to sound simple minded, but just where is the
BIOS settings so that I can copy the information down in case I need
to reset things back to normal? Even though I haven't noticed a
difference with my computer I suppose I should replace the battery
before I do, given it's age. Is there anything else I should know or
do?


Thanks,

Robert

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I know this is going to sound simple minded, but just where is the
BIOS settings so that I can copy the information down in case I need
to reset things back to normal?

How to get into your BIOS depends, not on Windows, but on what
motherboard/BIOS you have. As a matter of fact, you have to access the
BIOS before Windows even starts to boot. One common way is to press
the Del key when you first power on, but that's not necessarily right
for your computer. Watch the screen carefully when you first boot;
there's often a message there telling you what to do. If not, check
your system documentation or check with your vendor.

Also look here: http://michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm Or
just try the Del key. There's a good chance that's correct for you.

Even though I haven't noticed a
difference with my computer I suppose I should replace the battery
before I do, given it's age.

I wouldn't, but it's your choice, of course.

Is there anything else I should know or
do?

The most important thing, before putting your hands inside the box, is
to discharge any static electricity by touching a ground. Static
discharges can zap components inside the box.

 

[Robert]

How to get into your BIOS depends, not on Windows, but on what
motherboard/BIOS you have. As a matter of fact, you have to access the
BIOS before Windows even starts to boot. One common way is to press
the Del key when you first power on, but that's not necessarily right
for your computer. Watch the screen carefully when you first boot;
there's often a message there telling you what to do. If not, check
your system documentation or check with your vendor.

Also look here:http://michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htmOr
just try the Del key. There's a good chance that's correct for you.


I wouldn't, but it's your choice, of course.


The most important thing, before putting your hands inside the box, is
to discharge any static electricity by touching a ground. Static
discharges can zap components inside the box.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
Please Reply to the Newsgroup- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

If you advise not to then I won't and will just wait until it needs
one. I do know about discharging static.

Now this has nothing to do with this problem, but since you may be
reading this, when I installed my LG DVD/RW drive it says its a CD-ROM
drive and that it isn't digtially signed. Now I haven't tried as yet
to make any dvd's or cd's but was wondering why it ended up like this
and can it be corrected? Also, I have Nero, Lightscribe, Secure Disk
Viewer, and Cyberlink DVD Suite. I mainly want to copy jpg picture
files onto cd disk, so which program should I use? I would appreciate
any advice or comments.


Robert

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Now this has nothing to do with this problem, but since you may be
reading this, when I installed my LG DVD/RW drive it says its a CD-ROM
drive and that it isn't digtially signed. Now I haven't tried as yet
to make any dvd's or cd's but was wondering why it ended up like this
and can it be corrected?

Have you installed the correct driver for it? I don't know why it's
misreported, but unless its writing capabilities don't work, I
wouldn't worry about it. Try it.

Also, I have Nero, Lightscribe, Secure Disk
Viewer, and Cyberlink DVD Suite. I mainly want to copy jpg picture
files onto cd disk, so which program should I use? I would appreciate
any advice or comments.

That's among the simplest things you can do, and any burning program
will work. Personally, I use Nero, but that doesn't mean that others
aren't as good.

By the way, for the future, if you want to ask a new unrelated
question, it's best to start a new thread, with an appropriate subject
line, rather than tack it on to a thread like this. Somebody else who
might be able to help with a CD burning question may not even see your
question because he knows noting about batteries, and bypasses it.