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Losing bios...........HELP, please

Trish's Escape from Hardware Hell Help Board » Hardware » Dead, Dying or Booting Problems » Losing bios...........HELP, please « Previous Next »

Author Message
Jim Miller
Posted on Wednesday, February 13, 2002 - 3:15 pm:   

I built this new computer.....PC Chips 830 LR motherboard, with an AMD 1.33 GHZ processor. Initially I set the bios, and everything seemed fine. Two weeks later on boot, the bios had reset itself to the default settings, and it wouldn't boot Windows....so, I reset the bios, and everything seemed fine. Approximately two weeks later, it does it again. Any thoughts as to why?
Thanks for listening.
E.S.
Posted on Wednesday, February 13, 2002 - 4:04 pm:   

Check the CMOS battery first. Next check the battery holder and solder connections, PCchips is notoriously poor in QC.
Jim Miller
Posted on Thursday, February 14, 2002 - 2:11 am:   

So, I can safely remove the battery and replace it?
Thanks, E.S.
E.S.
Posted on Thursday, February 14, 2002 - 7:21 am:   

Yes, you may have to reset your time and date, make sure the power is turned off and the system is unplugged before removing the battery, touch the metal case to ground yourself. Don't want any stray electrons jumping off you and onto the motherboard.
Jim Miller
Posted on Thursday, February 14, 2002 - 1:39 pm:   

OK, E.S. Thank you.
Andrei Judzewitsch
Posted on Thursday, February 14, 2002 - 4:43 pm:   

I've read in various places that it is better to leave the system plugged in when you ground yourself (but with the power switch on the wall turned to off).

The rationale behind this is that apparently the earth remains 'active' on the power socket - even though there is no power coming through, thus ensuring that you really are grounded.

Any views on this?
Matt Weston (Matt12330)
Posted on Thursday, February 14, 2002 - 7:11 pm:   

I suppose that would be work.

The idea of unplugging is to make sure that there is NO power to the PC at all. Personally, I wouldn't plug my PC into an outlet with a wall switch because I would be afraid of somebody inadvertantly turning it off on me. ...nothing like an unscheduled shutdown !

I would still recommend unplugging from the wall and grounding yourself on the chassis. That way, if your body retains a static charge - it will discharge on the metal frame - and not flow through delicate components on the board (ie - CMOS chip).

.....just my 2 cents.....
E.S.
Posted on Thursday, February 14, 2002 - 11:24 pm:   

That is correct for ATX and LPX systems. On older AT systems the power switch off is always off. On ATX and LPX powered down doesn't mean off by any means. Matt, you are right about running the PC AC through a wall socket on a switch, not only the fear of unscheduled shutdown but light switches can generate a lot of AC line noise.

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