CMOS settings wrong!

[oska]

I've had the above problem with my PC and now have to start up by pressing F1, Esc then Enter. When it has started running my background comes up as normal with the taskbar at the bottom with clock at the correct time. After about 30 secs the taskbar changes and so does the clock. I can't click on the start button and the taskbar is completely dead.
I've changed the CMOS battery but it hasn't helped. I've tried changing the BIO settings to default but it won't let me press F10 to save the settings thus going round in circles. It's really pissing me off now. Someone said to reset the CMOS but I wouldn't know where to start.

Anyone? Cheers!

 

[Griff]

CMOS can be cleared in a number of ways. Most common is removing the battery for a set period of time or clearing it by swapping a specific jumper.

 

[oska]

I have been told about the jumper thing but doesn't that involve taking bits out? I'm not sure I would want to do that. Do you think taking the battery out overnight may help? I had it out when I purchased a new one for say an hour or two but it didn't help.

 

[Griff]

I have been told about the jumper thing but doesn't that involve taking bits out? I'm not sure I would want to do that. Do you think taking the battery out overnight may help? I had it out when I purchased a new one for say an hour or two but it didn't help.

An hour would have been sufficient. It normally only needs a few minutes at most. If that hasn't solved the problem then you can strike clearing the CMOS off your list.

 

[Gumby]

It's quite simple. If you look in the motherboard manual it should say where the CMOS jumper is. Other than that just look for the word CMOS next to a jumper on the motherboard.

• Turn the power off first at the plug.
• You''ll find that it's just case of bridging 2 out of the 3 pins. eg if the jumper bridges pins 1 and 2, the CMOS will carry on as normal.
• Whereas if you bridge pins 2 and 3 and then turn the power to the computer on, the CMOS will reset to default.
• Turn plug off again and then make sure you put the jumper back to the original position before you turn the plug on and power up the PC again

 

[Gumby]

An hour would have been sufficient. It normally only needs a few minutes at most. If that hasn't solved the problem then you can strike clearing the CMOS off your list.

If it's still plugged into the mains I don't think it needs the battery. IIRC you have to take the battery out and disconnect it from the mains (which i don't know if he's done)

 

[oska]

When I took the battery out I turned the multi socket off. Would that be the same thing? I did have to reset the time and date when I replaced the battery.

 

[Griff]

An hour would have been sufficient. It normally only needs a few minutes at most. If that hasn't solved the problem then you can strike clearing the CMOS off your list.

If it's still plugged into the mains I don't think it needs the battery. IIRC you have to take the battery out and disconnect it from the mains (which i don't know if he's done)

I could have said don't stab yourself in the eye but I thought I'd leave out the common sense advice