----------------------------------------------------------The following articles are allowed to be forwarded, reprinted, distributed, used for ezine, newsletters, websites as a free bonus or a partial reward...----------------------------------------------------------Allow the following articles to be forwarded, reprinted, distributed, used for ezine, newsletters, websites, as long as no changes are made and include the signature, copyright and the resource box below, sold as part of a free bonus or product.----------------------------------------------------------Stephen Bucaro says your computer can't keep the time. The computer needs certain information to operate;For example, the date and time, the amount of memory installed, the number of drives and their configuration, etc.In the early days of the computer, either the user enters this information every time he starts the computer or sets it up using DIP switches and jumpers.Today, the computer stores this information in a CMOS chip that uses a small battery to keep this information when the computer is turned off.CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) is a chip with very low power consumption;So the battery discharge is very slow when the computer is off.But if you turn off your computer for about a year, the battery will fully discharge.Even if you turn the computer on every day, the battery design can only last for a few years.The battery occasionally fails prematurely.Today\'s plug-and-Play computers can detect most of the necessary settings, but your computer will not be able to keep the date and time if your CMOS battery is dead.The computer will also lose any custom settings, such as the start order.If you set a password in CMOS, you may be locked out of the computer.If the CMOS battery does fail, you may receive a "system configuration loss" message when you start the computer.It is advisable to record all CMOS settings as a precaution.To record the CMOS settings, watch on-Screen prompt the first time you start your computer.The prompt tells you to press a key, usually Del or F2, to enter CMOS.To enter the CMOS configuration utility, you must press the indicated key when the message is on the screen.After the CMOS configuration screen appears, follow the instructions provided to browse all the screens and record all the settings.If your computer loses its time settings overnight, the CMOS battery may not charge.The CMOS battery is located inside the housing on the motherboard.Replacing a battery is usually the job of a computer technician.In fact, a layman may not even find a battery.If you want to find the CMOS battery in your computer, please note that the electrostatic discharge in your hand will damage the components inside the shell.After taking the appropriate precautions, open the chassis and look for the battery on the motherboard.If you have a chart of the motherboard, first find the battery on the chart.Different motherboards use different types of batteries.The shape of the battery may be like a bucket or coin.Some motherboards use components similar to chips containing CMOS and batteries (manufactured by DALLAS or Benchmarq ).The battery has different voltages, so make sure you get an accurate replacement.Sometimes the battery is mounted on the stand.Sometimes welded to the motherboard.De-Welding and re-weldingWelding batteries are usually the work of computer technicians.A person who has no experience can do a lot of harm.If you want to try to do it yourself, practice first on an abandoned board.You might change your mind.If the CMOS battery fails because it is too old, this may be an opportunity to upgrade the motherboard.When upgrading the motherboard, the most important thing to note is to make sure that the new motherboard is the right form factor for your chassis, and that the new motherboard provides the right bus connector slot for your expansion board.----------------------------------------------------------Resource Box: All rights reserved by Bucaro TecHelp (C) 2002.To learn how To maintain your computer and use it more effectively To design the website and make money on it, subscribe To the Bucaro TecHelp newsletter To mail To: butectechSubscribe @ topica.com ----------------------------------------------------------.