Battery Changing

On Mon, 24 Jul 2006 14:11:35 GMT, Earl Partridge wrote:

> Not an XP question but since the more knowledgeable folks hang out
> here...
>
> If the on-board battery dies, you lose your CMOS settings, right?
> And if you replace the battery, even before it dies, you're also going to
> lose those settings, right?
>
> Can the battery be replaced while the machine is running so as not to
> lose those settings?
>
> Earl

Do not replace the battery while the computer is running. This would be
dangerous for your computer and your person.

If you do not have system documentation that tells the default and
recommended settings for your computer, make notes of your current
settings. Shutdown. Replace battery. On first power up after battery
replacement, immediately enter the BIOS set up screens. Restore your
settings. Save changes and Exit. Allow Windows to boot normally.

If taking notes on settings sounds daunting, there are alternatives.
Searching the internet, you should be able to find a program that can print
out your BIOS settings. Or use a digital camera to take pictures of each
screen.

--
Sharon F
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
 >> Stay informed about: Battery Changing 

Earl Partridge wrote:

> If the on-board battery dies, you lose your CMOS settings, right?


They get reset to the defaults.


> And if you replace the battery, even before it dies, you're also
> going to lose those settings, right?


No, not necessarily. You normally have a few minutes (usually at least 15,
and sometimes more) before the info is lost)


> Can the battery be replaced while the machine is running so as not to
> lose those settings?


That was be an extremely dangerous thing to do. You run th erisk of
elecrocuting yourself and also of frying the motherboard.

Personally, I always make a hard copy of all my CMOS settings and keep it
available just in case.


--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup
 >> Stay informed about: Battery Changing 

I will usually WAD-a piece of TAPE up for a STICKY-and dab it at the worn
battery..plucking it out..I will use my bare fingers to POP the New one in
place..quickly.
--
its REAL Time...


"Earl Partridge" wrote:

> Not an XP question but since the more knowledgeable folks hang out
> here...
>
> If the on-board battery dies, you lose your CMOS settings, right?
> And if you replace the battery, even before it dies, you're also going to
> lose those settings, right?
>
> Can the battery be replaced while the machine is running so as not to
> lose those settings?
>
> Earl
>
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Battery Changing 

'Earl Partridge' wrote, in part:
| If the on-board battery dies, you lose your CMOS settings, right?
| And if you replace the battery, even before it dies, you're also going to
| lose those settings, right?
_____

If you have a fairly modern system using at least an ATX power supply,
turning the power off with the front panel switch does NOT turn off the
power to the CMOS, system clock, and a few other components. ATX power
supplies provide a 'Standby' +5 volts whenever plugged in to the AC mains.
This 'Standby' power is used to switch full power on and off, power circuits
like those mentioned before, and provide functions like 'Wake on LAN'.

If the CMOS/clock battery is dead, you would have already lost the CMOS
settings if you have unplugged the system or used the back panel on/off
switch (if one is present) since the battery died.

If you remove the battery while 'Standby' power is ON, then the CMOS and
clock functions will be preserved.

As for safety, on of the reasons for the move to the ATX power supply is
that ALL AC mains power is confined within the power supply case. Only the
DC voltages of +12 V, +5 V, +3.3 V, -5 V, and -12 V appear outside the power
supply case.

If you are not experienced working on electronic equipment, I'd suggest that
you unplug the system from the mains before working inside the system case.
As others have suggested, it is easy to back up the CMOS settings, and the
default settings will be loaded from the BIOS if the CMOS settings are lost.
That will be enough for you to boot your system and restore the settings,
either from a floppy or CD-ROM, or manually from a written list.

Phil Weldon

"Earl Partridge" <earlpNG.TakeThisOut@pearnet.com> wrote in message
news:ry4xg.4200$157.1078@newsread3.news.pas.earthlink.net...
| Not an XP question but since the more knowledgeable folks hang out
| here...
|
| If the on-board battery dies, you lose your CMOS settings, right?
| And if you replace the battery, even before it dies, you're also going to
| lose those settings, right?
|
| Can the battery be replaced while the machine is running so as not to
| lose those settings?
|
| Earl
|
|
 >> Stay informed about: Battery Changing 

I don't think there is any voltages above 12 vdc outside of the power supply
and thus by not going into the power supply box one would be safe from any
voltage danger.


--
Don
Vancouver, USA


"Sharon F" <sharonfDEL.TakeThisOut@ETEmvps.org> wrote in message
news:OstFpTzrGHA.4844@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> On Mon, 24 Jul 2006 14:11:35 GMT, Earl Partridge wrote:
>
>> Not an XP question but since the more knowledgeable folks hang out
>> here...
>>
>> If the on-board battery dies, you lose your CMOS settings, right?
>> And if you replace the battery, even before it dies, you're also going to
>> lose those settings, right?
>>
>> Can the battery be replaced while the machine is running so as not to
>> lose those settings?
>>
>> Earl
>
> Do not replace the battery while the computer is running. This would be
> dangerous for your computer and your person.
>
> If you do not have system documentation that tells the default and
> recommended settings for your computer, make notes of your current
> settings. Shutdown. Replace battery. On first power up after battery
> replacement, immediately enter the BIOS set up screens. Restore your
> settings. Save changes and Exit. Allow Windows to boot normally.
>
> If taking notes on settings sounds daunting, there are alternatives.
> Searching the internet, you should be able to find a program that can
> print
> out your BIOS settings. Or use a digital camera to take pictures of each
> screen.
>
> --
> Sharon F
> MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
 >> Stay informed about: Battery Changing 

Bernard W Joseph wrote:

> Sharon F wrote:

>> Do not replace the battery while the computer is running. This would
>> be dangerous for your computer and your person.

> I don't know about other guys, but I have replaced about a dozen
> batteries while the computer was running. Didn't lose a thing, not
> even the hair on my arms.


That's like saying you rode in a car without a seatbelt a dozen times, and
weren't hurt. Nobody said there was a guarantee of getting killed every
times you did it, just there was a danger. Having survived doing something
dangerous, even multiple times, doesn't make it any less dangerous.

Replacing the battery while the computer is running is nothing less than
foolhardy, in my opinion. It's dangerous and entirely unnecessary.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup
 >> Stay informed about: Battery Changing 

On Tue, 25 Jul 2006 10:18:18 -0700, Don Schmidt wrote:

> I don't think there is any voltages above 12 vdc outside of the power supply
> and thus by not going into the power supply box one would be safe from any
> voltage danger.

Fair enough. Still, it only takes one quick short to trash a component.
Prefer to advise conservative safety over reading someone has unwittingly
zapped some hardware.

--
Sharon F
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
 >> Stay informed about: Battery Changing 

I wasn't endorsing changing the battery with the computer on; just giving an
opinion that there wouldn't be any danger of personal injury due to
electrocution.


--
Don
"May your shadow be found in happy places." (Native North American)



"Sharon F" <sharonfDEL RemoveThis @ETEmvps.org> wrote in message
news:%23V$vS5BsGHA.408@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> On Tue, 25 Jul 2006 10:18:18 -0700, Don Schmidt wrote:
>
>> I don't think there is any voltages above 12 vdc outside of the power
>> supply
>> and thus by not going into the power supply box one would be safe from
>> any
>> voltage danger.
>
> Fair enough. Still, it only takes one quick short to trash a component.
> Prefer to advise conservative safety over reading someone has unwittingly
> zapped some hardware.
>
> --
> Sharon F
> MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
 >> Stay informed about: Battery Changing 

With the computer OFF, the hard drive isn't powered and thus
the data is probably safe from a spike or random signal.
Unless you unplug the power cord however, there is always
some level of "keep alive" current on the 5 volt side of the
mobo.

If you are worried, open the BIOS and note the settings,
they are easy to reset, restore. Rarely will you find a
situation where the default BIOS is a problem. If the
battery is dead, it means it is very old, since the power
line and power supply are always hot and the battery isn't
being used, it will last the shelf life.

There is a capacitor that will keep the settings, with the
system OFF, long enough to change the battery. Just be sure
to have the new battery, of the correct number, out of the
package, read the manual or examine the battery clip so you
know what to do and don't take all day.

Some old mobo have the battery soldered in place



"Ken Blake, MVP" <kblake.DeleteThis@this.is.an.invalid.domain> wrote in
message news:OGxLSHCsGHA.3556@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
| Bernard W Joseph wrote:
|
| > Sharon F wrote:
|
| >> Do not replace the battery while the computer is
running. This would
| >> be dangerous for your computer and your person.
|
| > I don't know about other guys, but I have replaced about
a dozen
| > batteries while the computer was running. Didn't lose a
thing, not
| > even the hair on my arms.
|
|
| That's like saying you rode in a car without a seatbelt a
dozen times, and
| weren't hurt. Nobody said there was a guarantee of getting
killed every
| times you did it, just there was a danger. Having survived
doing something
| dangerous, even multiple times, doesn't make it any less
dangerous.
|
| Replacing the battery while the computer is running is
nothing less than
| foolhardy, in my opinion. It's dangerous and entirely
unnecessary.
|
| --
| Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
| Please reply to the newsgroup
|
|
 >> Stay informed about: Battery Changing 

On Tue, 25 Jul 2006 12:31:42 -0700, Don Schmidt wrote:

> I wasn't endorsing changing the battery with the computer on; just giving an
> opinion that there wouldn't be any danger of personal injury due to
> electrocution.

Don, the original question was about replacing the battery while the
machine was running. At my house, there is a difference between plugged in
and running...

--
Sharon F
MS-MVP ~ Windows Shell/User
 >> Stay informed about: Battery Changing 

On Wed, 26 Jul 2006 07:15:01 -0500, Sharon F wrote:

> On Tue, 25 Jul 2006 12:31:42 -0700, Don Schmidt wrote:
>
>
> Don, the original question was about replacing the battery while the
> machine was running. At my house, there is a difference between plugged in
> and running...

I see you feel that even this isn't dangerous to a person (no coffee yet
this AM) so will amend my original statement to "possibly dangerous to your
person"

Still, there's enough risks in life - those chosen and those that find us -
that this is one I will continue to leave off my list of chosen risks.

--
Sharon F
MS-MVP ~ Windows Shell/User
 >> Stay informed about: Battery Changing 

I have just changed the CMOS battery on my system without losing any
of the bios settings.

It takes me in the region of 15-seconds to replace the battery, as
someone has already mentioned using a piece of tape (insulation type)
attached to the top of the battery is a great aid to removing the
battery.

The replacement battery which should be close to hand is then just
popped in!

I have no idea how long the bios information will remain whilst the
battery is actually removed from the system.


Aitcho_1


On Mon, 24 Jul 2006 14:11:35 GMT, "Earl Partridge"
<earlpNG.DeleteThis@pearnet.com> wrote:

>Not an XP question but since the more knowledgeable folks hang out
>here...
>
>If the on-board battery dies, you lose your CMOS settings, right?
>And if you replace the battery, even before it dies, you're also going to
>lose those settings, right?
>
>Can the battery be replaced while the machine is running so as not to
>lose those settings?
>
>Earl
>
 >> Stay informed about: Battery Changing 

aitcho_1 DeleteThis @NOSPAM.co.uk wrote:

> I have just changed the CMOS battery on my system without losing any
> of the bios settings.
>
> It takes me in the region of 15-seconds to replace the battery, as
> someone has already mentioned using a piece of tape (insulation type)
> attached to the top of the battery is a great aid to removing the
> battery.
>
> The replacement battery which should be close to hand is then just
> popped in!
>
> I have no idea how long the bios information will remain whilst the
> battery is actually removed from the system.


How long the information remains while the battery is out depends on the
computer and the condition of the battery. You usually have 15 minutes or
so, but it's sometimes much longer. I've seen it last as long as several
hours.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup



> On Mon, 24 Jul 2006 14:11:35 GMT, "Earl Partridge"
> <earlpNG DeleteThis @pearnet.com> wrote:
>
>> Not an XP question but since the more knowledgeable folks hang out
>> here...
>>
>> If the on-board battery dies, you lose your CMOS settings, right?
>> And if you replace the battery, even before it dies, you're also
>> going to lose those settings, right?
>>
>> Can the battery be replaced while the machine is running so as not to
>> lose those settings?
>>
>> Earl
 >> Stay informed about: Battery Changing