CMOS battery replaced...time still wrong

[Headmaster]

Hi,

My computer will not keep time when I shut if off. I replaced the battery, but it still loses the time when I power it down overnight. Has anybody seen this before? The battery was new and tested fine before I put it in the motherboard. Is my CMOS screwed up?

Thanks!

 

[mainegeek]

Make sure you have selected the proper time zone for your area.

 

[cdogg]

Also let us know if you're on a network, what version of Windows, and the make/model of your motherboard if you have it.


~cdogg
[tab]"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources"
[tab][tab]- A. Einstein

 

[ANFPS26]

from Microsoft:

http://support.microsoft.com/defaul...port/kb/articles/Q189/7/06.ASP&NoWebContent=1

I disabled power management in the bios per this article and that fixed one I was having trouble with.

Jim

 

[Headmaster]

The machine is on a small peer to peer, no server. It's an older slot1 mobo, but I'll have to look later today to find out what make. It's Windows 98, time zone is correct. No software running that would attempt to sync time @ boot. It only stops keeping time when off for an extended period of time.(overnight)

All seems to point to battery... but... maybe I'll get another battery just to be sure.

Thanks for replys

 

[felixc]

Might sound like a stupid question, but is there a jumper to clear the CMOS on your motherboard? And is there a position to put back the jumper after it's done? Could it be possible that your battery just not connects to the CMOS because of a missing or misplaced jumper, or is still shorted because of the Clear CMOS jumper. In the latter case the battery will get drained out fairly quickly.

 

[franklin97355]

Do the other CMOS settings stay or do you lose all CMOS? It could be the onboard RTC is shot and not keeping time.

 

[Headmaster]

The cmos jumper is off...

All of the drive settings etc stay intact...

Now the problem seems to have gotten worse. While the computer is running, the time falls back. The date stays intact, but the clock will jump back to 12:00 AM randomly...

I'm thinking a mobo is in route to fix this. Any other ideas?

 

[edfair]

The crystal will cause it. Most use a watch crystal, about 1/16 by 3/8". I've had success pulling them off old, dead boards and using as replacement.

But it requires a deft touch. I usually cut the old leads close to the old crystal and do a hook on the the replacement leads and use a drop of solder.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[cdogg]

Definitely sounds like like the quartz crystal to me as well. 2 options: replace the mobo or swap the crystal as edfair suggests.


~cdogg
[tab]"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources"
[tab][tab]- A. Einstein

 

[ANFPS26]

Headmaster, did you disable the bios power management per Microsoft? It worked for me with similar symptoms.

Jim

 

[HardKnox]

If you have verified that the problem is not caused by software and replaced the battery, I would suspect your CMOS chip is bad. This can be verified with a good diagnostic program. (I use PC Check, Amidiag). If the board is under warranty, get it replaced/fixed. If not try to source a replacement CMOS chip. I have had some luck repairing board by taking good working EEPROM's from dead motherboards.

have fun...

 

[felixc]

Something that you can also try before playing with a soldering iron: besides the crystal there should be two capacitors that connect to the leads, and maybe one resistor between the leads of the crystal. This a high-impedance circuit, and sometimes just a cleaning of the area can remove dirt or any conductive matter. Sometimes the flux used to solder the parts stays on the board and over time get oxidized and start becoming conductive. You can clean this area of the mobo, using isopropyl alcohol (friction alcohol) and a paint brush with the bristles cut to some 5/8-inch, to brush the parts and the pc board in this area. Let dry, and retry.

 

[Headmaster]

Thanks everyone for the replys. I'm going to get a new motherboard... It's time for an upgrade anyways!