Replacing Bios battery every few weeks! 1

[fireboxchaser]

Running an Athlon Mobo dual core processor with W XP SP2.

Recently have repalced 3 CMOS batteries within as many weeks. Goes ok then I get CMOS battery fail and when I go into bios I get all sorts of ridiculous dates to choose from and i refuses to boot.

I have been turning PC off completely at the wall to save power, but thought that the battery was supposed to save settings? Is my MOBO failing?

 

[paparazi]

I know this is a little random but try flashing the bios to the latest.
Are there any bulging capacitors on the motherboard?

Martin

On wings like angels whispers sweet
my heart it feels a broken beat
Touched soul and hurt lay wounded deep
Brown eyes are lost afar and sleep

 

[edfair]

You may want to find another supplier. They should last 4 or 5 years.

You may want to look for corrosion, it is possible for that to affect you then when the new batter is put in it beaks through for a while. Also for dust, some is marginally conductive and could drain a battery.

If you have several in stock you might want to use up some of the capacity in one to see what it does with a VOM. A good one will push about 3.1 volts out to that high load. Normally you use DVMs to measure them but the lack of a load doesn't show marginal conditions.

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

 

[BadBigBen]

dismantle the PC, and check behind the mainboard for a caught screw or metal standoff, that may be causing you a short...


Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[fireboxchaser]

Thanks guys, I'll dismantle the PC and see if anything has got caught behind the mobo. Dont want to flash the bios in case I lose everything. I do have a backup of sorts but its not easy to restore everything as I have hours of video footage etc.

The latest battery I put in there is a Duracell, which I thought was a good make, so was very surprised again when it said cmos battery failed.

 

[mscallisto]

Have you tried washing the MB with a can of freon or freon alternative cleaner?

There very well could be a leak point on the MB like a screw that BBB suggests above or simply a dirty spot on the MB.

anyway it can't hurt and only costs a few dollars.

sam

 

[BadBigBen]

sam - WD40 would do also, but it will leave a bit of residue (non conductive)... I've used it to clean CD changers and monitors...

Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[mscallisto]

Thanks Ben

I never knew WD40 was non conductive but did know that it's very non corrosive; another good attribute.

It's also less expensive than electronics degreaser agents.

Nice Tip

sam

 

[goombawaho]

^^^^^ Your house will smell like WD40 for three years if you wash the motherboard with that stuff. NOT my favorite smell, but use your best judgment. Plus, dust will stick to the innards more readily because WD40 is sticky after "drying".

 

[gbaughma]

I always liked Lexite to clean mobos and electronics.

Great stuff... non-conductive, no residue.



Just my 2¢

"What the captain doesn't realize is that we've secretly replaced his Dilithium Crystals with new Folger's Crystals."

--Greg

http://parallel.tzo.com

 

[gbaughma]

Here's a link... Lexite PS

http://www.chemsearch.com/productDe...pName=Lexite^{<small>TM</small>} PS

Just my 2¢

"What the captain doesn't realize is that we've secretly replaced his Dilithium Crystals with new Folger's Crystals."

--Greg

http://parallel.tzo.com

 

[firewolfrl]

LOL, I have washed motherboards in a dishwasher before...not for the faint of heart or for a motherboard you can't afford to replace

I turn the oven on to 170 then turn it off after its to 170 then I let it sit for 20 minutes then I stick the mother board in the oven to dry for over night


I use this trick for motherboards I get that are full of carbon and cigarette smoke..they are usually nasty and brown

its hit and miss sometimes...

out of every 12 boards I do this to ...at least 2 don't work


and the dishwasher I use is in my shop and not used for dishes

 

[firewolfrl]

now as for the bios battery...its a bad cap and that is that

RMA the board

 

[kjv1611]

gbaughma,

Where can you buy that Lexite stuff, and how much does it cost? Do any stores sell it at all? I couldn't find any shopping hits via Google.

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me