All personal computers have a small battery on the motherboard that gives energy to the Complementary Steel Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) chip, therefore the name CMOS battery. This CMOS battery powers the chip, holding information concerning the system's configuration, such because the arduous disk, date and time, and many others. It offers power even when the computer is off and allows the CMOS to save lots of all of the settings. You can expect the CMOS battery to last for up to 5 years. The more your pc is used, the longer the battery will last. How Are you aware That Your CMOS Battery Is Dying? The keyboard acts up with keys and the cursor not responding. Invalid configuration will appear on your display. Run Setup seems in your display screen. Press F1 to continue seems in your screen. Invalid drive specification appears on the screen after you have pressed F1. Clock Error or Clock Message seems in your screen. The clock on the computer loses time. The pc is constantly exhibiting the improper date.

Must you expertise any of those signs, it's seemingly time to alter the battery in your computer. If you don't change the battery, the battery will die. Your battery is dead when your display screen is clean and you've got thus lost your CMOS Memory Wave. When a CMOS battery fails, it will possibly result in difficulties in booting your pc, as the BIOS settings, which are important for the operating system to communicate with the hardware, are lost or reset. Safety First: Earlier than beginning, guarantee the pc is turned off. Unplug all cables and peripherals to prevent any electrical accidents or harm to the ports. Entry the Battery: For a desktop laptop, cognitive enhancement tool you will have to open the case to access the motherboard. In a laptop computer, the situation of the CMOS battery may be beneath one of the panels on the underside or, in some cases, underneath the keyboard. Take away the Old Battery: The CMOS battery is normally held in place by a clip.

reference.com

Gently push the clip aside to launch the battery. Watch out not to use extreme pressure that would injury the motherboard. Insert the new Battery: Make sure that the new lithium battery is the same sort as the one you're replacing. Insert it into the battery socket, making certain the positive aspect is facing up. Reassemble and Take a look at: Once the brand new battery is in place, reassemble your pc and re-screw the pc or laptop casing. Reconnect all cables and peripherals, then flip on your computer. Verify if the BIOS settings need to be configured and if the clock retains the proper time and date. It is because the BIOS may revert to its default configuration, which might not be optimum to your particular hardware setup or the way in which you employ your computer. Familiarize yourself with entering the BIOS setup (usually by pressing a key like F2, Delete, or Esc throughout booting) and alter the settings as wanted. We updated this article together with AI expertise, then made positive it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.

Usually, laptop CMOS batteries last 3-5 years. Can a useless CMOS battery affect the operating system? Yes, a useless CMOS battery could cause issues with the working system by resetting the BIOS settings, which in turn can affect the system's ability to detect and configure hardware. Is it essential to exchange the CMOS battery in laptops in addition to desktop PCs? Both desktops and laptops use a CMOS battery, although the replacement process can be extra difficult in laptops on account of their compact design. All the time seek the advice of your laptop’s manual and consider consulting a professional. How do I know which lithium battery to buy as a alternative? Most computer systems use a CR2032 lithium battery, but it is best to check the old battery's model earlier than purchasing a new one. Guarantee you buy the precise match to keep away from compatibility issues. Are there any dangers involved in replacing the CMOS battery myself? Whereas replacing the CMOS battery is generally safe when achieved rigorously, there is a danger of damaging the motherboard in case you apply too much pressure or by accident discharge static electricity.

Edit

Pub: 10 Aug 2025 10:25 UTC

Views: 6