Any special procedures I should know about or do I just pop the old one out and stick the new one in? Computer running or off?
Also, I’m going to update the BIOS from the Intel website. (It’s an Intel motherboard) Anything tricky about this? I’ve made an emergency repair disc. Anything else?
Thanks in advance!
Jake
Definitely off. And unplug the computer power cord. Trying to do something like this with the computer on would be incredibly stupid.
Note which side is up (or whatever) on the old battery. (And for small cells, the side that “looks like positive” is actually the negative.)
Since you don’t know the above, I think you should let someone else flash the bios for you. It’s not something for a person at your level. While 90+% of the time it goes just fine, you need to know some key basics in case it goes wrong.
Further to ftg’s excellent advice:
Always hold the battery by the edge.
Before replacing the battery, make a note of all the BIOS settings. On paper. If you’ve got a printer attached to the parallel port, you should be able to get screen dumps by pressing PrtScn. You’ll have to put them all back manually afterwards.
Don’t flash the BIOS - or have it done for you, which in your case I would recommend - unless you absolutely need to do so. If it ain’t broken don’t fix it!
And how, exactly, do I get to the screen with the BIOS settings?
Screen dumps I know about. And I have a parallel port with a printer attached.
Everything works fine at this time. Instead of buying a new computer I’ve decided to upgrade my present one, which is 5 years old. (New hard drive, additional 512 of memory to bring it up to 1 meg, new CMOS battery, and eventually a new monitor. Also, I have a Intel P4 Processor)
I won’t flash the BIOS as per your recommendation. Mine is dated 2002. Do I need to at this time?
Read the documentation that came with your new BIOS (it was either on the web page you downloaded the BIOS from, or in a README file that got downloaded along with the BIOS). It will tell you what bugs were fixed. If none of the bugs was a problem for you, then there is no need to upgrade your BIOS.
When you first turn on your computer, watch for the screen that comes up before it loads the OS. Usually it flashes on for just a couple of seconds, so you have to be fast.
It will tell you which key to press to enter Setup mode. Usually F2, F10, Del or Esc, depending on your BIOS manufacturer. Press the key as soon as the screen appears. If you see the Windows startup, you’ve missed it.
Once you’re in setup mode, navigate to each of the menus and write or print all of the settings.
I’ve never flashed a BIOS and had my settings overwritten. In fact, some flash upgrade programs specifically mention that they don’t overwrite or reset the settings. Still, it won’t hurt to make a paper backup of your settings, just in case they do get overwritten.
Flashing the BIOS won’t change your settings, but replacing the battery will reset everything to the defaults.
Thanks everyone, you’ve been a great help!
I’m going to take your advice and leave well enough alone. I won’t flash the BIOS and won’t change the battery until the current one dies. (How do you tell?)
Jake
You will know when your battery dies because whenever you reset the system, the system clock will be reset.
Your computer will boot with errors or not boot at all. That’s when the battery’s DEAD.
Not so much, at least if the motherboard is of fairly recent manufacture. These days, the only thing the battery does is keep the clock running when the power is turned off. Everything else is stored in nonvolatile flash memory.
On, otherwise you will have to reset the CMOS settings. Unless it is a soldered in battery.