CMOS battery/checksum error

Jurgen · 5th Dec 2002, 11:07 PM

I have this old Philips P2120 which I wanted to re-use for my kid.
But at startup I got the error message: CMOS battery/checksum error
Can I do anything to get this PC running again? If so, then what?

Can any-one help me out?

Jurgen

Adrian Wong · 6th Dec 2002, 01:48 PM

Hello Jurgen,

What that error message means is your CMOS battery is out of juice. The only remedy is to replace the battery, which is often a CR232 battery.

If you can't get hold of a new battery, you can still use the computer. What the battery keeps alive is the CMOS information. Without the battery, the BIOS will be reset to default values everytime you boot.

All you need to do is set the BIOS to the configuration that will allow it to work (i.e. IDE device settings, etc..) and then load up your operating system. As long as you don't power off, the computer should run just fine. But once you power off and start up again, you will have to reconfigure your BIOS again.

Hope that helps you some!

slyta · 31st May 2005, 12:07 AM

Hello,

We got a similar problem with a Philips p3230. The booting process stops with “CMOS battery failure” and “Run setup!”. We are now trying to manually restore the BIOS (Philips ROM BIOS Version 2.33) settings but can't find any bios setup program. We have tried most of the CTRL/+ALT+… combinations with no success. We are able to access a few commands at the consol (PROM Monitor) but could not find any information about how to use them.

Any help with making it boot into DOS on the harddrive would be really appreciated!

Thanks!

CHAILEE · 31st May 2005, 10:35 AM

Cmos battery is low

change it

streem · 31st May 2005, 08:14 PM

approx how much a cmos battery would cost

zy · 31st May 2005, 09:04 PM

i forgot how much ir cost.

but you can easily get it .. esp. in photoshops or watch shops

even my college's "minimart" sell them

slyta · 31st May 2005, 10:42 PM

Even if I change the battery I have to restore the BIOS settings. My plan was to first figure out how to make the computer boot again. Even if it won't be able to save the settings due to low battery level. If I manage that, I will then try to find/change the battery.

So is this the battery (see attached picture)?

zy · 31st May 2005, 11:03 PM

no thats not.. thats the buzzer

kayFX · 2nd Jun 2005, 10:18 AM

the CMOS battery look like this...

PowerSlide · 4th Jun 2005, 04:54 AM

laugh aside..

wana ask something about the battery..

how long the battery can last b4 we need to change it?

5th Dec 2002, 11:07 PM	#1 (permalink)
Jurgen Newbie Join Date: 5 Dec 2002 Posts: 1 Reputation: 0 Rep Power: 0	CMOS battery/checksum error I have this old Philips P2120 which I wanted to re-use for my kid. But at startup I got the error message: CMOS battery/checksum error Can I do anything to get this PC running again? If so, then what? Can any-one help me out? Jurgen

6th Dec 2002, 01:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
Adrian Wong Da Boss Join Date: 10 Oct 2002 Location: In front of my ASUS F8V notebook! Posts: 30,382 Reputation: 3147 Rep Power: 68	Hello Jurgen, What that error message means is your CMOS battery is out of juice. The only remedy is to replace the battery, which is often a CR232 battery. If you can't get hold of a new battery, you can still use the computer. What the battery keeps alive is the CMOS information. Without the battery, the BIOS will be reset to default values everytime you boot. All you need to do is set the BIOS to the configuration that will allow it to work (i.e. IDE device settings, etc..) and then load up your operating system. As long as you don't power off, the computer should run just fine. But once you power off and start up again, you will have to reconfigure your BIOS again. Hope that helps you some! __________________ Dr. Adrian Wong Tech ARP \| Blog @ Tech ARP \| The Free Trade Zone DYKT : The only offshore account I have is at the sand bank? We need PROGRAMMERS and TECHNICAL WRITERS! Contact us if you are a hot shot programmer or technical writer! My items for sale : 50x SD Card \| Memory Stick PRO \| Cyclone Energy Saver \| Seiko SS watch \| Tiger/Carlsberg beer jugs \| Travel Speakers \| Motorola V600 \| Nokia N90 SOLD! \| New Lowepro Mini Trekker AW Other items for sale @ the FTZ : Zalman CNPS9500 LED @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7700 Cu @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7000 Cu @ $20 \| Swarovski bracelet watches \| Dell 17" LCD \| Hi-Fi speakers \| English DIVX movies \| HP LaserJet toners! \| Office chairs

31st May 2005, 08:14 PM	#5 (permalink)
streem I'm a regular Join Date: 13 Apr 2003 Posts: 269 Reputation: 6 Rep Power: 6	approx how much a cmos battery would cost __________________ When U are lonely, I wish U love. When U are down, I wish U joy. When U are troubled, I wish U peace. When things are complicated, I wish U simple beauty. When things are chaotic, I wish U inner silence. When things look empty, I wish U hope.

31st May 2005, 09:04 PM	#6 (permalink)
zy Dead Join Date: 16 Dec 2002 Location: Penang,Malaysia - Buffalo,New York Posts: 12,884 Reputation: 2064 Rep Power: 39	i forgot how much ir cost. but you can easily get it .. esp. in photoshops or watch shops even my college's "minimart" sell them __________________ current: P4-3.2\|P4P800-Deluxe\|512x4-DDR\|NV6600 WD2500KS\|WD5000AAKS\|AD-7191A\|1860NX\|Z2300\|MP470 home (malaysia): P4C-2.6@3.1-StockHSF\|AI7\|256x2-BT-D43\|512x2-DT-D43\|A9600XT-VIVO WD1200JB\|2xWD2500KS\|DRU-800A\|DVD-E616P\|LTR-52327S\|152x\|V.S.4121\|iP1500 laptop: M1210\|T7200\|2GBDDR667\|160GB5K160\|GO7400

31st May 2005, 11:03 PM	#8 (permalink)
zy Dead Join Date: 16 Dec 2002 Location: Penang,Malaysia - Buffalo,New York Posts: 12,884 Reputation: 2064 Rep Power: 39	no thats not.. thats the buzzer __________________ current: P4-3.2\|P4P800-Deluxe\|512x4-DDR\|NV6600 WD2500KS\|WD5000AAKS\|AD-7191A\|1860NX\|Z2300\|MP470 home (malaysia): P4C-2.6@3.1-StockHSF\|AI7\|256x2-BT-D43\|512x2-DT-D43\|A9600XT-VIVO WD1200JB\|2xWD2500KS\|DRU-800A\|DVD-E616P\|LTR-52327S\|152x\|V.S.4121\|iP1500 laptop: M1210\|T7200\|2GBDDR667\|160GB5K160\|GO7400

31st May 2005, 12:07 AM	#3 (permalink)
slyta Newbie Join Date: 30 May 2005 Posts: 2 Reputation: 0 Rep Power: 0	Hello, We got a similar problem with a Philips p3230. The booting process stops with “CMOS battery failure” and “Run setup!”. We are now trying to manually restore the BIOS (Philips ROM BIOS Version 2.33) settings but can't find any bios setup program. We have tried most of the CTRL/+ALT+… combinations with no success. We are able to access a few commands at the consol (PROM Monitor) but could not find any information about how to use them. Any help with making it boot into DOS on the harddrive would be really appreciated! Thanks!

31st May 2005, 10:35 AM	#4 (permalink)
CHAILEE Newbie Join Date: 31 May 2005 Posts: 3 Reputation: 0 Rep Power: 0	Cmos battery is low change it

4th Jun 2005, 04:54 AM	#10 (permalink)
PowerSlide Super Active Join Date: 28 Aug 2004 Location: Penang, Malaysia Posts: 1,402 Reputation: 871 Rep Power: 14	laugh aside.. wana ask something about the battery.. how long the battery can last b4 we need to change it?