Your,Computer,Can,amp,#39,Keep computer Your Computer Can't Keep Time
----------------------------------------------------------Permission is granted for the below article to forward,reprint, distribute, use for ezine, newsletter, website,offer as free bonus or part of a product for sale as longas no changes a Gone are those times when the companies and the organisations didn't need a hi-tech system to handle them. Owing to the considerable increase in the business sector and thus, an enormous increase in the complexity of the organisational struc
----------------------------------------------------------Permission is granted for the below article to forward,reprint, distribute, use for ezine, newsletter, website,offer as free bonus or part of a product for sale as longas no changes are made and the byline, copyright, and theresource box below is included. ----------------------------------------------------------Your Computer Can't Keep Time By Stephen BucaroA computer needs a certain amount of information tooperate; for example, the date and time, the amount ofmemory installed, the number of drives and theirconfiguration, and so on. In the early days of computers,either the user typed in this information each time thecomputer started, or it was set using DIP switches andjumpers. Today, computers store this information in a CMOSchip that uses a small battery to retain the informationwhen the computer is shut off.CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) is type ofchip that consumes very little power; therefore, while thecomputer is turned off, the battery discharges very slowly. Butthe battery will totally discharge if you leave yourcomputer turned off for a year or so. Even if you turnyour computer on every day, the battery is designed tolast only a couple of years. Occasionally a battery willfail prematurely.Today's plug-and-play computers can detect most of thenecessary settings, but if your CMOS battery is dead, yourcomputer will not be able to retain the date and time. Thecomputer will also lose any custom settings, for example,the boot sequence. If you set a password in CMOS, you maybe locked out of the computer. If the CMOS battery does fail,you might receive the message "System Configuration Lost"when you start the computer. It would be wise to record allthe CMOS settings as a precaution.To record the CMOS settings, watch for an on-screen promptwhen you first start your computer. The prompt tells you topress a key, usually the Del or F2, to enter CMOS. To enterthe CMOS configuration utility, you have to press theindicated key while the message is on the screen. After theCMOS configuration screen appears, follow the instructionsprovided to page through all the screens and record all thesettings.If your computer loses its time setting overnight, the CMOSbattery may not be holding a charge. The CMOS battery islocated inside the case on the motherboard. Changing thebattery is usually a job for a computer technician. In fact,a layman might not even be able to find the battery.If you want to locate the CMOS battery in your computer, beaware that a static discharge from your hands can damagecomponents inside the case. After taking proper precautions,open the case and look on the motherboard for a battery. Ifyou have a diagram of your motherboard, locate the batteryon the diagram first.Different motherboards use different types of batteries. Thebattery may be shaped like a barrel or a coin. Somemotherboards use a component that resembles a chip whichcontains the CMOS and the battery (made by DALLAS orBenchmarq). Batteries come in different voltages, so makesure you get an exact replacement.Sometimes the battery is mounted in a holder. Sometimes itis soldered to the motherboard. De-soldering and re-solderinga battery is usually a job for a computer technician. Aninexperienced solderer can cause a lot of damage. If youwant to try to do it yourself, first practice on an obsoletecircuit board. You may change your mind.If the CMOS battery has failed because it's too old, thismight be an opportunity to upgrade your motherboard. Whenupgrading a motherboard, the most important considerationsare to make sure the new motherboard is the correct formfactor for your case, and that the new motherboard has thecorrect bus connector slots for your expansion boards.----------------------------------------------------------Resource Box:Copyright(C)2002 Bucaro TecHelp. To learn how to maintainyour computer and use it more effectively to design a Website and make money on the Web visit http://bucarotechelp.comTo subscribe to Bucaro TecHelp Newsletter Send a blankemail to mailto:bucarotechelp-subscribe@topica.com---------------------------------------------------------- Article Tags: Keep Time, Cmos Battery
Your,Computer,Can,amp,#39,Keep