Invalid configuration screen at startup

[Steamboat]

I just purchased a refurbished Inspiron 9100 laptop from Dell. At startup it says "invalid configuration detected" and "date and time not set" then asks you to press F2 for setup or F1 to skip. If you press F1 it continues on and the computer appears to boot and function just fine, but that screen shows up every time you start the machine. If you press F2 and run setup you can change the date and time but the next time you boot up it will be wrong again. Dell tech support has not had much luck yet, they are researching it. Have run diagnostics, removed and reset the battery, memory, hard drive, etc. Updated the BIOS, also. Any ideas? Warren

[mairving]

You say that you have removed and reset the battery but have you replaced the battery. It appears that the CMOS battery is probably bad.

[rjfvillarosa]

Originally Posted by mairving You say that you have removed and reset the battery but have you replaced the battery. It appears that the CMOS battery is probably bad.

Try leaving the power cable plugged in to the laptop and the wall outlet, then restart the machine and see what happens, it may still give power to the motherboard even though the machine is switched off and if it does it will confirm what mairving is saying, what he is saying does sound right.

[Steamboat]

Thanks, I think Dell finally figured out that what you are saying is right. They told my son that they will be sinding a tech to replace the "backup" battery, which I assume is the CMOS battery. Thanks for your help!