Battery Change

[LWHiway]

Evening,

I'm sure it's time for a change. This system was put together sometime around mid-1999 or so and questioning whether a battery change should be done.

As yet I've seen no problems with the clock or descrepts on startup etc.

Should a new bat be installed now or is it ok to wait a bit longer for the clock or power indications be present?

If so, what specifics would I need to be aware of when swapping said battery? BIOS?

And how would I remedy same?

TIA jef

Win98se
400 megahertz AMD K6-2 w/3DNow!
BIOS: Award Software International, Inc. 4.51 PG 03/08/99

[GaryRouth]

No need to change it until you notice symptoms of a dying battery (needing to enter Bios Setup all the time, settings not staying set).

But you could buy an extra to have it handy for when the time comes (saves time and headache). Just copy down the battery model & get an exact match at your local computer store. Should only cost about $1.50 USD.
. . . Gary

[juppy]

I agree with GaryRouth on this. You'll know when the battery goes dead. For one thing, your clock won't keep the right time after you turn the machine off. I'm still using a 150MHz machine (don't know when it was built for sure) but I've never changed the battery in it yet. *knocks on wood*

[LWHiway]

Thanks Gents, I have one at the ready.

But was wondering if there is a thread archived here, which would explain the wheres and hows of copying bios settings and then resetting same.

thanks jef

[GaryRouth]

No particularly easy way to copy the settings, except with pen and paper. No OS has loaded yet while in the Bios Setup.

One of the ways that some websites use that do a lot of motherboard reviews is to use a digital camera, and use those pics for bios screen shots in the reviews [not an elegant solution, but it works]. You could print them out for quick reference.

If you're interested in the various Bios Settings themselves, some resources might start with:
1) your motherboard manual
2) david risley's bios article here at pc mech http://www.pcmech.com/byopc/step/22/
3) Adrian's Bios Optimization Guide http://www.rojakpot.com
4) Lost Circuits Bios Guide http://www.lostcircuits.com/advice/bios2/1.shtml

Best of luck
. . . Gary

[LWHiway]

Thanks GR, Juppy.

jef

[reboot]

Don't bother copying any settings.
Start the computer, remove battery carefully!!! Make sure you don't drop it, or touch ANYTHING except the battery.
Insert new battery (see dire warnings above)!
Done.
You can hotswap a battery with no trouble, because once the computer is running, it's not in the circuit doing anything.
I don't recommend you do this with your $300 Radeon video card though

[LWHiway]

I've read of this before and may do so. Although due to room and placement of the battery to the extreme lower left bottom of the MOBO, big fingers may be a certain path to ground. lol

thanks Reboot. jef