Computer Battery

[Richard]

Using a Dell computer I can't start up without the message "System Battery low - strike F1 to start"
Or words to that effect.

I can't imagine the battery really is low but am puzzled by the appearance of the message.

any ideas?

[Kevin]

Hi Richard

Sounds like your cmos battery on your motherboard is low, so your bios isn't able to keep its info due to the lack of power. If this is the case, you should be able to fix this by getting a new cmos battery , easily obtained from almost anywhere that sells batteries, It will be a 3volt CR2032 lithium battery. Replace it by carefully prying up from the motherboard then snap the new one in. It would be better to obtain the new one first before removing the old one, so as to replace it immediately, or you may have to reset the CMOS (Complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor) if it is pulled more than 2-3 minutes.
The battery is easily located on the motherboard its a flat disk type approximately 3/4 inch diameter

[Richard]

Thanks Kevin !!

May try this - jut wondered if it happened equally on all makes of computer?

[Kevin]

this is not unique to any particular motherboards, it is the same with any other battery in that some last longer than others. Best part about this is its a very easy to replace and also very cheap.

[Richard]

Thanks Kevin,

I have changed the battery now - costing 90p!
Had to set the time in 'set-up' before it would let me start the computer and all seems fine now.

many thanks !!

[Kevin]

If the date/time are consistently going out of whack, then its a sure sign the CMOS battery is weak.

Glad to hear you fixed the problem Richard.

[Kevin]

Hello PatishkaVaga
You may well have to reset the BIOS if the battery has been dead for a long time, Just change the battery and see if you need to reset BIOS. Follow the instructions below to change battery on a Dell Dimension 8400
Please view the attachment for instructions to change battery on your model.

instructions to change CMOS batttery on a Dell Dimension 8400.pdf

(119.44 KiB) Downloaded 234 times

[Richard]

Presumably you get presented with a menu-option to reset the 'Bios' to factory default, via the F2 button, if the Bios settings have indeed been 'lost', and this would happen when you switch the computer on and should be very straightforward?