cmos battery

[cj]

On Sat, 2007-06-16 at 09:21 +1000, James Takac wrote:
> On Friday 15 June 2007 23:22:52 debiani386 at gmail.com wrote:
> > On Fri June 15 2007 7:12 pm, norman wrote:
> > > < snip >
> > >
> > > > > > Does this message mean anything disastrous, what adverse effects do
> > > > > > I need to look out for and is there any way I can check to see if
> > > > > > the message is valid? Please advise.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Norman
> > > >
> > > > exactly. This battery helps the mobo keep time via the rtc (real time
> > > > clock). So you'll likely find the clock will be out untill you replace
> > > > this battery. Also any changes you made in the bios wont be remembered
> > > > once you power down until it's replaced. it's no biggy
> > >
> > > Thank you both for your comments. The odd thing is that the date and
> > > time, which I expected to be affected, seem to be OK. Also, I changed a
> > > setting in the bios about 2 weeks ago and that has not changed. So I am
> > > wondering whether, for some reason, the message is false.
> > >
> > > Norman
> >
> > well, if your booting to ubuntu, i think ubuntu syncs the date and time
> > with another server
> >
> >  --cj
> 
> Hi cj
> 
> Ubuntu doesn't do that by default it seems. I had to setup the clock to sync 
> the time with an online server myself on my pc's. A comment in a prev email 
> caught my eye though. If the power lead is left plugged in when the pc is 
> powered down, it's possible the mobo is drawing enough power to keep the cmos 
> memory intact. If the power lead is removed for a while after powering down 
> and the bios still has the correct time after powering back up later, then 
> the battery is still good. The contancts where the baterry sits could be 
> examined for any signs of tarnishing as well. Any tarnishing (oxidization) 
> tends to interfere with conductivity and could be easily fixed with a light 
> rub with some fine grade sandpaper, possibly even one of those ink erasers, 
> the one with the grey end.
> 
> James
> 
> 
i dont know, the mobo's ive worked on dont seem to do that. I used to
"play" with some of my schoolmates computers in which i would remove the
cmos battery WITH the power plugged in and connected to the motherboard
(dont EVER do that, unplug the power from the motherboard if you dont
have an antistatic pad..this provides for better grounding). So when
they would power up there system, all the changes they made would be
lost.

I almost got in trouble a few times doing that.

--cj