CMOS Battery

[emt_cookies]

I know a little bit about computers to get myself in trouble. My laptop is going slowly and I am not sure if it is worth replacing.

For the past two months, if I unplug it from a power source and then replug it and turn it on, the screen will flash bluish purple and beep now and then. Then if I restart it, it'll start normally. One time I have gotten an error message instead of the bluish purple flashing screen and it said the CMOS battery was dead.

It also will reset the date back to 2007.

My computer is from Feb 2008 so it probably is starting to die anyway. The motherboard was replaced last year as was the power block. It also has the same issue where the physical wifi switch is broken, but this time the switch broke off while it was on the on position.

The model number is a Gateway W350i. It runs Vista and has had a rough life from being dragged back and forth to school.

Anyway, do laptops have physical batteries that can be replaced like a desktop has? It's annoying when Firefox freaks out about security certificates because I forgot to reset the date.

[Der Cute]

All mobos have this.

YOu'd have to take the whole back plate off (lots of screws) to find battery----you could go to mfg or dig hard online to find size and voltage.

then take backplate off and swap battery. I'd find a set of screwdrivers (tiny ones) a big piece of paper to lay the screws out correctly, instructions and new battery.

[lordlundar]

All mobos have this.

Yup. The CMOS battery is used for long term storage for baseline info like date and settings. Stuff that needs to by dynamic so it can be changed but still needs to be saved. Essentially BIOS setting are used.

Now whether it's in a socket or directly soldered to the mobo is another question altogether. Don't laugh, I've seen it.

[Amadan]

Judging by this link for the <supposed> replacement part, it shouldn't be a particularly painful job. According to this service guide (scroll down to the bit it says "Download >> To download the file, please, click here ! << Download", the battery should be located under the keyboard.

From what I can tell this is correct for your series of machine, I'm at home at the moment so I can't look it up on our work intranet. I'll try and remember to look when I'm back in as we have access to most of the disassemble guides directly from manufacturer although if it's not sold in the UK it's a bit hit and miss.

If not the correct guide it's probably worth looking under the keyboard after first checking the access hatches on the underside of the machine.

A good tip I find to remove the keyboard without wrecking the plastics is to use an old credit card or other thin piece of plastic to pry instead of a screwdriver.

Yup. The CMOS battery is used for long term storage for baseline info like date and settings. Stuff that needs to by dynamic so it can be changed but still needs to be saved. Essentially BIOS setting are used.

Now whether it's in a socket or directly soldered to the mobo is another question altogether. Don't laugh, I've seen it.

Which is about as useful as the laptops using eprom to store major BIOS settings such as passwords. Gah! I think we're up to 10 laptops in the last year we've had to send away for "repair" because some sh*t has set a BIOS password on a display unit and that's not counting the ones I've managed to short out the correct pins to clear.

[underemployeed]

I recommend using scotch tape to hold the screws you remove to a piece of paper or cardboard and labeling where they go, I never managed to re-assemble my laptop but most of that was due to not wanting to buy a new screen for have the cost of new laptop.

Amadan, when do you think people will learn to set the BIOS password on display units before making them a display unit, so punk kids can't have fun?

[Amadan]

I recommend using scotch tape to hold the screws you remove to a piece of paper or cardboard and labeling where they go, I never managed to re-assemble my laptop but most of that was due to not wanting to buy a new screen for have the cost of new laptop.

Amadan, when do you think people will learn to set the BIOS password on display units before making them a display unit, so punk kids can't have fun?

I've even seen people take photos, print them out and stick the screws onto the same screw in the picture. Personally I just lay them out on a work bench in order, top to bottom and left the right working a layer at a time. It takes up a fair amount of space but folk now know I get stabby if someone touches something.

You'd think that setting a bios password to a store default would be a good idea but we're not allowed. Apparently the general consensus is that when selling off display people wouldn't take them off, possibly a fair point as some staff can't even work out how to system restore them before selling off display.

A while back someone sold a tablet with porn on it (on display they are attached to a wifi connection with poor filtering) to a granmother buying it for a 6 year old. We were so lucky it didn't get to the papers etc. As you can imagine I wasn't happy - it takes 2 minutes to restore but the salesperson never even bothered telling us let alone asking us, apparently they "didn't think there could be a problem with selling a tablet off display loaded up with demo os, demo software and demo media".

Grrr!

[protege]

I've even seen people take photos, print them out and stick the screws onto the same screw in the picture. Personally I just lay them out on a work bench in order, top to bottom and left the right working a layer at a time. It takes up a fair amount of space but folk now know I get stabby if someone touches something.

And *that,* is why I don't let people use my tools or my workshop Sure, the place is usually a mess, but there's a method to the mess

I've always tried to keep the nuts and bolts, along with other parts, from one project in close proximity to whatever they came out of. Similar bolts are grouped together--it's easier, at least for me, to keep track of them. I also have several of those organizers with the little drawers. Some of these contain parts for various locomotives (helpful if I have more than one 'in the shop' at the time, like when I was rewiring a pair of E units last year), model car bits, and other easily-lost (and annoyingly hard-to-replace) items.

Anyway, back to CMOS batteries. I don't know about laptops, so I can't really comment on them. I do know that many desktop PC boards have a socket somewhere. A little gentle 'persuasion' with a jeweler's screwdriver (sets of these are available at the hardware store or hobby shop) is usually enough to release the battery from its socket. Locally, I've found that Radio Shack stocks many of these batteries. Soldered-on batteries suck. If you have the equipment, you can replace these yourself, but it's a pain in the ass.

[Der Cute]

I've removed batteries (FYI size of a large nickle!) with some small flathead screwdrivers, or even the cover of a pen. As flat as you can get.

I've also noticed that the larger the screw, the closer it is to the outside of the unit. That's why I said piece of paper, lay your screws out, and pay attention!!!!

Honestly, most batteries don't die this early. Take a look (maybe camera zoom) and a pic for us. Batteries in Desktops last for YEARS, and in my laptop experience, also years. You might have a short, or some oddball part that keeps draining it. Or, just a plain crappy battery.

Show us before and after pics!

[Blade_Raver]

Just researched the Gateway w350i. The battery is proprietary. Good luck!

[lordlundar]

Just researched the Gateway w350i. The battery is proprietary. Good luck!

The main battery would, but a CMOS battery? I'll grant it's not impossible, just really rare.

This picture should be the motherboard with the CMOS battery circled in red. Forgive the image size, it's the best one I could find.

[Blade_Raver]

Google searched "W350i" BIOS battery (BIOS battery = CMOS battery)

http://www.mcccomputers.com/shop/mot...s-battery.html

Looks like a round battery covered in plastic/tape and has a wire coming off of it with 2 pins attached.

However if I'm wrong and they trule are different, that pic you sent.. the battery looks like a CR2032. $3-5 at your local Walgreens/Wal-Mart/CVS/etc.

[wolfie]

Google searched "W350i" BIOS battery (BIOS battery = CMOS battery)

http://www.mcccomputers.com/shop/mot...s-battery.html

Looks like a round battery covered in plastic/tape and has a wire coming off of it with 2 pins attached.

However if I'm wrong and they trule are different, that pic you sent.. the battery looks like a CR2032. $3-5 at your local Walgreens/Wal-Mart/CVS/etc.

The fancy shrink-wrapped battery with attached wire (my previous laptop, a Thinkpad, had a similar type of CMOS battery) probably has a CR2032 inside, but if the original part is available, get it instead of trying to make your own. If it uses a generic CR2032, don't cheap out - get a recognizable brand name instead of a no-name part. Lithium batteries are supposed to have a 10 year shelf life, but the cheap "Phar Ting-Duk" variety found in dollar stores can go dead in less than a year, and have a tendency to leak.

[Naaman]

For not losing screws - use a small nail to punch some holes in a piece of cardboard (cereal box is fine), insert screws into holes and label or draw 'plan' around them

Oh, and I was always taught to use a non-conductive thing to remove the battery as it reduces the risk of shorting

[thansal]

If the mobo was replaced last year it shouldn't be the CMOS battery. I would contact where you got the mobo replaced before futzing around (especially as there should be at least a 1 year parts warranty).

[emt_cookies]

Well, the motherboard was refurbished so we didn't really have any say in that matter since we had the extended warranty so they fixed it.

http://www.mcccomputers.com/shop/mot...s-battery.html

That battery looks weird. At least I have an idea of what to look for though. It just seems kind of like that set up would take up more room than having a spot on the motherboard like my old desktop has.