BIOS forgets settings when disconnected from mains

I've got an old (built approximately four years ago) Shuttle SN45G
which I've just booted up after it being left in storage for a few
months. On the first boot I found that all the BIOS settings had been
erased/forgotten, so I reconfigured them all and everything worked
fine. However, if I power down the machine and disconnect it from the
mains all the settings are erased again (this doesn't happen if I just
switch off the machine, only if I disconnect it from the mains power
supply as well).

I'm guessing the battery on the motherboard might have gone - is this
likely to be the case? If so, is it easy to source and replace new
batteries?,

(I'm running Windows 2000 with all the relevant drivers, though I
don't think the OS is the cause of the problem).

Thanks in advance for any help/pointers.

I should add that I haven't updated the BIOS at any point, nor have I
disconnected the machine from the mains until it has fully shutdown
and powered off.

Paul wrote:
> I should add that I haven't updated the BIOS at any point, nor have I
> disconnected the machine from the mains until it has fully shutdown
> and powered off.

Replace the battery.

Jon

On 3/28/2010 10:23 AM, Paul wrote:
> I've got an old (built approximately four years ago) Shuttle SN45G
> which I've just booted up after it being left in storage for a few
> months. On the first boot I found that all the BIOS settings had been
> erased/forgotten, so I reconfigured them all and everything worked
> fine. However, if I power down the machine and disconnect it from the
> mains all the settings are erased again (this doesn't happen if I just
> switch off the machine, only if I disconnect it from the mains power
> supply as well).
>
> I'm guessing the battery on the motherboard might have gone - is this
> likely to be the case? If so, is it easy to source and replace new
> batteries?,
>
> (I'm running Windows 2000 with all the relevant drivers, though I
> don't think the OS is the cause of the problem).
>
> Thanks in advance for any help/pointers.

IMHO the battery theory is 99%+ certain to be the correct one. It has
always worked out that way for me.

As for the battery type, it is called out in your manual. Probably a CR2032
since this is the most common in modern motherboards. It should be dead
simple to replace.

On 28 Mar, 15:36, John McGaw <Nob...@Nowh.ere> wrote:
> On 3/28/2010 10:23 AM, Paul wrote:
>
>
>
> > I've got an old (built approximately four years ago) Shuttle SN45G
> > which I've just booted up after it being left in storage for a few
> > months. On the first boot I found that all the BIOS settings had been
> > erased/forgotten, so I reconfigured them all and everything worked
> > fine. However, if I power down the machine and disconnect it from the
> > mains all the settings are erased again (this doesn't happen if I just
> > switch off the machine, only if I disconnect it from the mains power
> > supply as well).
>
> > I'm guessing the battery on the motherboard might have gone - is this
> > likely to be the case? If so, is it easy to source and replace new
> > batteries?,
>
> > (I'm running Windows 2000 with all the relevant drivers, though I
> > don't think the OS is the cause of the problem).
>
> > Thanks in advance for any help/pointers.
>
> IMHO the battery theory is 99%+ certain to be the correct one. It has
> always worked out that way for me.
>
> As for the battery type, it is called out in your manual. Probably a CR2032
> since this is the most common in modern motherboards. It should be dead
> simple to replace.

Thanks, I thought it would be the battery but I haven't prodded about
inside a machine for a long time. I can't find the battery on the
motherboard so I guess I'll have to dredge through the manual,
assuming it's still available online.

Paul wrote:
> On 28 Mar, 15:36, John McGaw <Nob...@Nowh.ere> wrote:
>> On 3/28/2010 10:23 AM, Paul wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>> I've got an old (built approximately four years ago) Shuttle SN45G
>>> which I've just booted up after it being left in storage for a few
>>> months. On the first boot I found that all the BIOS settings had been
>>> erased/forgotten, so I reconfigured them all and everything worked
>>> fine. However, if I power down the machine and disconnect it from the
>>> mains all the settings are erased again (this doesn't happen if I just
>>> switch off the machine, only if I disconnect it from the mains power
>>> supply as well).
>>> I'm guessing the battery on the motherboard might have gone - is this
>>> likely to be the case? If so, is it easy to source and replace new
>>> batteries?,
>>> (I'm running Windows 2000 with all the relevant drivers, though I
>>> don't think the OS is the cause of the problem).
>>> Thanks in advance for any help/pointers.
>> IMHO the battery theory is 99%+ certain to be the correct one. It has
>> always worked out that way for me.
>>
>> As for the battery type, it is called out in your manual. Probably a CR2032
>> since this is the most common in modern motherboards. It should be dead
>> simple to replace.
>
> Thanks, I thought it would be the battery but I haven't prodded about
> inside a machine for a long time. I can't find the battery on the
> motherboard so I guess I'll have to dredge through the manual,
> assuming it's still available online.


here is the manual

http://download.shuttle.eu/Downloads.../SN45G/Manual/


but you won't need it

the cmos battery looks like a nickel it's is very obvious

it's near the cpu

On 3/28/2010 12:04 PM, philo wrote:
snip...
>
>
> here is the manual
>
> http://download.shuttle.eu/Downloads.../SN45G/Manual/
>
>
> but you won't need it
>
> the cmos battery looks like a nickel it's is very obvious
>
> it's near the cpu

But since you called your power source the mains you may not be
nickel-aware. Look for something shiny and 20mm in diameter. Think UK 20p
coin and you won't go far wrong.

"John McGaw" <Nobody@Nowh.ere> wrote in message
news:pjOrn.122578$Up1.42400@en-nntp-09.dc1.easynews.com...
> On 3/28/2010 12:04 PM, philo wrote:
> snip...
>>
>>
>> here is the manual
>>
>> http://download.shuttle.eu/Downloads.../SN45G/Manual/
>>
>>
>> but you won't need it
>>
>> the cmos battery looks like a nickel it's is very obvious
>>
>> it's near the cpu
>
> But since you called your power source the mains you may not be
> nickel-aware. Look for something shiny and 20mm in diameter. Think UK 20p
> coin and you won't go far wrong.

10p
--
Tinkerer

John McGaw wrote:
> On 3/28/2010 12:04 PM, philo wrote:
>
> But since you called your power source the mains you may not be
> nickel-aware.

I was not aware of any pondial difference in the term used to
refer to the standard domestic electrical supply. What is it
called in the US?

pimpom wrote:
> John McGaw wrote:
>> On 3/28/2010 12:04 PM, philo wrote:
>>
>> But since you called your power source the mains you may not be
>> nickel-aware.
>
> I was not aware of any pondial difference in the term used to
> refer to the standard domestic electrical supply. What is it
> called in the US?
>
>

Really just a small but real difference.

In the US it's simply referred to as the "main power"

or perhaps AC power outlet..or "unplug it from the wall" etc...but there
is no "universal" standard term that I am aware of.

The Europeans (as far as I've noticed) seem to be pretty consistent in
calling it "the mains".

philo wrote:
> pimpom wrote:
>> John McGaw wrote:
>>> On 3/28/2010 12:04 PM, philo wrote:
>>>
>>> But since you called your power source the mains you may not
>>> be
>>> nickel-aware.
>>
>> I was not aware of any pondial difference in the term used to
>> refer to the standard domestic electrical supply. What is it
>> called in the US?
>>
>>
>
> Really just a small but real difference.
>
> In the US it's simply referred to as the "main power"
>
> or perhaps AC power outlet..or "unplug it from the wall"
> etc...but
> there is no "universal" standard term that I am aware of.
>
> The Europeans (as far as I've noticed) seem to be pretty
> consistent in
> calling it "the mains".

I see. Thanks for the clarification. As a non-native user of
English, living literally thousands of miles from any place where
it's natively spoken, I'm familiar with many of the differences
between BrE and AmE, but not with all. I read and post in the
electronics NGs, but never noticed that Americans/USans don't use
the term "mains". I find it quite convenient: mains, mains power,
mains outlet, mains voltage, etc.

pimpom wrote:
> philo wrote:
>> pimpom wrote:
>>> John McGaw wrote:
>>>> On 3/28/2010 12:04 PM, philo wrote:
>>>>
>>>> But since you called your power source the mains you may not
>>>> be
>>>> nickel-aware.
>>> I was not aware of any pondial difference in the term used to
>>> refer to the standard domestic electrical supply. What is it
>>> called in the US?
>>>
>>>
>> Really just a small but real difference.
>>
>> In the US it's simply referred to as the "main power"
>>
>> or perhaps AC power outlet..or "unplug it from the wall"
>> etc...but
>> there is no "universal" standard term that I am aware of.
>>
>> The Europeans (as far as I've noticed) seem to be pretty
>> consistent in
>> calling it "the mains".
>
> I see. Thanks for the clarification. As a non-native user of
> English, living literally thousands of miles from any place where
> it's natively spoken, I'm familiar with many of the differences
> between BrE and AmE, but not with all. I read and post in the
> electronics NGs, but never noticed that Americans/USans don't use
> the term "mains". I find it quite convenient: mains, mains power,
> mains outlet, mains voltage, etc.
>
>


funny how there are those small differences


How good is your English?


Why is it that first you can chop a tree down...

then later, you can chop it up?

On Fri, 2 Apr 2010 16:22:41 +0530, "pimpom"
<pimpom@invalid.invalid> wrote:

>philo wrote:
>> pimpom wrote:
>>> John McGaw wrote:
>>>> On 3/28/2010 12:04 PM, philo wrote:
>>>>
>>>> But since you called your power source the mains you may not
>>>> be
>>>> nickel-aware.
>>>
>>> I was not aware of any pondial difference in the term used to
>>> refer to the standard domestic electrical supply. What is it
>>> called in the US?
>>>
>>>
>>
>> Really just a small but real difference.
>>
>> In the US it's simply referred to as the "main power"
>>
>> or perhaps AC power outlet..or "unplug it from the wall"
>> etc...but
>> there is no "universal" standard term that I am aware of.
>>
>> The Europeans (as far as I've noticed) seem to be pretty
>> consistent in
>> calling it "the mains".
>
>I see. Thanks for the clarification. As a non-native user of
>English, living literally thousands of miles from any place where
>it's natively spoken, I'm familiar with many of the differences
>between BrE and AmE, but not with all. I read and post in the
>electronics NGs, but never noticed that Americans/USans don't use
>the term "mains". I find it quite convenient: mains, mains power,
>mains outlet, mains voltage, etc.
>

I'm American and use the term mains, though in a
conversation with someone who has no electrical inclination
in the US I'd probably use the term "AC line" or "wall
outlet".

On 3/30/2010 2:44 PM, Tinkerer wrote:
> "John McGaw"<Nobody@Nowh.ere> wrote in message
> news:pjOrn.122578$Up1.42400@en-nntp-09.dc1.easynews.com...
>> On 3/28/2010 12:04 PM, philo wrote:
>> snip...
>>>
>>>
>>> here is the manual
>>>
>>> http://download.shuttle.eu/Downloads.../SN45G/Manual/
>>>
>>>
>>> but you won't need it
>>>
>>> the cmos battery looks like a nickel it's is very obvious
>>>
>>> it's near the cpu
>>
>> But since you called your power source the mains you may not be
>> nickel-aware. Look for something shiny and 20mm in diameter. Think UK 20p
>> coin and you won't go far wrong.
>
> 10p

I thought that a 20p coin at 21mm would be a better comparison than a 10p
coin at 24mm. The actual cell is probably 20mm in diameter give-or-take a bit.

"John McGaw" <Nobody@Nowh.ere> wrote in message
news:I43un.527635$FK3.186365@en-nntp-06.dc1.easynews.com...
> On 3/30/2010 2:44 PM, Tinkerer wrote:
>> "John McGaw"<Nobody@Nowh.ere> wrote in message
>> news:pjOrn.122578$Up1.42400@en-nntp-09.dc1.easynews.com...
>>> On 3/28/2010 12:04 PM, philo wrote:
>>> snip...
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> here is the manual
>>>>
>>>> http://download.shuttle.eu/Downloads.../SN45G/Manual/
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> but you won't need it
>>>>
>>>> the cmos battery looks like a nickel it's is very obvious
>>>>
>>>> it's near the cpu
>>>
>>> But since you called your power source the mains you may not be
>>> nickel-aware. Look for something shiny and 20mm in diameter. Think UK
>>> 20p
>>> coin and you won't go far wrong.
>>
>> 10p
>
> I thought that a 20p coin at 21mm would be a better comparison than a 10p
> coin at 24mm. The actual cell is probably 20mm in diameter give-or-take a
> bit.

I hadn't measured, it just looked more right. You are quite correct
though, now I check size wise the 20 is nearer.