What causes this? Please Help me...

[macnyak]

please hep me somebody please...

this Pc is just given to me.
every time i turn on my pc the system clock is on January 2005. I always reset the time into the current date and time. but if i turn it off and turn it on again its date is January 2005.

and i set somethings on CMOS like boot priorities. i set it as hard drive as 1st boot device then save the setting and restart the PC its ok but if i turn off the PC after 1 hour and turn it on again the first boot device is back to floppy drive.

the motherboard of my PC is color red but i dont know the manufacturer or the brand name. it uses AGP(32MB video card), 2 IDE ports. its doesnt have any SATA ports. the processor is Intel Celeron 2.26GHz. 512MB DDR1 PC333 memory.


i use the 2 IDE ports, 1 for Hard drive 20gig the other for DVD-Rom. Each IDE cable have 2 ports for devices but only 1 ports work. does it mean i must replace it with new IDE cable.


how can i play games on my PC? the only game that worked there is Red Alert 2. but i want to play games like NBA Live 2008. IRon Man, Hulk, Need for Speed Underground.

what will be the best thing that i should do? Upgrade or buy New board, and buy SATA hard drives? but i want to spend less coz im on a tight budget right now.

please help me. especially about the CMOS setting of the motherboard.


I always wanted to have a fast PC. should i just buy new parts to upgrade it abandon this PC and just invest and save money to buy and assemble a new PC.


Thanks and GOD bless...

[Bachstelze]

Sounds like a dead CMOS battery to me. Either replace it yourself, or get it done by your favourite computer reseller.

[macnyak]

Sounds like a dead CMOS battery to me. Either replace it yourself, or get it done by your favourite computer reseller.

is that it? thanks but you know..if i reset the date and time example from january 2005 to July 2008 and set the time. like for example 10:45am then restart the PC. all will be OK. correct time and date. and the time is running.. even if i use the PC for many hours. but if i turn it off,.. then leave the PC for couple of hours. then turn it on...

dates on January 2005, the 1st boot device is back to floppy drive.

how much does the CMOS battery will cost? can i update the CMOS? but how?

I don't have any floppy drives or drivers of the motherboard..

[tamoneya]

a couple of bucks. Typically it is a CR2302. Take a look on your mother board and you should see a circle slightly smaller than a quarter. Here is what the CR3202 looks like:

http://img.shoppydoo.com/uk/tp_products/296/1466580.jpg

[macnyak]

a couple of bucks. Typically it is a CR2302. Take a look on your mother board and you should see a circle slightly smaller than a quarter. Here is what the CR3202 looks like:

http://img.shoppydoo.com/uk/tp_products/296/1466580.jpg

does CMOS battery have a rechargeable version? how long will its charge last if i buy a new one?

[smalldog]

Is it really necessary to replace the battery. I have observed that everytime my booting with date 1970, but since I have configured the router with ntp. It will update the computer time with the time server after to PC is powerup. All the servers on my working data centre using same configuration. By this way, all the event logged can be sync together. Good luck

[tamoneya]

does CMOS battery have a rechargeable version? how long will its charge last if i buy a new one?

CMOS batteries typically last years. Im not certain if there is a rechargeable version but even if there was i wouldnt buy it. You will have to recharge it so infrequently that you will probably loose the charger.

[abgemacht]

1) Date/Time
I'd be willing to bet (as others have said) that your battery is dead. Replacing this isn't hard to do, although it probably isn't necessary, especially if you have your date/time automatically sync in some fashion.

2) Boot Options
Why are you doing this? Unless the boot order is causing problems, you shouldn't fool around with it. If it doesn't detect anything in the floppy drive, it will check the harddrive. This just gives you the option to boot from a different media.

3)Motherboard
Give this link a shot and see if it helps you determine what motherboard you have:
http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000504.htm

4)Ports not working
What do you mean by "only 1 ports work?" How have you determined this? Each cable such have a connector for the master and the slave. Are you familiar with how that works?

5) Games
How do the minimum system requirements compare to your system specs? If your computer meets the minimum requirements, you're good to go.

6) Faster Computer

There's no reason to have a computer that is faster than you need it to be. If all you want to do is play the games you listed, you probably won't need to make many upgrades at all.
I recommend going to newegg.com and looking around to get some ideas on price.

Hope that helps

[macnyak]

1) Date/Time
I'd be willing to bet (as others have said) that your battery is dead. Replacing this isn't hard to do, although it probably isn't necessary, especially if you have your date/time automatically sync in some fashion.

2) Boot Options
Why are you doing this? Unless the boot order is causing problems, you shouldn't fool around with it. If it doesn't detect anything in the floppy drive, it will check the harddrive. This just gives you the option to boot from a different media.

3)Motherboard
Give this link a shot and see if it helps you determine what motherboard you have:
http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000504.htm

4)Ports not working
What do you mean by "only 1 ports work?" How have you determined this? Each cable such have a connector for the master and the slave. Are you familiar with how that works?

5) Games
How do the minimum system requirements compare to your system specs? If your computer meets the minimum requirements, you're good to go.

6) Faster Computer

There's no reason to have a computer that is faster than you need it to be. If all you want to do is play the games you listed, you probably won't need to make many upgrades at all.
I recommend going to newegg.com and looking around to get some ideas on price.

Hope that helps

1) I think all of you are right about the CMOS battery. I think I'll just have to replace it,but I'm not really sure when coz my moneys not enough rightnow.

2) I always do this coz every time I turn on the PC it tends to search for all devices installed in it. It gives me a result of "Floppy Disk Fail, Press F1 to Continue, Press DELETE to Enter CMOS" that bothers me...

I wanted to have this PC a fast boot straight to Windows and the HARD DRIVE to be its first boot priority but as all others have mentioned that what causes this is the CMOS battery thats why my settings are not saved. So I'd better replace the CMOS battery.

3) Thanks for the link, I'd better read it. Thank you very much to all that give answer to my post.

4) The Motherboard I have have 2 IDE ports, IDE1 and IDE2. Both are connected with an IDE cable with MASTER and SLAVE ports or 2 connectors. Only 1 Connector works even if both the IDE cables I have are intended to support a MASTER and SLAVE options. In my IDE1 port the IDE Cable there, the Master Connector i guess COLOR GRAY only works even if I set my Hard drive as MASTER or SLAVE. the Other IDE Cable in IDE2 the only connector thar worked is COLOR BLACK, even if it also have two connectors: gray and black.

Is the reason for this the MotherBoard? or I'll just have to replace both the IDE cable?

5) My computer specs are not high. processor: Intel Celeron 2.26Ghz, 512MB DDR1 memory(2 x 256MB memory - both memory slots are occupied) , 20Gig Hard drive, DVD-ROm, 32MB AGP video card. Only the built-in GAMES in Windows XP worked there and Red Alert 2, and 7 Wonders.

Maybe if i upgrade I must ADD up a higher Hard Drive (I'm planning to buy 250GIg or higher capacity Hard Drives but I'm not sure if there is an IDE version here in Philippines coz almost all IDE's are replaced by SATA hard drives. (my motherboard don't have any SATA ports built-in it) and replace the 32MB Video Card with 512MB Video Card. BUt I know that PCI-E video cards are much better than AGP video cards.

SO, sometimes I'm thinking that if I upgrade is this a BEST MOve or just invest to Build a new rig? On some thoughts all the devices in the PC works. I want to make an intellegent move in spending my money.

The Thermal Gel in the Processor are Dried up too, I'd better buy a Thermal Gel for It I guess so that It will not burn the processor.

6) I really wanted to have a fast PC with all the new parts installed like Quad Core Processor, 2Gig or Higher memory, 1Gig PCI-E video card,.. but I must admit that its only a dream for me cause I'm only a poor guy. I don't have the money to spend for a GAMERS PC.

[macnyak]

How can i update the cmos?

[abgemacht]

1) Sounds good. As mentioned before, the battery will probably be the least expensive of your hardware upgrades.

2) Yeah, replace the battery and see if that helps.

4) I'm not sure about this one. Could be flaky cables. Then again, if your battery is no good, it could just be preventing you from using the right settings...

5) Getting a bigger Harddrive would be nice. I'd recommend one running at 72000 RPM if you can afford it. The nice thing is, that you can find IDE hardware for very cheap these days. If you can, keep your current motherboard and save yourself some money by getting and IDE harddrive. Same goes for AGP graphics card. It won't be top of the line, but it will be a lot less expensive.

I think the biggest thing you should do first is get some more RAM. I'd recommend buying 1Gig first and see how that goes and if you need to, buy some more. The nice thing about computers is that you can add to them gradually.


6) I think you'll find a lot of these things are unnecessary. A dual core processor would be nice, but I doubt you'll ever take advantage of a quad core. I'm using a dual core and it runs games/compiles code just fine. As for the 2Gig of memory, it's questionable if you can use more than that on WinXp. Do some reading to see if it's worth buying more than 2GB of RAM.


The Thermal Gel in the Processor are Dried up too, I'd better buy a Thermal Gel for It I guess so that It will not burn the processor.
Did you take the processor out and replace it without applying thermal paste?

[abgemacht]

I just wanted to expand a little more on upgrading vs. replacing.

Here's the main difference: Replacing costs money upfront, upgrading costs money in the long run.

If you really want a top-of-the-line computer, then replacing is the way to go.

But, from what you've said, it sounds like you won't take full advantage of it. From the games you've listed, you need a good graphics card, but not a great one. I think you'll be able to find an AGP card that suites your needs.

Additionally, I don't think you need such a powerful processor. Most games don't require that much power--the graphics card does most of the work. Do you do other processor intensive work on your computer?

Given what your financial status seems to be, I'd suggest making a few upgrades to your current computer and waiting to see if things improve. Just make sure you have a good idea of what you want to do, then make sure you get the hardware to match.

[macnyak]

I just wanted to expand a little more on upgrading vs. replacing.

Here's the main difference: Replacing costs money upfront, upgrading costs money in the long run.

If you really want a top-of-the-line computer, then replacing is the way to go.

But, from what you've said, it sounds like you won't take full advantage of it. From the games you've listed, you need a good graphics card, but not a great one. I think you'll be able to find an AGP card that suites your needs.

Additionally, I don't think you need such a powerful processor. Most games don't require that much power--the graphics card does most of the work. Do you do other processor intensive work on your computer?

Given what your financial status seems to be, I'd suggest making a few upgrades to your current computer and waiting to see if things improve. Just make sure you have a good idea of what you want to do, then make sure you get the hardware to match.

Well I already bought some parts that I just can afford for the moment early this morning.

I bought CMOS battery = 30pesos
thermal grease = 50pesos
IDE cable = 40pesos
IDE Hard drive 250gig = 2,500pesos
Video Card Inno3D Tornado GeforceFX 5500 256MB = 1,350pesos

THE RESULTS:

at first i find hard to boot the system properly because i must buy 2 IDE cables, i just buy 1. I just connect IDE2 with DVD-rom as master because it cant handle 2 devices as 1 master and 1 slave. if i put 2 devices both devices i connect are not recognized. so i better buy another IDE cable. on IDE1 all are ok, the devices are all recognized Master for my 20gig hard drive and Slave for the 250gig Hitachi hard drive i purchased,

but even if i put the new CMOS battery nothing changes I always set the time and date and the first boot priority device. It still seeks for floppy drive and as its first boot device but I dont have any floppy in my PC. the Date is still JANUARY 2005.

but i think my PC is still slow, i must buy 1gig DDR1 memory if i have the money. the video card is OK but when i try to play NBA2008 its OK but after a few minutes it shuts down the game and have a error message, i think the problem is the GAME installer itself.

is there another way to fix the CMOS even if i already replace the CMOS battery?

but I always wanted to have a fast PC with AMD processor, coz its cheaper than Intel's. I just have to save more money to build a PC that i want

Athlon64 X2 6000 = 5,750pesos
ECS GF8200A motherboard = 3,450pesos
1 terabyte hard drive = 8,850pesos
Inno3D 8600GT PCI-E 1gig ddr2 128bit = 3,500pesos
2pcs. 2gig DDR2 memory PC800 = 1,850pesos each = 3,700pesos
a nice PC case = 1,600pesos
19" LCD monitor = 9,500pesos
CoolerMaster Eclipse CPU fan = 1,800pesos


I hope that i can assemble that PC hehehehehe....

thanks for answering my post


GOD BLESS to all

[macnyak]

How can i update the cmos?

i use everest and this is what i get:

BIOS Type: Phoenix-Award
BIOS Date: March 23rd 2005
BIOS ID: 03/23/2005-P4M266A-8235/7-6A6LW00HC-00-None
BIOS OEM: U8668R35-D - 6.00 PG
Chipset: VIA 82C3148 rev 0
SuperIO: ITE 8705/SiS 950 rev 3 at port 002E
Manufacturer: VIA Technologies, Inc.
Motherboard: P4M266A-8237


how can i update the BIOS of the motherboard for free?

[fiddledd]

Motherboard: P4M266A-8237 <-- This is your chipset, you need to know the make and model of your motherboard. Then you go to the manufacturer's web site and search for BIOS updates for your motherboard.

[mips]

THE RESULTS:

at first i find hard to boot the system properly because i must buy 2 IDE cables, i just buy 1. I just connect IDE2 with DVD-rom as master because it cant handle 2 devices as 1 master and 1 slave. if i put 2 devices both devices i connect are not recognized. so i better buy another IDE cable. on IDE1 all are ok, the devices are all recognized Master for my 20gig hard drive and Slave for the 250gig Hitachi hard drive i purchased,

is there another way to fix the CMOS even if i already replace the CMOS battery?


When you connect the HD & DVD Rom with 1 cable ensure you set the jumpers on the HD to 'Master' and the jumpers on the DVD to 'Slave'. This way things should work.

You can try to upgrade your BIOS. To do this you will need to know the MB Manufacturer & Model number. A utility called PC Wizard 2008 (http://www.cpuid.com/pcwizard.php) should be able to tell you this and it is a free download. Once you have the info go to the manufacturers website and download the right/latest Bios for your MB.