ASUS BIOS problems

Lethal` · 4 Mar 2009 at 16:27

Recently when I switch on my computer it seems to forget the BIOS settings set previously and return to defaults, sometimes the date and time are still correct. Upon switching on the computer it normally displays a CMOS checksum error or Overclocking Failed. Now I put this down to the battery most likely being flat - but I haven't had time to replace it yet. Are they all the same size, voltage etc?

Today I switched it on and no drives were detected at all, apart from my USB external. CD and 2 HDDs not detected so I got the 'Reboot and select proper boot device' error message. After reconnecting all the cables it still didn't work so I switched the PC off at the PSU and left it for a while. When I came back it all worked fine, apart from the fact it had lost the BIOS settings again. I had this same drives undetected problem a month or so ago but thought it was okay afterwards...

Is the possibly flat battery causing the undetected drives problem or is that something else?

The motherboard is the Asus P5B-E and I have had it for just over two years.

bremen1874 · 4 Mar 2009 at 16:58

It does sound like it could be a battery problem. It hasn't lasted very long, are you in the habit of switching the PC off at the wall?

The battery will have a code embossed on the back and you should be able to pick one up at the supermarket.

Lethal` · 4 Mar 2009 at 17:00

Nope, I don't turn it off at the wall.

I'll try and get a new battery soon, thanks.

bremen1874 · 4 Mar 2009 at 17:02

If you don't turn it off at the wall then the standby voltage from the PSU should retain the settings whether the battery is flat or not.

However a new battery is the first thing to try.

Lethal` · 8 Mar 2009 at 13:16

I've just popped a new battery in and I loaded it up entered settings as expected, it restarted and I got the 1 post beep to say everything is ok. I don't think I ever actually got that POST beep on this PC, or at least not recently.

Anyway, after it had restarted I shut it down and turned the PSU switch off for about 2mins. Then I switched it back on and it had forgotten the settings - same problem.