Old Advent PC not keeping BIOS settings

phil-k · 7 Jan 2021 at 10:47

I have an old Advent AMD Phenom 9650 PC I use at home just for clerical work and lately I have to keep booting into the BIOS to put the setting back in.
I have taken the battery out for a long period and moved the BIOS reset jumper over, also tried 2 different new batteries but it hasn't made any difference.
Has the m/b had it or is there something else I could try.
Thanks

mickyflinn · 7 Jan 2021 at 11:04

You could see if theres a bios update for the motherboard.

Quartz · 7 Jan 2021 at 11:12

Take a good look at the motherboard for popped capacitors.

phil-k · 7 Jan 2021 at 11:44

Thanks for the replies
If there was a bios update available I don't think it would make any difference as its ok after putting the settings in and booting, there is no problem rebooting as long as the power is on
I can't see any obvious faulty capacitors, but even if there were I wouldn't be able to replace them and it wouldn't be worth it paying someone else to do it.

butter30 · 7 Jan 2021 at 11:58

Hmm consider getting a new battery for the CMOS

phil-k · 7 Jan 2021 at 13:01

butter30 said:
Hmm consider getting a new battery for the CMOS

As I say in my initial post I have tried two different new ones without success

EsxPaul · 7 Jan 2021 at 14:36

phil-k said:
As I say in my initial post I have tried two different new ones without success

Are you sure the battery is making good contact with the + and - contacts in the socket?

I once had the same problem and found that the contact on the outer edge wasn't springing inwards with enough force to make a solid connection.

phil-k · 7 Jan 2021 at 15:28

EsxPaul said:
Are you sure the battery is making good contact with the + and - contacts in the socket?

I once had the same problem and found that the contact on the outer edge wasn't springing inwards with enough force to make a solid connection.

Yes I have checked the contacts and cleaned them with alcohol

I think I will get a new pc or laptop to replace it, it is getting on a bit now and due for retirement anyway
Thanks for any ideas all

bledd · 7 Jan 2021 at 15:41

Some old motherboard had a jumper for clearing the settings, check this is in the correct position.

EsxPaul · 7 Jan 2021 at 15:46

phil-k said:
Yes I have checked the contacts and cleaned them with alcohol

In that case I'd hazard a guess that one or more of the capacitors has degraded over the years and as you mentioned, probably not worth getting into the hassle of sourcing and replacing them unless you are handy with a soldering iron.