BIOS battery question

VashHT · 01-22-2013, 10:36 AM

So I have a question regarding not using a CMOS battery with an single board computer.

My thinking was that as long as I am using the default BIOS settings that I wouldn't have any problems. I am not using the clock from the BIOS at all, the software that is booting on this setup does not use the time at all.

However, I have seen a few instances where this setup won't boot because of a CMOS checksum error, but I can't reproduce this problem myself.

I am not too familiar with BIOS at the circuit level so I'm hoping someone here can give me more insight into how this error is coming about.

ericloewe · 01-22-2013, 04:47 PM

Most BIOSes won't let you boot without a working battery before bothering you about it. I'm curious as to what software doesn't use the time for anything, however...
Side note: if it's plugged-in, time/settings should be maintained even without a battery.

VashHT · 01-23-2013, 12:43 PM

Well the system works fine on my test setup even though the clock is resetting every time I shut it down. I should have worded it better, the software we use does use a clock but it's from a stand alone real time clock so it doesn't look at the clock from this single board computer.

All of the times we have seen this error occur it has happened after the setup has been in use for a while so it's been powered up and down many times with no problems.

serpretetsky · 01-23-2013, 03:25 PM

is the battery still in the computer but dead? If so, try removing it just in case for more consistent results.

Most of my machines will usually give a CMOS error and then have me press F1 or F2 to continue booting anyways.

VashHT · 01-23-2013, 04:01 PM

No the battery is not installed at all, it does give an option of pressing F1 but the setup is normally using a touchscreen so it's not really an option to use a keyboard to get through it. The strange thing though is that the systems boot up fine for a while, it's not like this is coming up the first it is booted. Also some of these setups have never seen this occur, I have multiple setups here that have never used the RTC battery and they have been working fine for a while.

sm625 · 01-24-2013, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VashHT

Well the system works fine on my test setup even though the clock is resetting every time I shut it down.

Does your test setup have the exact same I/O configuration (mouse keyboard, etc?)

serpretetsky · 01-24-2013, 03:08 PM

some bios's have different options for what the computer should do during POST if any error occurs. Other than that i don't have any other ideas for you. Good luck!