How to find out if my CMOS battery needs replacement?

[virtuality]

A ThinkPad X60 notebook.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

What makes you think it might?

 

[Mir96TA]

Low CMOS Batter Error at Post
if stated losses Bios Setting
or you can run HWMonitor and look for 3VCC if it is below 3.2; then you need NewBatter

 

[virtuality]

What makes you think it might?

[link]

 

[virtuality]

Low CMOS Batter Error at Post

What do you mean by at Post? Sorry, maybe I don't understand your English.

if stated losses Bios Setting

I use all default settings anyway.

or you can run HWMonitor and look for 3VCC if it is below 3.2; then you need NewBatter

I have the free version of CPU-Z. couldn't locate 3VCC. Can you help me finding it?

 

[max347]

Post is when your computer turns on and the system checks itself basically, when the black screen with all the info comes up.

 

[vailr]

If there were actually a CMOS battery failure, the system date would default to an earlier date & clock setting, after power is shut off.
Although: with a laptop, you may need to disconnect the main system battery in order to see accurate results.

 

[Mir96TA]

What do you mean by at Post? Sorry, maybe I don't understand your English.

Power
On
Self
Test

I use all default settings anyway.

Date and time changes
if your time is current it is indicator of CMOS Bios battery is not strong enough to hold time running.

I have the free version of CPU-Z. couldn't locate 3VCC. Can you help me finding it?

Google

 

[Compman55]

1. Buy a cheap votage metdr from harbor freight. Everyone needs to own one.
2. Measure the battery using DC voltage.
3. Replace if below 2.5v It should be 3.0 to 3.3 brand new.

 

[Vinwiesel]

We have a computer at work that started saying something like "cmos error, loading defaults" when rebooting. This is an original pentium 386, and the battery is probably original as well.

It doesn't have to be old to be bad though. The minimum-wage and/or 3rd world assemblers are known to dump trays of new batteries into piles, or loose in bags and short them out to each other. I suspect this may be why some computers use a battery that is encapsulated with a cable.

 

[virtuality]

Google

Thanks, very helpful. [Not, really.] I could find out discussion with Google but nothing else relevant. Maybe a direct link to the solution? Would be helpful.

But I'm also not sure if I need the basic or the Pro, free or paid version of HWMonitor? Couldn't locate the documentation of the software.

 

[virtuality]

1. Buy a cheap votage metdr from harbor freight. Everyone needs to own one.
2. Measure the battery using DC voltage.
3. Replace if below 2.5v It should be 3.0 to 3.3 brand new.

Thanks, actually that was useful, I'll do that. Expect that I don't have a Harbor Freight, I'm not from Mexico.

 

[virtuality]

OFF:

I put my X60 into sleep, there was no main battery in the machine and the power cable also came off. To my surprise, when I plugged in again, Windows did not start again but resumed. So it seemed the backup battery can also power the RAM in sleep mode (but for how long?).

 

[Rebellemm]

Normally when the computer stops holding the correct day/time it indicates the CMOS battery is bad. If it is a desktop, a new cmos battery can be purchased for about $3. It is easy to replace, about the size of a nichel, and is sold at any local drug store or convenience store in the battery section. They last maybe 3-5 years then need to be replaced.

 

[NickelPlate]

If there's any doubt just replace it, they're really cheap and not worth the time IMO wondering whether they're good or not.

You can get a card of five of them on ebay from hong kong shipped for 99 cents lol.