What information is stored in the motherboard CMOS and what happens if it is cleared?

[fkloster]

??

 

[Elledan]

The CMOS contains all BIOS settings which are different from the default BIOS settings. By clearing the CMOS you lose all those settings and the BIOS uses its default settings.

The CMOS is just a piece of RAM which is why it needs a battery to keep those settings stored.

 

[joohang]

It also runs the System clock, I presume?

 

[Elledan]

<< It also runs the System clock, I presume? >>

The battery also provides the juice for the on-board clock (the crystal) to keep working and indeed, the time is stored in the CMOS.

I'm not an expert on this, so please correct any mistakes I make