What is the best way to clear CMOS?

[busmaster11]

I've always done this - unplug machine, short pins, wait ten seconds, change back...

Anyone do it differently?

Anyone actually pop out the battery? Why or why won't this help?

 

[iamwiz82]

take out the battery

 

[Geekbabe]

I generally just short pins, sometimes I'll change the battery but that's only if I think it needs changing and it's what I cracked the cover to do in the 1st place.

 

[hoihtah]

just shorting the pins should work most of the times.

but when your computer is getting real stubborn...
you'll have to remove the battery and wait... until the charges are gone.

to be safe... i know some people that take the battery out and wait for about 3-4 hours.

 

[toant103]

Originally posted by: baffled2
I generally just short pins, sometimes I'll change the battery but that's only if I think it needs changing and it's what I cracked the cover to do in the 1st place.

that's how i do it. Take the battery out to test it by licking it.

 

[Tiger]

Be careful removing and re-inserting that battery lest you break the clip holding it in.
Better to use the pins provided.

 

[peterparker]

Unplugging the machine is important. I learned this while building my computer late at night, when I was really sleepy. The sparks are pretty, but I'm fortunate that it didn't cause any damage, it still runs beautifully... except I think I may have ruined the battery, or had a dead battery to begin with... when I unplug the machine now, all of my bios settings are reset. But, that's the only problem, so I'll consider myself lucky and pick up a new battery sometime. (Obviously I'm new at building, so if that's a normal thing, don't laugh too hard.)