Retaining BIOS settings after power cutoff

  • Thread starter Thread starter Roger Fink
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Roger Fink

Thanks to a bad storm here last night the power went out around midnight and
wasn't restored until this morning. As a result of this, the computer would
not boot into Windows. This happens after power outages, and I've learned
from experience how to fix it - go into the BIOS and reset the settings that
have "come undone". That would be the date and time, and also the A drive
which gets changed to floppy but should read "none" (I don't have one).

I'm wondering if there is a way to make changes to the BIOS so that it can
retain the original settings even after an outage, or other power cutoffs,
such as unplugging it for repair or transport. I believe the BIOS is Phoenix
"Award".
 
Roger Fink said:
Thanks to a bad storm here last night the power went out around midnight
and
wasn't restored until this morning. As a result of this, the computer
would
not boot into Windows. This happens after power outages, and I've learned
from experience how to fix it - go into the BIOS and reset the settings
that
have "come undone". That would be the date and time, and also the A drive
which gets changed to floppy but should read "none" (I don't have one).

I'm wondering if there is a way to make changes to the BIOS so that it can
retain the original settings even after an outage, or other power cutoffs,
such as unplugging it for repair or transport. I believe the BIOS is
Phoenix
"Award".
Click to expand...

Not exactly a "Windows" question but here it goes: While your motherboard
battery is intact, the BIOS will retain its settings. If it forgets them
then it may be time to replace the battery.
 
You probably need to replace the battery on your motherboard. It's about the
size of a quarter and you can find one at just about any drug store. Be sure
to follow all of the common sense rules for working inside of a computer.
Louis
 
Roger said:
I'm wondering if there is a way to make changes to the BIOS so that it can
retain the original settings even after an outage, or other power cutoffs,
such as unplugging it for repair or transport. I believe the BIOS is Phoenix
"Award".
Click to expand...

The BIOS should retain it's settings when power is removed. Have you
checked the CMOS battery lately?
 
Roger said:
Thanks to a bad storm here last night the power went out around
midnight and wasn't restored until this morning. As a result of this,
the computer would not boot into Windows. This happens after power
outages, and I've learned from experience how to fix it - go into the
BIOS and reset the settings that have "come undone". That would be
the date and time, and also the A drive which gets changed to floppy
but should read "none" (I don't have one).

I'm wondering if there is a way to make changes to the BIOS so that
it can retain the original settings even after an outage, or other
power cutoffs, such as unplugging it for repair or transport. I
believe the BIOS is Phoenix "Award".
Click to expand...

Sometimes it's hard to fathom one's own stupidity. I HAVE a small UPS hooked
up to the computer. I bought it to clean up the power supply, known to be
dirty out here, and also to allow me to shut the beast down with dignity
during a power failure. That's what I did last night, but for reasons
someone else will have to explain, since I can't, I shut the UPS off as
well.

Thanks to all who posted.
 
Roger said:
Sometimes it's hard to fathom one's own stupidity. I HAVE a small UPS hooked
up to the computer. I bought it to clean up the power supply, known to be
dirty out here, and also to allow me to shut the beast down with dignity
during a power failure. That's what I did last night, but for reasons
someone else will have to explain, since I can't, I shut the UPS off as
well.

Thanks to all who posted.
Click to expand...

You still need to replace the CMOS battery because it is dead.
 
Bob said:
You still need to replace the CMOS battery because it is dead.
Click to expand...

Yes, I realize that. I'm going to have a CPU upgrade soon, and I'll do it
then. Also, the battery inside the UPS is about eight years old and it may
be time to exchange that as well.
 
Roger said:
Yes, I realize that. I'm going to have a CPU upgrade soon, and I'll do it
then. Also, the battery inside the UPS is about eight years old and it may
be time to exchange that as well.
Click to expand...

FWIW the UPS should warn you about it's battery becoming unusable.
 
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