What is CMOS RESET?
This is easy to explain: "Putting all important System settings to the prime or original state".
For what do I need this and is this important to know?
This is not any more easy to explain, but it is the right question.
Today more than ever System Devices are developing faster than just a year ago and it is even more important to keep the System on the best possibile level. How many BIOS updates did we had this year and how many last years? Floppy is out? No, Floppy is in.
I like to put BIOS on the place of our heart in the body. He is responsibile that the System (body) gets the power (blood) and works as good as possibile. What is going to happend if the heart doesn't work as it should or if it stops to work?
As a human we go to the Doc and geting heart pacemaker. The MBs have more luck, they have it already - The CMOS RESET. In most cases when we have problems with the Hardware Devices or some Drivers or BIOS updating or OC the System, the CMOS RESET brings our System back to work and life.
I wrote a lot of times here about it and I think it's time now to put it together in one Topic. I will try to be untechnical and plain in the explanations and we will overwork it on a nice example with BIOS Flashing here from the Forum.
The Start:
QUOTE
I tried a CMOS reload last night (pushing the CMOS button). When the system came up it hung on the Initialing Floppy Drive Controller and on the screen it showed
CMOS Checksum Error - Defaults loaded
Reset overclocking features in the setup menu.
ANSWER: This is typical when BIOS is reading false data.
QUOTE
I then went in to the BIOS and used the Load Optimised Defaults to ensure that I had not accidentally fiddled with anything when I could not see the screen.
This fixed the start-up and I went into Windows. Looking at my System Hardware, it showed problems with the D-bracket, so I reloaded the drivers. Since that time, the system is showing problems with the normal USB ports (further up the screen but I cant remember what it is called) on which I have my Logitech MX700 mouse connected. Although I reinstalled them (when I reloaded the D-bracket drivers) each restart shows them as having an error. I can only think that it is a system sharing error [This is going from bad to worse].
ANSWER: This is telling us again the same, BIOS is reading false data.
The good thing, you camed in. Good job.
QUOTE
Since this latest attempt, one thing that I have noticed now is that the illegible text in the bios only comes up when I first boot the system. Once running, if I hit the restart button on the front of the computer the Bios comes up in clear text??? Is this a power thing? My power supply is a brand new Antec TP-II 550, 550 Watt ATX12V v2.0 PSU.
Once I get into Windows everything works normally.
ANSWER: To bring you down, your PSU has nothing to do with it. He is doing his job and it's OK.
I'm very pleased. Even I couldn't explain it better.
To resume:
It is still your BIOS. We are going to the following thing. First a untechnical explanation and than we will go to work, but this time, for the last time.
The Explanation:
QUOTE
Once running, if I hit the restart button on the front of the computer the Bios comes up in clear text???
OK: Before you are pushing the start button, BIOS is waiting for your signal and he is set with his start sequence (just a example, to understand his work) on 00000000.
Now, you are going to push the start button and BIOS starts to give STARTING ADVICES to your devices in the System. In your case, he doesn´t start with 00000000. He starts with (again, just a example, to understand his work) 00000001. So what is happening now. He is giving to the devices wrong or false STARTING ADVICES and this happends:
QUOTE
Since that time, the system is showing problems with the normal USB ports (further up the screen but I cant remember what it is called) on which I have my Logitech MX700 mouse connected. Although I reinstalled them (when I reloaded the D-bracket drivers) each restart shows them as having an error. I can only think that it is a system sharing error [This is going from bad to worse].
ANSWER: You explained it beautiful. This are the problems that are coming out on the end.
Now, this is your next step, that you discovered:
QUOTE
Once running, if I hit the restart button on the front of the computer the Bios comes up in clear text???
ANSWER: With pushing the CMOS RESET BUTTON, your are giving the BIOS the right start sequence 00000000 for starting the System. And, as you would say:
QUOTE
Once I get into Windows everything works normally.
Let the FUN BEGIN: Oh now is too late to do a BACKUP!
The Solution:
OK. We need your actuall BIOS on disc, your MB Manual and all the time that you need. This will be done on the old fashion way.
1. Please, try to locate the BATTERY and the CMOS RESET JUMPER on your MB (use the Manual). OK, you know where it is and we will come to this later.
2. We need now a Floppy-Disc or CD to flasch BIOS. We are not doing this from Windows, please. Oh, I saw now, you have the Floppy. Is the latest BIOS on the Floppy-Disc? (you MB has, as far I know only v1.1)
3. Turn off the System. Put the BIOS-Disc in the Floppy. Push the start button, and when you see BIOS is loading, push now the reset button (you know it now) to start with the right starting sequence in BIOS. BIOS is Flashing automaticly (usually).
4. This part is the important one, and this has to fit 100% (but 95% will do it to).
When BIOS Flashing comes to the end, your System is starting to reboot automaticly. This moment is very important, than we have only 1-2 seconds time to do the following. We have to cut off the complite power of the System before BIOS starts to load again. You have two possibilities to do this - with the power switch on the back of your PSU or to pull out the power cable.
If you are not shure of the moment, just let the BIOS Flash again and you are going to get your second chance. Don´t wory, you are only Flashing BIOS. If you need you can take a 3th, 4th,... Maybe it will be good to turn the Case so, that you can look at the screen and have one hand on the power switch or power cable. If you switch the power when the BIOS starts to run, don´t wory, in worst case on the end, we have to repeat all (but I don´t think this is going to happend, I believe in you)
5. You Flashed the BIOS. No power conections on board? Let´s RESET CMOS.
Now, please forget your CMOS RESET BUTTON, what we need is the CMOS RESET JUMPER or the BATTERY. Get your Manual and find where is the CMOS RESET JUMPER and see in what position you have to bring him to do the reset procedure. Usually it should be the position 1-2 for the normal work and the position 2-3 for the CMOS RESET. Now bring the CMOS RESET JUMPER in the right position and take all the time now that you need.
If you have problems to find the CMOS RESET JUMPER and you don't know where he is, the battery will do the job also. Put now the battery complete out. It´s important, that we cut off every power that your MB has. Also, with touching the MB, you are discharging all the rest electrostatics charges that could be on the MB.
Now please, leave the System at least for 5-10min without any power. If you like, read a book, make a short walk, call a friend, ... whatever you want, but forget the MB for this time.
6. You are back, OK. Now we can put back the CMOS RESET JUMPER in his normal position or the BATTERY in his place and conect the System with the power cable. If everything worked fine, you BIOS has to have now the starting sequence 00000000 and you have to see this:
QUOTE
...the Bios comes up in clear text...
7. Now just one little important thing. First time now when you boot, go straight in to BIOS (don't boot in the OS) and set the DATE. If you don't do it, it can happend that you have problems with the licence of some Apps or that Windows x64 trial period expires and you can't boot in to the OS.
And now you can start to work with your System.
GOOD LUCK!
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