How to change the motherboard battery step by step

It is perfectly possible to start and use the computer without the lithium battery or with it exhausted, however, every time the machine is turned on you will have to carry out the setup configuration or adjust the date and time in Windows, since browsers do not accept connections with this incorrect information.

Lithium batteries are sold in cartons and can be found at any electronics store or even at the street vendor on the corner.

An error message like the following means that your PC is still working, but it is a sure sign that the battery has died and needs to be replaced:

CMOS Checksum Error - Defaults loaded

Without a working CMOS battery, all BIOS settings, including time, date, and hard drive parameters, will be lost when you turn off the PC. An annoying inconvenience every time you start your PC.

Your BIOS may also have a very old preset date. Solution? Change the battery!

Therefore, if your PC is losing the date and time settings, or if you are receiving a "CMOS Read Error", "CMOS Checksum Error" or "CMOS Battery Failure" message, you need to replace the battery. To do this, follow the steps below.

Button Cell Batteries for PC

3-volt coin or lithium coin cell batteries have been used for CMOS backup since the mid-1990s beginning in the late 486s. The most widely used in this type is the CR2032, and is still used in PCs of modern desktop today. They have a normal shelf life of 3 to 5 years. Replacement batteries are cheap and easy to find.

A CR2032 battery is widely available in supermarkets, department stores, markets, and online sellers, and only costs a few euros.

What is the role of a battery in the motherboard?

The motherboard battery is responsible for supplying backup power to the Real Time Clock (RTC) which stores date, time, and hardware settings such as drive type, hard drive parameters, memory, cache settings, and other settings. the BIOS.

Battery types

PC's have used a variety of different types of batteries since their inception in the 1980s. These are:

Real Time Clock Chips (Dallas DS1287 and TH6887A) Rechargeable NiCd and NiMH Soldered to 3.6 Volt Motherboard 3.6 Volt Non Rechargeable Lithium External Wired Battery 3 Volt Lithium Coin Batteries

Locate the battery on the motherboard

Open the computer case and look for the battery on the motherboard. Verify that it is accessible and removable. Today, most computers use a CR2032 coin cell.

Tip: Some CMOS batteries can be attached with a metal clip or bar. This clip simply holds the battery in place and the battery can be removed by sliding it out from under the clip. Please do not fold this clip to take out the battery, as a bent clip may make the battery not stay in the battery socket.

If you cannot locate the battery on the motherboard, consult the documentation for your motherboard or computer, or contact the computer manufacturer for additional help locating it.

Note: With some computers you may need to disconnect the cables, remove the drives, or remove other parts of the computer to have full access to the battery.

Get battery information

Unfortunately, most manufacturers do not list the exact type and model of the battery they install. It is recommended that, once you have located the battery, you write down all the information about it (voltage, chemistry, wiring and packaging). If possible, remove the battery and take it to the store.

Tip: For most computers, the model or part number of this battery is CR2032.

Removing the battery

If your computer is using a coin battery, removing it is relatively easy. Use your fingers to grip the edge of it and pull it up and out of the socket that holds it in place. Some motherboards have a clip that holds the battery. If your computer's motherboard has this clip, you may need to use one hand to move the clip up and the other to remove the battery.

Unfortunately, not all motherboard batteries are removable. Some manufacturers only allow you to add a spare battery. If your computer does not have a coin cell, consult its documentation or contact the manufacturer of your computer for more information. In these cases, you may have to configure a jumper on the motherboard to install the new battery.

Insert the new battery

After purchasing a new battery, either remove the old battery and replace it with a new one, or insert the new battery into the secondary socket on the motherboard. We're done!

Enter CMOS values

Once the battery is replaced, turn on the computer and reset the CMOS values to default. After entering all the values, be sure to save the settings before exiting. Many CMOS settings allow you to press a key (like F10) to save values and exit everything in one action.

NiCd and NiMH batteries on retro motherboards

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These batteries can be seen primarily on 286, 386, and 486 motherboards from the 1980s to the mid-1990s. They are rechargeable 3.6-volt batteries that recharge each time the PC is turned on. They have a useful life of 5 to 10 years depending on the amount of use, environmental conditions such as heat and humidity, and the quality of the battery. Old NiCd and NiMH batteries are known for leaking corrosive substances on the motherboard, which can ruin it forever.

How to replace NiCd and NiMH batteries

Old NiCd and NiMH batteries should be removed from the motherboards as soon as possible. The longer they stick to the plate, the more likely they are to drip and come into contact with corrosion, which is undesirable.

Option 1. Cut the old pile with a cutting pliers

Probably the easiest and least likely method of causing damage to the motherboard. Cut it with a clamp on the sides. Some batteries are not always easy to cut, so they must be desoldered.

Option 2. Desolder the old battery

For this, use a soldering iron to free each side. If the battery has hot melt glue holding it to the board, then break the glue joint by swinging the battery back and forth a few times.

Be careful not to lift the solder pads or copper tracks when desoldering the battery. Clean excess solder with the desoldering wick.

Cleaning the motherboard

Clean the board with isopropyl alcohol with a toothbrush. This will remove any residue and solder residue.

Any slight corrosion around the battery area can also be cleaned with methylated spirits. If the corrosion is more severe, then use a solution of baking soda and distilled water to scrub the affected area, again using a toothbrush.

White vinegar also seems to work quite well as it neutralizes alkaline battery leaks. After doing this, rinse the area with distilled water and soak the remaining water with tissue paper and allow it to dry. If you have compressed air available, use it to remove excess water.

Other hardware issues

If you continue to receive the error after following all the steps above, this is a sign of a more serious problem. The most likely causes are a poor power supply or a faulty motherboard. You may need to change the power supply or motherboard to solve the problem.

We recommend reading the best motherboards on the market

It is recommended that you take your computer to a repair shop to diagnose the problem and test the power supply and motherboard to determine if any need to be replaced.

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