Subj : Re: installing Linux on Win2000 HD, boot order mixed up, nothing
To   : microsoft.public.win2000.setup,comp.os.linux
From : Bruce Coryell
Date : Mon Aug 02 2004 01:08 am

No,  this is just a common way of resetting the CMOS to factory default 
settings - including wiping out any passwords in the BIOS.  Shouldn't 
hurt anything.

John wrote:

> LJ wrote:
> 
>> John wrote:
>>
>>
> (snip)
> 
>>
>> I would suggest taking out your bios battery and jumping the 2 
>> connectors with a paperclip or similar item =) works for mine. btw its 
>> just a small round flat battery usually close to the side of the board.
> 
> 
> Thanks for pointing out that obvious solution that I didn't think of! 
> One more question though: Am I correct in thinking the cmos/bios battery 
> is the only battery on the motherboard, or would that depend on the 
> motherboard? See, there's another problem; I don't have physical access 
> to the computer in question at the moment...it's my sister's and I've 
> been trying to instruct her on dealing with this long-distance (she's 
> away at college). Would she, not knowing what exactly to look for, be 
> able to find the battery and remove it without damaging her board, 
> assuming it's described properly?
> 
> Also, (one more thing, on account of I'm a curious young fella :) from 
> all I've read about CMOS, the battery is what allows it to keep the BIOS 
> program stored on it. But, removing the battery doesn't clear the BIOS 
> program from the CMOS chip; it simply restores the factory settings it 
> had originally. Is that right? So the chip's BIOS program will be there 
> whether there's a battery or not, but the options that I set only stay 
> there while the battery is in place, assuming it still has some juice?

.