No Cmos Battery In Old Laptop

I've been reviving a lovely Gericom Ego laptop which dates back to 2004. Battery failed years ago but power supply is still good so it's perfectly usable as a desk based machine. Bigger problem is the CMOS battery has also failed so it's a right pita having to set up date and time etc whenever it has been disconnected. I've had all the baseplate covers off looking for a CR2032 or equivalent but nothing! Would it have been common at that time to incorporate a CMOS battery into the mobo, or might there be something else I should be looking for? I still have the user manual but it makes no mention of the CMOS power at all.

 

Check out some of these images -

https://www.google.com/search?clien...-ab..3.3.714...33i21k1j33i160k1.0.Du-4x34PvvY

 

Check for a cylindrical "1/2 AA".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_battery_sizes#Cylindrical_batteries

 

Sadly, you did not tell us the exact model number so we have no way of telling where your battery is. I have never seen a battery totally integrated with a motherboard, but they were not always CR2032, and sometimes they were not mounted in a battery socket but attached by wires and a connector.

See these images for ideas.

Wow, Imandy and Eldon are quick - both posted while I was typing. Oh well.

 

My Ego is shown in your link Digerati and it looks as if it is attached directly to the motherboard. Years ago I might have had a go at it but my unsteady hands now rule out such adventures. I did replace the backlight in this machine a few years ago and damaged its cable then though I did manage to repair it. It runs nicely now but I won't be replacing the CMOS battery. Thanks guys

 

I doubt the battery itself is attached. That would require direct soldering of the battery. The battery more likely is mounted in a socket that is soldered to the motherboard. From a manufacturing perspective, it would be much easier (logistically) to use a socket during motherboard assembly than having to deal with a device that is producing electricity.

 

I understand about the unsteady hands. Mine seem to show the tremors more as the work gets smaller. Also eyesight is getting to where small wire set screws and mounting land in-between my normal vision and my bi-focal range which makes the work harder and less enjoyable!

 

Not sure where unsteady hands would prevent this. With the main battery removed and the power supply disconnected, you could rest and steady your hands on the notebook while replacing the battery. I think you just need good lighting and maybe a small screwdriver to pry the battery out of its socket, or to press on the release catch of a connector (or socket). I could certainly be wrong, but I really doubt the battery itself is soldered to the motherboard.

If a plug in, you can buy replacements as seen here.

Typically, they use sockets and it is as simple to remove as shown in this short 28 second video.

Just don't touch the new battery with your bare fingers as skin oils promote corrosion and attract dust. I put a clean sock over my hand when inserting new batteries. Note the polarity of the old before removing so you keep the positive and negative sides correctly oriented.

 

Can prove expensive, unless you dismantle, and have a friendly local small shop.
I have done a couple recently,and like others here, find my eyesight wanting, but with care you can do it.
It is only soldered to two small tab connections- and I atully got away with un- soldering,and re-soldering a new one straight away,while it as still warm -fiddly, but soon the cmos will die anyway, so, your choice.
https://www.manualslib.com/manual/732973/Gericom-Ego.html
You may be lucky and find it is a small plug in like this
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Gericom-Ho...911351?hash=item4d1ac9c037:g:2rwAAOxy039TMb6o
If it is soldered- like this.

 

You don't understand how disabling this condition can be.

 

We should remember sometimes that difficulties are not always obvious - In the past I have used a magnifying glass like this
https://www.amazon.com/Enshey-Magni..._83_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1511634769&sr=1-83
Also, I find a gadget like a ladies eyebrow plucker is handy for holding on to small cmos batteries, and holding whilst soldering- if you can hold it long enough, reasonably steady.............
https://www.amazon.co.uk/DealMux-Sl...=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B01EZR2HJ0
Unfortunately, if hands, and eyes are problematic, you need a friend who can solder.....Shaky hands must be a horrible affliction - I have a friend who even shakes when eating a meal- but she manages, as I am sure you do your best to.
Of course,it can be possible to get a charge to the Cmos, sometimes, if it has a decent battery, and left on along charge (like overnight)

 

Y'know this is a possibility I hadn't considered. The main battery failed years ago, and since then this laptop has basically lain unused. Couple weeks ago I decided to get it set up again but I have not left it connected to the mains, just connecting it couple of hours at a time. I'll leave it connected now for a day or two and keep my fingers crossed!

 

You need to be VERY careful about "soldering" batteries. They require more of a spot weld, otherwise they can be destroyed or even explode/pop.

 

They all have two small tags, and as long s you hold them in something like the tweezers (I have plastic ones that I use)- you can tin the new one whilst holding in the tweezers, using an electric soldering iron with a small tip.

 

No, they don't. Some come in a blister pack with no tabs. Consequently, a naked battery requires what was specified.

 

I give way to your obviously better experiences. I would not attempt one without tabs, myself.

 

Sorry to hear that. If this battery does indeed require soldering (which I still doubt) then I agree, taking it to a shop is your best bet.

 

I just disconnected the mains power for about an hour and then reconnected it. On boot the BIOS had retained the time/date so possibly there is life in the old CMOS battery yet! I will leave it connected for another day or so and then disconnect it for a longer period. If the CMOS can't retain the data for at least a month then it's effectively at the end of its life.

 

FTR, do note CR2032 batteries are NOT rechargeable. There are other 2032 type batteries that are rechargeable, but not the "CR"2032. Consequently, those motherboards that came with CR2032 batteries do NOT have charging circuits for their CMOS batteries because applying a charging voltage to a non-rechargeable battery can, at best, destroy the battery. At worst, cause a fire.

So if you see something like this, the vendor (or in this case, the webpage designer) is wrong as the image clearly shows, that is NOT a "CR"2032.

Note also CR2032 are Lithium Ion batteries. One the primary characteristics of Li-Ion batteries is they have a very steep decay rate. That is, they output their rated voltages at a very steady rate, then die suddenly. This is different from other batteries like common alkaline batteries that steadily decline.

The RTC (real-time clock) chip draws very little power by design. All it really is is a counter. The CMOS battery also maintains power to the RTC which is a discrete device from the CMOS memory module. The CMOS memory module is there to store user changes to the default settings stored in the BIOS EEPROM device. The primary characteristic of CMOS memory devices (compared to other memory devices) is CMOS devices almost instantly (within 1 or 2 clock cycles) dump any data they were storing. So the CMOS battery maintains a "holding voltage" on the CMOS memory device to maintain the integrity of the stored data.

One portion of that data stored in the CMOS device is a fixed number that when compared to the RTC's counter value, is used to calculated the current date and time.

What good is all that information? Maybe none. But...

Look for clock, RTC (real-time clock) or BIOS battery. It may not say CMOS.

 

Earthling, can you post a picture of the battery?

 

As I've said guys, my hands problem means I'm not able to dismantle and work on a laptop so I can't remove the keyboard to expose the battery. From what I've learned in this thread I doubt that the battery is a CR2032 so it is possible it is rechargeable. I'll disconnect the power this evening (GMT) and leave it overnight. We should know tomorrow whether it has come back to life.

 

It doesn't go 'behind the scenes' at all. It's just a user manual.

 

I s'pose if I could locate a main battery replacement at a reasonable cost I might do that but the only one I've found is $158

 

The power battery. See first line of the OP.

 

Had to restore BIOS defaults - the CMOS battery is dead but the laptop isn't, it's working beautifully. Thanks for all the help/suggestions

 

Can you provide the specific model number?

It may simply be one that plugs into the system board.

 

It's a 1780XL

 

From this site I tried translating alittle, it seems that the bios battery could be removable, and be located under the fan, so if so it may be still too difficult for earthling.

https://www.pcwelt-forum.de/threads/gericom-network-bios-batterie-problem.174239/

1.Notebook ausschalten und alle Kabel entfernen.
2.Schrauben Sie am Lüfter (Bodenseite) die Verkleidung mit einem geeigneten Schraubendreher ab.
3.Langen Sie einen größeren metallischen Gegenstand an, um Ihren Körper zu entladen.
4.Nun können Sie die BIOS-Batterie sehen und an der einen Seite die Klammer vorsichtig aufbiegen.
5.Jetzt mit etwas Fingergefühl die leere BIOS-Batterie herausnehmen (Bitte die leere BIOS-Batterie nicht wegwerfen (Geht ohne den Lüfter zu entfernen)).
6.Jetzt setzen Sie die neue BIOS-Batterie wieder ein (Achten Sie darauf, das Sie die BIOS-Batterie genau so einsetzten wie die alte BIOS-Batterie eingesetzt war).
7.Biegen Sie vorsichtig die Klammer wieder zurück (Die BIOS-Batterie darf auf keinen Fall zu locker befestigt sein).
8.Wenn Sie auch noch Ihren Lüfter von Staub befreien möchten ist das hier die Gelegenheit (Staubsauger Betriebsbereit machen und einfach den Staub absaugen (Bitte nicht mit einem Tuch versuchen in die kleinsten Ecken zu kommen).
9.Schrauben Sie die Abdeckung des Lüfters wieder wieder an.
10.Verbinden Sie nun alle gelösten Kabel wieder mit Ihrem Notebook.
11.Trinken Sie nun einen Kaffee, das haben Sie jetzt wirklich verdient.

Very roughly translated on-line as

1. Switch off notebook and remove all cables.
2. Unscrew in the fan (ground side) the disguising with a suitable screwdriver.
3. Concern a bigger metallic object to unload your body.
4. Now you can see the BIOS battery and on one side the clip carefully aufbiegen.
5. Now with some finger feeling take out the empty BIOS battery (Please, the empty BIOS battery not throw away (Goes without fan to remove)).
6. Now use the new BIOS battery again (you pay attention to the fact which you used the BIOS battery just like the old BIOS battery was used).
7. Bend carefully the clip again back (the BIOS battery may be fastened by no means too laxly).
8. If you still liked to release your fan from dust is here the opportunity (vacuum cleaners make Ready for use and simply suck off the dust (Please, not with a cloth try in the smallest corners to

The actual main lion battery seems difficult to find a cheaper replacement $158 -wow........

 

Thanks baklogic, I might be able to have a go at that as it doesn't mean lifting the keyboard. Not at home today though.

 

Thank you plodr Hope to have a go at it tomorrow.

 

Grrrr..... here's the trim on the fan but with the three visible screws removed it won't slide out - feels like there must be another screw hidden beneath the rubber foot but not there when foot removed. Frustrating.

 

That is frustrating- I am afraid I have not been able to find anything else, at present, and understanding your disability, I feel it might be best to replace those screws, and put cover back on.
If I can find anything, I will come back to this- perhaps others will have more luck.

 

I've already reassembled it. I thought you and plodr had cracked it - so near and yet ......

 

Already checked that Tim, no screw under the foot though it sure feels like there is.

 

Under the RAM?

 

Nope, not there. Almost certainly under the fan but unless I pay to take it to a repairer I can't get at it. As I've said, with a failed main battery too, that can't really be justified. But it's much too nice a laptop to just sling, superb build quality.

 

I'm not entirely stupid Tim, both of course. It feels anchored under the foot and can be swivelled slightly around that point, as if there is a screw under the foot, only there isn't.

 

I know, sorry for biting. There has to be a screw under that foot of course, but Lord knows how you get at it.

 

Looks like a wild goose chase. With the heatsink removed it's clear there is no cmos battery in that area, or in the memory bay, or in the drive bay or in the wireless adapter bay, so Lord knows where it is located - somewhere on the main board I guess, and I'm definitely not going there