CMOS Battery Failure

I just got this error message when restarting my PC.

Firmware detected CMOS Battery Failure.

What is this?

 

It's telling you that your CMOS battery has died. You should replace it.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3882052

 

The CMOS Battery maintains the Time, Date, BIOS settings, etc when you turn of the system power. Basically it is a cheap watch battery that provides power to keep those functions above. Every couple of years they may die and need replacing:

http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000239.htm

http://www.smartcomputing.com/edito...techsupport/110w10/110w10.asp&ArticleID=31003