CMOS Checksum Bad

My Packard Bell iPower is great but it does something very annoying every time I turn it on.

Basically, I turn it on and it begins to boot up and I see the PB splash screen. Then in the blink of eye I sometimes manage to catch a glimpse of a black & white DOS error message “ CMOS Checksum Bad “ then the machine mimics a re-start and once again displays the PB splash screen then proceeds to boot into Windows 7 just fine.

Bizarre..but annoying..very annoying.

Any ideas of how I can resolve this?

My Packard Bell iPower is great but it does something very annoying every time I turn it on.

Basically, I turn it on and it begins to boot up and I see the PB splash screen. Then in the blink of eye I sometimes manage to catch a glimpse of a black & white DOS error message “ CMOS Checksum Bad “ then the machine mimics a re-start and once again displays the PB splash screen then proceeds to boot into Windows 7 just fine.

Bizarre..but annoying..very annoying.

Any ideas of how I can resolve this?

Replace the CMOS Battery: http://www.infopackets.com/graphics/cmos+battery.gif

My Packard Bell iPower is great but it does something very annoying every time I turn it on.

Basically, I turn it on and it begins to boot up and I see the PB splash screen. Then in the blink of eye I sometimes manage to catch a glimpse of a black & white DOS error message “ CMOS Checksum Bad “ then the machine mimics a re-start and once again displays the PB splash screen then proceeds to boot into Windows 7 just fine.

Bizarre..but annoying..very annoying.

Any ideas of how I can resolve this?

Replace the CMOS Battery: http://www.infopackets.com/graphics/cmos+battery.gif

Thanks - if I take the battery out then would it lose any info inbetween me putting a new one back in?

Thanks - if I take the battery out then would it lose any info inbetween me putting a new one back in?

Nope it wouldn't, but I would go buy one and replace it when you do remove it.

Thanks - if I take the battery out then would it lose any info inbetween me putting a new one back in?

Nope it wouldn't, but I would go buy one and replace it when you do remove it.

I only ask coz I read somewhere it could bugger your BIOS settings up or something? I don't even know how I would even backup my BIOS or know where to go to download them from?

Presumably I can get a new battery from a watch repair shop or something? Never had to buy one before

They sell them at any computer store, a lot of drug stores. Not hard to find. Please make a note of what side of the battery is up as you look at it installed. Make sure you install it in the same manner. You should also reset you time to computer time. Right click on you time/date lower right hand of task bar and go to adjust time. Then at the top is internet time. If you computer is not synced with internet time all kinds won't happen correctly.

but would if affect my BIOS settings by taking the battery out?

but would if affect my BIOS settings by taking the battery out?

Nope it wouldn't due to it being stored on a sort of ROM ship.

just replaced the battery...didn't work

still get the CMOS checksum bad error message on initial boot then it re-boots and loads Windows as normal...how annoying

is there anything else I can do folks?

Edited by B_o_b_o, 17 March 2010 - 05:08 PM.

Try resetting BIOS settings to defaults, and also removing the power cord for several minutes.

Try resetting BIOS settings to defaults, and also removing the power cord for several minutes.

doh! how do I do that?

Try resetting BIOS settings to defaults, and also removing the power cord for several minutes.

doh! how do I do that?

There should be a jumper on your motherboard and next to that jumper it should say CLR CMOS

If you have the motherboard owners manual handy, it should show you a map lay out of where the various jumpers are located on the board.

Caution: Please remove the battery before doing this, because sometimes these jumpers short the battery out if it is still installed.

If you continue having problems, a BIOS chip ROM "flash upgrade" might be needed.

Be advised, my suggestion above regarding a BIOS ROM "flash upgrade" should not be performed unless you really know the risks involved or really know what you are doing, as a bad flash can render your computer un-bootable.

Edited by MrBruce1959, 19 March 2010 - 07:02 PM.

Try resetting BIOS settings to defaults, and also removing the power cord for several minutes.

doh! how do I do that?

There should be a jumper on your motherboard and next to that jumper it should say CLR CMOS

If you have the motherboard owners manual handy, it should show you a map lay out of where the various jumpers are located on the board.

Caution: Please remove the battery before doing this, because sometimes these jumpers short the battery out if it is still installed.

If you continue having problems, a BIOS chip ROM "flash upgrade" might be needed.

Be advised, my suggestion above regarding a BIOS ROM "flash upgrade" should not be performed unless you really know the risks involved or really know what you are doing, as a bad flash can render your computer un-bootable.

ok confused

what is the difference between resetting BIOS settings and totally clearing them? I'm frightened of losing them forever

from a quick google, either messing about with jumpers or taking the battery out for a prolonged period or performing a reset within the CMOS setting screens all make me think which is the best way to do this and why?

remember when I changed the battery I also dis-connected the power cord as well then changed the battery and then re-connected the power cord

is there nothing I could just select within CMOS itself instead of touching the mobo?

You really can't lose the CMOS as it is store on non-volatile memory.