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Question

American Megatrends uninvited

Jun 23, 2012 6:33PM PDT

About last 2 days, e.g. Rightnow, when I switch on computer in morning instead of usual Windows starting screen I get a provisional-looking screen American Megatrends starting 'initializing USB controllers...done ... Various stuff... CMOS Setting Wrong
Press F1 to Run SETUP
Press F2 to load default values and continue

I started to do this then thought who invited you? I have never heard of you, and I aborted this.

I got into my normal system somehow. I get warnings from my free AVG firewall/antivirus that I am at risk, I have to fix the antivirus which is done pressing a button 'fix', ignoring offers to buy enhanced protection. Next day same thing happens, antivirus has to be reactivated.

What had I been doing out of ordinary recently that might have provoked this? Well I had installed a new printer all wifi which works. My impression - this is something to do with wifi.

What is going on and how do I get back to normal?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Re: Megatrends screen
Jun 23, 2012 10:18PM PDT

That's the BIOS. It finds the CMOS settings wrong, so asks you to correct them. The BIOS is a part of your PC you don't see if everything is fine, but that is necessary nonetheless.
I'd start with pressing F2 and see what happens. And it might be time to replace your motherboard battery.

That antivirus problem is unrelated, most likely, both to the WiFi printer and to the BIOS. But you only know for sure if you fix that BIOS message first and then (if necessary) uninstall that printer.

Kees

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Will try
Jun 24, 2012 4:00AM PDT

OK I will try that. To try I switched computer down and restarted - but it behaved normally! I have the impression it will do this strangeness first thing after a nights rest. Weak battery might explain that I guess.

I could have got towards that. Trying to free myself from my infantile dependence I have a 753-page For Dummies book - in which I have never once found an explanation of any unknown term I encountered. But if I had looked this time it does say something about CMOS. But that it is OK to proceed and not an alien virus invasion I would not have known. Happy

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It didn't happen
Jun 29, 2012 10:34AM PDT

When I switched computer on last 2 or 3 days what I had been seeing didn't happen again. That part has been normal.

Got another problem which I can't imagine related but what do I know? which I've posted about at "Multiple threat detection - tracking cookies " on the viruses etc. forum