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Question

PC won't boot after replacing the CMOS-Battery

Mar 17, 2016 8:32AM PDT

We talk about an 6 years old Packard Bell - Desktop Computer

The CMOS battery was empty, there was the message at the post-Bios-Screen, so I replaced it with a new one (CR-2032 3V).

The battery is exactly the same as the old one except the brand.

Of course the PC wasn´t plugged in anymore and I grounded myself before making the replacement. Besides I made sure to get the polarity right.

After the replacement the PC stops booting when reaching the "Windows is starting-Screen". It might be important to notice, that the pulsating Win-Logo, that shows up normally wasn´t visible. I tried to boot from CD, USB and Safemode, I even tried Grub, but the PC wont get past that point. Booting from CD will result in a Blue Screen and grub goes into the grub rescue mode(just DOS-Commandline) I tried with resetted BIOS-Setings and with optimized ones, but I had no success.

Strangely enough the PC will work normally, when I remove the battery or put in the old (empty) one.

I "solved" the problem by making sure, that the computer is always plugged in, so it doesn't need the CMOS-Battery at all, but I am still curious.

Could the new battery be the culprit and is it worth trying another one? I work with Computers a long time now, but I never ever experienced something like this. (it is a simple CMOS-battery change after all)

I am happy to hear about your thoughts regarding this problem.

Sincerly, Hawky

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Yes.
Mar 17, 2016 8:45AM PDT

Did you measure the new and old battery?

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No
Mar 17, 2016 9:00AM PDT

Unfortunately, I don't have a device to do so, but I plan to get one soon.

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There are stores that do this as a courtesy.
Mar 17, 2016 9:09AM PDT

But here I get the cr2032's for about 40 cents each so most folk buy another.

I must write the following. There is an up and down to that battery. Check that the + or - up or down is same when you pop in the new battery.