Why system keeps losing time and hardware settings?

Answer 1

The CMOS chip stores information about the system configuration, including the time and hardware settings.If the battery goes bad, the chip starts losing information and one of the symptoms is that your computer no longer maintains its time and hardware settings.

Answer 2

This is generally caused by the CMOS battery failing. Those batteries are designed to last about three to five years inside an average computer. Most are easy to replace nowadays since they are a simple CR2032 disc battery that is easily found at Radio Shack for about $6. All you do is remove the old battery and replace it with the new one with the flat side (the positive side) facing up toward you. If you are not familiar with how to carefully remove the battery and prevent damage to the contact/retention clip, however, seek the help of a professional. Once you replace the battery, you will probably need to reset the various BIOS options and, once again, if you are not familiar with this, seek the help of a professional. Both the battery replacement and resetting the BIOS options should take no more than about five minutes. (I generally get both accomplished in a total of five minutes or less.)

This is a task that computer repair shops will take care of for you and often will charge only the price of the battery.

If you have any other questions about this or if you are in the northeast Kansas area and would like for my shop to do this for you, feel free to drop me a line.