Question:

What causes my HP laptop to require CMOS reset every time I boot it up after replacing the battery?

I have an HP laptop with a dual boot system of Windows 11 and Ubuntu. I recently changed the battery, but since then I have encountered a problem. Whenever I try to turn on the laptop without the power cord, it does not work. When I plug in the power cord, it boots up but displays a message that the CMOS settings have been reset. This happens every time I turn on the laptop, even if I do it right after shutting it down. The laptop works normally for a few hours after the CMOS reset, but then the problem repeats. How can I fix this issue?

Answer:

The CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) is a small chip on the motherboard that stores the BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) settings, such as the date and time, boot order, and hardware configuration. The CMOS is powered by a coin-cell battery, which keeps the settings intact even when the laptop is turned off. However, if the battery is dead, weak, or improperly installed, the CMOS may lose its settings and revert to the default values. This can cause various problems, such as incorrect date and time, boot errors, or system instability.

One possible reason why your HP laptop requires CMOS reset every time you boot it up after replacing the battery is that the new battery is faulty or incompatible with your laptop model. This can prevent the CMOS from retaining its settings and force it to reset every time the laptop loses power. To check if this is the case, you can try the following steps:

• Turn off the laptop and unplug the power cord.
• Remove the new battery and reinsert the old one (if you still have it).
• Turn on the laptop and check if the CMOS settings are preserved.
• If the CMOS settings are preserved, then the new battery is likely the culprit. You may need to replace it with a compatible one or contact the seller for a refund or exchange.
• If the CMOS settings are still reset, then the problem may lie elsewhere. You can proceed to the next step.

Another possible reason why your HP laptop requires CMOS reset every time you boot it up after replacing the battery is that the CMOS jumper is loose or damaged. The CMOS jumper is a small plastic piece that connects two metal pins on the motherboard. It is used to clear the CMOS settings manually, usually by moving it from one position to another. However, if the jumper is loose or damaged, it may cause the CMOS to reset unintentionally. To check if this is the case, you can try the following steps:

• Turn off the laptop and unplug the power cord.
• Open the laptop case and locate the CMOS jumper on the motherboard. It is usually labeled as CLR_CMOS, CLEAR, or RESET. You can refer to the laptop manual or online guides for the exact location and appearance of the jumper.
• Check if the jumper is securely attached to the correct pins. If not, reattach it properly or replace it with a new one.
• Turn on the laptop and check if the CMOS settings are preserved.
• If the CMOS settings are preserved, then the jumper was the problem. You can close the laptop case and enjoy your laptop.
• If the CMOS settings are still reset, then the problem may be more complex. You can proceed to the next step.

A third possible reason why your HP laptop requires CMOS reset every time you boot it up after replacing the battery is that the motherboard or the BIOS itself is faulty or corrupted. This can cause the CMOS to malfunction and lose its settings randomly. This is a more serious issue that may require professional assistance or replacement of the motherboard or the BIOS chip. To check if this is the case, you can try the following steps:

• Turn on the laptop and enter the BIOS setup by pressing the appropriate key (usually F10, F2, or Esc) during the boot process.
• Check if the BIOS version and date are correct and up to date. If not, you may need to update the BIOS firmware from the HP website or a trusted source.
• Check if the BIOS settings are correct and match your hardware configuration and preferences. If not, you may need to adjust them accordingly and save the changes.
• Exit the BIOS setup and restart the laptop.
• Check if the CMOS settings are preserved.
• If the CMOS settings are preserved, then the BIOS update or adjustment may have solved the problem. You can monitor the laptop performance and stability for a while and see if the problem recurs.
• If the CMOS settings are still reset, then the motherboard or the BIOS chip may be damaged or corrupted. You may need to contact HP support or a qualified technician for further diagnosis and repair.

These

are some of the possible causes and solutions for your HP laptop requiring CMOS reset every time you boot it up after replacing the battery. We hope this article was helpful and informative. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below. Thank you for reading.