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CMOS-Reset
How to reset the CMOS? (Reset BIOS settings)

CMOS-Reset - How to reset the CMOS? (Reset BIOS settings)

CMOS-Reset instructions for PC-Mainboards and Notebooks

When should i reset the CMOS?

Computer don't boot or freezes during boot process.

BIOS-Error messages like "CMOS Checksum Error".
Reset lost BIOS-Password (only PC-Mainboards).
After making a BIOS-Update (recommendation by many PC-Mainboard manufacturers).
After inserting a new BIOS-Chip.
There are of course other situations, but the above are by far the most common reasons to make a
CMOS reset.

What is CMOS?
On which computers can i reset a BIOS-Password?
CMOS-Reset with Jumper
CMOS-Reset without Jumper
CMOS-Reset did not solved the problem! What can i do?

AT YOUR OWN RISK !

I assume no liability for the accuracy, completeness or topicality of the following

instructions. These instructions describe only in general, how to erase the CMOS on PC-
Mainboards and Notebooks. It may be completely different for your computer!

What is CMOS?
First of all: the CMOS is not the BIOS!
The CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) is a static Random Access Memory
(SRAM), which stores the BIOS values. The CMOS will lost its data when removing the voltage/battery
(CMOS-Battery, see picture). The duration for a complete loss of data could differs between some
seconds, hours, or several days. So it usually won't help to remove the CMOS-Battery for a short time!
For this reason, most of all PC-Mainboards have a jumper to immediately reset the CMOS. Notebooks
don't have any jumper.

On which computers can i reset a BIOS-Password?

YES, on PC-Mainboards you can clear the BIOS-Boot password resp. BIOS-Setup password by
resetting the CMOS.

NO, on Notebooks you can not clear the BIOS-Boot password resp. BIOS-Setup password by
resetting the CMOS, because most of all (99%) notebooks have a better theft protection. They have
an additional small, hidden IC which stores the password. That means: the password is not stored
inside the CMOS! But you can also try to reset the CMOS. Other notebooks are able to store the
password on a hidden hard disk sector. Your only chance is to contact the support of your notebook
manufacturer. Depending on the manufacturer, you have to send him the serial number of the
notebook and you'll get (in many cases free of charge) an individual master password to unlock the
notebook. Some other manufacturers even offer only the replacement of the notebook's mainboard -
which will be really expensive!

CMOS-Reset with Jumper

Most mainboard manufacturers have a
download section on their websites where you
can find the manual of your specific mainboard
type. Inside the manual there should be a layout
drawing which shows the jumper position.

Read the manual to find out how you can

reset the CMOS! Because the procedure can
be very different! For instance, most
mainboards have to be completely dead, but
there are others where you have to reset the
CMOS when power is on.

In most cases you can find the jumper (green

jumper cap, see picture) nearby the CMOS-
Battery. There should be a label like JBAT1,
RTCLR, CLRCMOS, CLRCMS,
CMOS_CLEAR, Clear RTC, or similar.

There are 4 different CMOS-Jumper types:

3-Pin CMOS-Jumper: The connector strip has 3 pins and the default jumper position is pins 1+2 (see
picture). To reset the CMOS move the jumper cap to position pins 2+3.

2-Pin CMOS-Jumper: Depending on the default position, you have to remove or place the jumper.

Soldered points: Sometimes there is no connector strip and you'll only find 2 soldered points which
must be bridged (e.g. with a paper clip) to reset the CMOS.

CMOS-Reset-Button: On newer mainboards you'll find different buttons for e.g. Power, Reset and
CMOS-Reset. The CMOS-Reset-Button works like a normal CMOS-Reset-Jumper.

Instruction: CMOS-Reset with Jumper

1. Turn OFF the computer and unplug the power cord (on notebooks remove all accus).
2. Press the Power On/Off button (PC-Case) 3-5 times to discharge the mainboard condensers.
3. Remove the coin cell battery (CMOS battery).
 4. Move the CMOS-Jumper to his clear-position (read your mainboard manual to find the jumper).
5. Wait ~ 15 seconds (the longer the better).
6. Move the CMOS-Jumper to his default position.
7. Insert the coin cell battery (CMOS battery).
8. Plug the power cord (on notebooks insert all accus).
9. Turn ON the computer, enter the BIOS-Setup and load the "Setup Defaults/Optimized Settings".
10. Save the BIOS settings and restart the computer.
11. No success? Repeat the steps 1-10.

Never turn on the mainboard during a CMOS-Reset!

It could cause a short circuit which would damage your mainboard!

CMOS-Reset without Jumper

If your mainboard has no jumper (like
most of all notebooks) to reset the
CMOS, you can try to remove the CMOS-
Battery for a few days and hope that this
will clear the CMOS. If you don't like to
wait, you can try the following
instructions, but as I said at your own
risk.

Instruction: CMOS-Reset without Jumper

1. Turn OFF the computer and unplug the power cord (on notebooks remove all accus).
2. Press the Power On/Off button (PC-Case) 3-5 times to discharge the mainboard condensers.
3. Remove the coin cell battery (CMOS battery).
4. Insert a 10 Euro Cent coin into the CMOS battery socket (or bridge the +/- contacts with a paper
clip).
5. Wait ~ 15 seconds (the longer the better).
6. Remove the 10 Euro Cent coin (or the paper clip).
7. Insert the coin cell battery (CMOS battery).
8. Plug the power cord (on notebooks insert all accus).
9. Turn ON the computer, enter the BIOS-Setup and load the "Setup Defaults/Optimized Settings".
10. Save the BIOS settings and restart the computer.
11. No success? Repeat the steps 1-10.

Never turn on the mainboard during a CMOS-Reset!

It could cause a short circuit which would damage your mainboard!

CMOS-Reset did not solved the problem! What can i do?

First you should try the following:

1. Repeat the CMOS-Reset and increase the time to clear the CMOS from 15 seconds to a few
minutes!
2. Check the voltage of your CMOS-Battery (~3V).
3. Remove all unnecessary additional hardware like e.g. TV-, Sound-, and Controller cards on
your PC-Mainboard (not on Notebooks!). You only need CPU, RAM and Graphic adapter!
4. If you have more than 1 RAM module, remove the other (maybe one module is defective?).
5. Reset the Hardware table (DMI):
the DMI (Desktop Management Interface) manages the integration of various hardware in a
computer. Sometimes the DMI data table gets corrupted and you could try to reset it.
Remove the following hardware components:
◦ RAM
◦ Graphic adapter (on Desktop-PCs!)
◦ all drives like Harddisk, CD, DVD, Floppy, (on Notebooks remove only the Harddisk!)
◦ TV-, Sound-, and Controller cards, etc. (on Desktop-PCs!)
Power on the computer for ~ 30-60 seconds.
Power off the computer, insert all hardware components and restart the computer.
Note: if a working BIOS recognizes that some components are missed, the BIOS automatically
scans for new hardware and refreshes the DMI hardware table.

Nothing works?

1. Check all cable connections.

2. Check all components and remove any existing dirt.
3. Replace CPU, Graphic adapter and the Power Supply Unit. Or use a second PC to check these
components.
4. Check all Electrolytic Condensers.

An electrolytic condenser is a cylindrical

electronic component that stores
electricity.

The cylinder is mostly green, blue or

black, and has a pressed aluminum
cover.
On older mainboards, it often happened,
that the condensers get faulty. In most
cases you can identify a defective
condenser, when fluid leaked out of the
cover, or when the cylinder itself is
arched.
User-Comments: CMOS-Reset

Tobie 30.Jul.2017 12:03

Thanks it works!!

biosflash 26.May.2017 05:58

@Johnnie
You can edit time + date inside the bios setup.

Johnnie 26.May.2017 01:33

I try to format laptop (hp Compaq NW8240) and it was showing me 163- date and time not set, so
i remove the CMOS battery and replace without another one but it was still showing me the Same
thing, please what can i do to solve that?

Ted 28.Oct.2016 14:59

Thanks man, the 10 cent trick worked for me and could reset the BIOS and restart my laptop :)

vishnu 2.Oct.2016 19:03

thanks for the clear instructions. it worked for me

biosflash 8.May.2016 10:43

@Zidan
That's hard to say. Maybe your southbridge
(https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datei:Motherboard_diagram.svg) is defective, because it contains
also the CMOS MEMORY to store date & time. You should better ask the Acer support.
Zidan 8.May.2016 09:16

Hello. After browsing the web I have decided that this site is the most knowledgeable in these
matters. I have an unusual problem with an Acer Asprire 4572 that I bought second hand a year
ago. I have been working with laptops for the past 20 years so I am fairly conversant with their
inner parts. I noticed that this machine loses its time and date each time the main battery is
removed or goes completely flat. Naturally I thought that the CMOS battery was dead so today I
replaced it. However when I removed the old battery I discovered that it was still giving 3V. I
made sure that the terminals and contact surfaces were thoroughly cleaned before I fitted the
new battery. However upon rebooting and resetting the Bios (I am running the machine in IDE
mode not SATA mode) I discovered that after removing the main battery as a test the clock an
the BIOS settings reverted to their defaults again. It therefore appears that the CMOS is not
drawing any power from the on-board battery, instead it is using the main battery. Any
suggestions as to what is happening here?

ishan 19.Nov.2015 07:01

i had a problem last night when i was upgrading my msi990fxa-gd65 board using gui upgrade
process after that my system hanged and i restart using button on my rig then it's generate a
cycle reboot process everyime and i didn't get anything on display and tried everything what u
post and it's not worked for me plz help me sir...

padayappa 13.May.2015 09:23

very very useful infomation thanks very much

srikar 5.Apr.2015 17:33

Thanks.it works

> >|

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