CMOS battery dead (BIOS clock and settings reset on every boot)
The CR2032 motherboard coin cell battery is depleted, causing the to lose time, date, and custom memory XMP/EXPO settings whenever mains AC power is switched off.
Internal desktop parts run on harmless 12V DC voltage and cannot shock you. Simply unplug the wall power cable first, then touch the unpainted metal case frame to ground static electricity.
Common Symptoms & Tells
- Windows clock shows 00:00 or incorrect year after turning PC on
- Motherboard prompts with ' Date/Time Not Set' or 'Press F1 to Run Setup'
- XMP or EXPO profiles keep disabling themselves
- PC requires F1 or F2 keystroke every time power cord is reconnected
Interactive Fix Checklist
0 of 5 steps completedSafety power-off and discharge
Shut down the PC, turn off the power supply rocker switch (O), and unplug the AC power cord from the wall outlet. Press the front power button once while unplugged to discharge residual capacitor energy before touching any internal components.
Replace the CR2032 coin cell battery
Power off the PC and unplug the power supply. Locate the silver circular battery on the motherboard, gently push the metal retention clip to eject it, and insert a fresh 3V CR2032 lithium battery with the positive (+) side facing up.
Enter BIOS and restore correct system time
Boot into setup by tapping Del or F2. Navigate to System Information or Main, set current date and UTC time, and enable your XMP or EXPO profile.
Verify CMOS clear jumper position
Check the CLRTC / CLR_CMOS header on the motherboard. Ensure no jumper cap is bridging the pins; keeping it shorted will continually wipe NVRAM on every boot.
Save settings and test cold boot
Press F10 to save and exit. Shut down Windows, switch off the power supply rocker switch for 60 seconds, turn it back on, and verify the PC boots straight into Windows without resetting.
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