leverhelven Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 So, I had some problems with my Internet provider and had no connection for nearly a week. During this time, I only turned my laptop on once, since there isn't much to do in it without internet connection. Anyways, two days ago I got my internet back, and I've been back to using my laptop. Thing is, since then, its clock has been crazy! Whenever I turn it on, a message appears saying the clock is outdated (usually it's got a crazy date, like 2049 or 2021), so I have to manually correct the date and the hour. Also, whenever this happens, I've noticed that all sites I've marked to be kept logged on (such as Facebook or even Neopets) get logged out. It's so annoying! I wonder what's happening... Can anyone help? :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angeló Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 There is a small battery, called CMOS, inside the laptop that keeps the date and time. It is about the size of a nickle. It may need changing. It's usually pretty cheap. leverhelven and ikids 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shane for Wax Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 Well, some laptops you can recharge the CMOS (tho I've never messed with one and I doubt lever has one of them). I will have to ask, did you remove then put the main laptop battery back? Sometimes that messes with the CMOS. I will suggest you try to find the manufacturer and model of your computer to try to track down which battery you need. You could open it up to find the battery, but it's kinda risky if you don't know what you're doing. If you're curious you can see the process here. Or you could skip all these steps and take it to a comp tech but it will most likely be cheaper in the long run if you know which battery you need, then you buy it, before taking it into the tech so you don't end up paying a higher price for the component they are replacing (prices for components bought from the comp tech can be higher than if you'd bought it somewhere else). leverhelven 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoobert_Doo Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 There is a small battery, called CMOS, inside the laptop that keeps the date and time. It is about the size of a nickle. It may need changing. It's usually pretty cheap. I second that. If every time you boot up your laptop and you get that message, it usually is a good indication the CMOS battery is going bad or bad. And they are usually inexpensive, as Angelo has stated. Common type used to be CR2032, but as Shane for Wax said, you need to check first and I too agree with if you do not feel comfortable working on yuor laptop, take it to a shop. If it was a computer desktop or tower, you can (usually) see the battery on the motherboad, after taking the cover off. However, laptops are a different "beast", as they are so compact and the CMOS battery might not be easy to get to. 2049 or 2021? It sounds like you have a time machine, instead of a laptop :laughingsmiley: ! leverhelven 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96037 Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 I've never heard of that before, thats kinda cool. Do they put batteries like that in lots of things with clocks? I know you have to be carful when touching the insides of laptop because if any static or anything gets in it it will create shorts and other annoying problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leverhelven Posted March 14, 2015 Author Share Posted March 14, 2015 Thanks for the help, guys! Now, how can I explain it to the tech guy without sounding like the n00b I am? I mean, usually these people abuse our naïveté (because they know we don't have a clue what's going on) and charge abusive prices/pretend there's a much bigger problem. Like, how can I explain it to the person so that they believe I totes know what the problem is and that they won't be able to trick me? Is that even possible? :mellow: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shane for Wax Posted March 14, 2015 Share Posted March 14, 2015 Actually, we (techs) won't generally abuse your naive nature unless you are being deliberately thick and unwilling to help us fix an issue for you. We don't want to trick you by any means. It's really only the butts who do that, but the majority of us will not go for the straight up butt behavior at first blush. If you annoy us, that's when the kids gloves come off. All you have to say is that you know there's an issue with your CMOS and you'd like it replaced. So long as you've found and bought a replacement, that's an instant hint that you know what you're talking about. You simply have to explain you aren't entirely confident about opening up your laptop without causing further accidental damage and it'll be gravy from there. Computer techs are not the same as motor techs who will try to make you spend more than you should be on something. And even then it's usually based in sexism. Once you prove you know what you're talking about and wanting done to things, you should be fine. You are entirely within your rights to ask for a quote on how much it should cost to simply replace the battery and then shop around for other prices for the same thing. Which you should always do to begin with when it comes to repairs. leverhelven 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoobert_Doo Posted March 14, 2015 Share Posted March 14, 2015 Just tell them, "I would like my laptop's CMOS battery replaced, please, and how much would that cost?" If they ask you why, just tell them, "Every time I boot my laptop, I have a message the date/time is off". A replacement battery shouldn't cost more than $5.00 US, and, maybe, $5.00 US for their maintenance time. (Not sure in your currency). I honestly do not know how much a shop charges, on the average, for computer maintenance, but it shouldn't take them long to do it (10 to 15 min) and I wouldn't expect more than $10 US total. If you buy the battery from them, they may not even charge to replace it. However, I second Shane for Wax's comment. Good computer techs do not try to take advantage. If they offer other services, ask if it is free or included, and, if not, politely decline. Ask for a quote, as he suggested. If they insist on performing something else with a battery replacement, go somewhere else. leverhelven 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shane for Wax Posted March 14, 2015 Share Posted March 14, 2015 I will say that sometimes they are required to offer other services, but most of us hate having to do that so we'll generally not press the issue. Unless of course we've been instructed to do just that which honestly sucks but you can sometimes circumvent it by saying something like 'you're required to ask me about this aren't you? I don't want anything else but what I came here for, thank you" which will relieve the pressure on us. Being polite and patient is usually the key with retail workers, including techs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leverhelven Posted March 14, 2015 Author Share Posted March 14, 2015 Actually, we (techs) won't generally abuse your naive nature unless you are being deliberately thick and unwilling to help us fix an issue for you. We don't want to trick you by any means. It's really only the butts who do that, but the majority of us will not go for the straight up butt behavior at first blush. If you annoy us, that's when the kids gloves come off. All you have to say is that you know there's an issue with your CMOS and you'd like it replaced. So long as you've found and bought a replacement, that's an instant hint that you know what you're talking about. You simply have to explain you aren't entirely confident about opening up your laptop without causing further accidental damage and it'll be gravy from there. Computer techs are not the same as motor techs who will try to make you spend more than you should be on something. And even then it's usually based in sexism. Once you prove you know what you're talking about and wanting done to things, you should be fine. You are entirely within your rights to ask for a quote on how much it should cost to simply replace the battery and then shop around for other prices for the same thing. Which you should always do to begin with when it comes to repairs. I'm sorry if I offended you as a tech! It wasn't my intention :) It's just that Gérson's Law rules my country. Especially in Rio, it is almost cultural that people will try to take advantage on you, so we always expect the worst... That's why cariocas are famous for their malandragem :tired: I wish one of you guys lived around so you could just do it for me! It'd be so much safer :P Especially because I'll have to call a technician to my home since there aren't many safe ways to leave your home with your laptop around here. Oh well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shane for Wax Posted March 15, 2015 Share Posted March 15, 2015 Haha nah I'm not offended. I've suffered a lot worse. It's why I'm retired now. Wasn't a fan of being yelled at for something not my fault. Besides, I've met some techs who decide that if the customer 'can't bother to learn about computers' then they 'won't bother to be honest'. Pfft. (Though those terms linked are helpful thanks to a recent character I made so hey) leverhelven 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leverhelven Posted March 15, 2015 Author Share Posted March 15, 2015 GUYS. The problem has changed slightly now... Now my laptop remembers the correct date, but misses the correct time. Is it possible that the battery is coming back from the dead? :weird: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shane for Wax Posted March 15, 2015 Share Posted March 15, 2015 Not unless it's one of the rare rechargeable ones and you've been charging it cause your laptop is plugged in. Batteries are known for doing these kinds of things even when they're on their last legs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leverhelven Posted March 15, 2015 Author Share Posted March 15, 2015 Not unless it's one of the rare rechargeable ones and you've been charging it cause your laptop is plugged in. Batteries are known for doing these kinds of things even when they're on their last legs. Awww bummer. I was starting to get my hopes high :P Well, guess I'll have to look for a tech after all... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shane for Wax Posted March 15, 2015 Share Posted March 15, 2015 It's kind of like when you roll your batteries in a remote (if you've ever done that or heard of people doing it). It's mostly a placebo. lol leverhelven 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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