Why do I get Low Battery warning when it's not low?

gregcohen09266 · Joined: Dec 28, 2007 Posts: 5

I have a PC that is giving me a low battery warning when it's turned on.
I have replaced the battery twice, the second time having the battery tested to ensure that it's good.
Occasionaly the hard drive will not be found during the boot process.
What will give a low battery warning when the battery in not low?

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 2238 Location: Central FL, USA

Please do what we ask of every poster....give us all the particulars on your PC, OS, etc.

I could only assume that you're talking about the little coin-type, CMOS battery?
On a desktop computer?
That's several years old?
Running XP?

If my guesses are correct then probably what you need to do is reset the CMOS memory chip on your PC. To do that, you must remove all power from your system, then remove the CMOS battery and leave it out for about a half hour, before replacing it.

Out of the system the battery must show a minimum of 3.0 volts on a digital volt meter. If it's anything less, the battery won't be able to supply enough power to the CMOS chips to maintain the memory, once it's back in the circuit.

I saw one IBM desktop PC that would eat a battery every four months.
Defective motherboards like that do show up occasionally. Replacement is the only fix.

Also, while inside your PC, look at the can-type electrolytic capacitors on the motherboard. They should all be perfectly flat and shiny on top. If any are bulging or discolored they are failing and you will probably need a new motherboard.

Without more info, that's all I can tell you now.

Good Luck,
The Doctor Cool

gregcohen09266 · Joined: Dec 28, 2007 Posts: 5

Gateway PC 5-7 years old, running XP Pro SP3.
I didn't think there was another battery in a PC besides the CMOS battery.
I will try the CMOS memory chip reset this weekend and report the results.

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 2238 Location: Central FL, USA

Still we know nothing about your computer, except that is was made some years ago by Gateway.

If it's a desktop and not a laptop, then the little CR-2032, coin-type battery is the ONLY one on the motherboard or anywhere in the system.

That mobo is old enough that it might be doing anything.
It's already past its normal life expectancy. Crying or Very sad

Did you look at the capacitors on the mobo, yet?

Do that while you're doing the CMOS reset.

Doc Cool

Baby_Tux · Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 1242

From the original post, I assumed a NOTEBOOK. - I definitely need to quit assuming.

Wink

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 2238 Location: Central FL, USA

That's why, in all the "Read Before you Post" messages on ALL help forums, it's requested that a person tell all they can about their PC and the problems they are having, including any history concerning the problem, , ,
so that the people trying to help them don't have to "Assume" anything.

I didn't get the Laptop or Notebook idea at all from that somewhat cryptic post.

Baby_Tux · Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 1242

alphanumeric · Joined: Jun 02, 2004 Posts: 651

Where exactly are you getting this low battery warning? BIOS or system tray? If its in the system tray my guess is that XP thinks you have a laptop when in fact its perhaps a desktop?