You are here:
Windows XP/BIOS
Advertisement
Question
QUESTION: Hi, I'm attempting to update my BIOS, after I reinstalled windows xp, but every time I download it and restart my computer, it starts up and it says CMOS Settings Wrong, giving me the option to run setup or to load the defaults and continue. Every time I got in and checked to see if my BIOS had been updated, it wasn't.
Now after searching a bit I thought it was because my BIOS guardian/protection was not disabled. In order to disable it, I found out I need to go into BIOS and it should be under the Advanced Settings, I searched all of them, but could not find anything relating to BIOS guardian/protection. If it's called something else or if it's somewhere else I don't know.
ANSWER: Michael,
Please let me know your system specifics. I should be able to point you to the correct BIOS and check their website for installation details.
Tom
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Time of this report: 6/29/2009, 22:48:49
Machine name: MICHAEL-AC293BD
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.090206-1234)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: MICRO-STAR INC.
System Model: MS-6728
BIOS: Version 1.00
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.40GHz (2 CPUs)
Memory: 1024MB RAM
Page File: 374MB used, 2087MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.5512 32bit Unicode
err well I'm not sure exactly if this is what you meant by the specifics... I have an MSi motherboard and so I went to their website and used their Live Update thing to find the update for my BIOS I needed. I did it in windows mode because I don't have a floppy drive.
Michael,
From what I found it sounds like your battery on the motherboard is dead or dying. You should be able to get one at Radio Shack or an electonics store. The battery is used to save your time and date also. Does the time and date stay between boots?
Tom
Related Articles
- BIOS Definition - What is the BIOS? - Basic Input Output System
- Linux Newbie Administrator Guide - 4.2 Users, passwords, file permissions, and security
- Linux Plug And Play How-To - Plug-and-Play-HOWTO: Setting up a PnP BIOS
- BIOS Version - How To Find the BIOS Version from the Microsoft System Information Program
- BIOS Version - How To Find the BIOS Version in the Windows Registry
Answers by Expert:
Tom Guertin
Expertise
I can answer Desktop and Laptop hardware questions as well as software questions. I have worked as a programmer 9 years, test/QA 9 years, and system administration 7 years. Having a diverse background helps in diagnosing computer problems.
Experience
Rocket Software Oct 14, 2002 – Present
Senior Systems Engineer: Responsible for all software and hardware installations, analysis, and support on all desktops and laptops. Support 200 remote employees along with 5 remote sites. Build servers, test, and build systems. Manage Active Directory, Exchange, Call Manager, and Unity accounts.
EMC Corporation Dec 31, 1999 – Nov 11, 2001
Senior Software QA Team Lead Engineer: Responsible for full software quality assurance of EMC's SymAPI and SymCLI software for Base and Control functionality.
Created full regression test suite in perl.
Peritus Software Services Sep 4, 1994 – Mar 30, 2001
Senior Software Engineer: Maintain outsourced code for CV, BULL, DG (UNIX), and Stratus (UNIX). Assist Y2K renovation team as project leader and COBOL renovator for Y2K compliance.
Team leader for as many as 21 engineers.
Supported DG AOS/VS II and AVIION (UNIX) communications products and AOS/VS II Databases. Maintained DG’s patch download website by modifying the XML web page, making each fix available.
Sys admin for both DG AOS/VS II and AVIION (UNIX) platforms.
BULL Worldwide Information Systems Inc. Aug 1988 – Sep 1994
Senior Software Engineer: Designed, Developed, Maintained, and Component Tested File System, Printer, and Device Utilities in an ISO 9000 environment using Assembly and C.
Maintained 21 utilities, fixing all problems within company wide goal.
Re-wrote 5 utilities in assembly with only 1 reported problem since 1989.
Maintained a Dump Analysis Utility, which enables users to follow system structures, dump group information, and analyze memory.
SQA component tested all DPS6 utilities.
KRAFT Inc., Dairy Group Oct 1986 - Aug 1988
Computer Programmer: Designed and developed a program that accounts for all maintenance parts, repairs, and moneys using DBASE III Plus.
Purchasing agent for all building and machine maintenance.
Education/Credentials
EDUCATION: University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
Major: BS. Computer Systems Engineering
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.