Desktops General - Read Only

[dgh]

Hi when I boot up the new machine I just bought it has the following  Alert message showing

System Battery Voltage is Low options F1 to continue F2 to review set up

Can anybody advise on what this is about please ?

[volcano11]

Many people have been reporting this recently on new machines.  Normally the small battery on the motherboard does not run low for several years, but because there are so many reports of this problem on new systems, it sounds like mayber Dell got a batch of bad batterys.  Call Tech Support and have them send you a battery, or look in the system docuemtation and go to Radio Shack and get a new one if you are in a hurry.

Steve

[ejn63]

Dell claims the problem is caused by some surge suppressors - and that you can eliminate it by removing the surge suppressor and plugging the PC directly into the wall outlet. 

[volcano11]

ejn63,

That's really interesting.  Has Dell put out a knowledge base article on this issue?  Is the problem with surge suppressors in general or just some surge suppressors.  Is the problem specific to certain models of computers?  If it is surge suppressors in general or restricted to certain models of computers, does Dell have any suggestions on protecting a system from surges?  Any further information you can provide would be most welcome.

Steve

[dgh]

Hi

Thanks for the help on this, Dell Support responded to the question I sent them basically saying

1) Clear NVRAM

2) Reset system set up options

3) Clear System Event Log in BIOS Screen

These did not resolve the problem the next step did

4) Record the System Setup Settings

5) Remove the Battery and reinstall it

The battery must have been lose because reinstalling it appears to have cleared the problem at the moment

Regards

David

[cutalot]

There have been a lot of answers to the question of the "battery voltage is low" question.  I have found out through testing that the surge protector answer is correct. There is a problem with the Belkin surge protectors that have been shipped with the most recent Dimension models. They are producing a false "low battery voltage" warning.

The only way to keep the message from popping up is to remove the computer from the surge protector and plug it into another one or into the wall. This however causes a risk to your computer as it is now not protected from surges or power failures.

I think we all need to get on Dell's case and have them ship out newer surge protectors. Remember, we were forced to buy them with the purchase of our computers.

[Sascha74]

I have same error two month ago and postet this in my own thread. I have no surge protector installed. After update my Dimesion 8300 to bios A03 error has gone.

Have you made any changes to your system? If I have installed a second IDE-cable (because of two CD-Rom-drives) and there it was: Battery low warning. I don´t think that the surge protector has to do something with the error

[The_Namek]

cutalot,
The option not to purchase a surge protector from Dell is available on the 3rd page (Select Accessories) of their online configurator. It does have the 10 outlet Belkin SurgeMaster Gold checked by default but you can uncheck that selection and go with no surge protector.

[silly_Lilly]

Does this apply to the Belkin Surgmaster Battery Back-Up as well??

[silly_Lilly]

Dell is saying do not flash the BIOS now, has flashing yours still corrected your error message?

Linda~