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128032
November 5th, 2003 17:00
"Alert! System Battery Voltage low" message at boot up
I originally added this to a post in the Dell Dimension BIOS thread, but it seems to be more appropriate to a hardware problem.
I use a Dell Dimension 8300, 3.06ghz Pentium, 2GB RAM and Raid 0 dual HD 220GB purchased 9th September this year.
In the last few days, whenever I perform a cold boot, (switching on from a period of being switched off), I get the following message at the BIOS screen;
"Alert! System battery voltage is low. - Strike the F1 key to continue, F2 to run the setup utility"
F1 works ok. F2 just brings me to the BIOS setup, and there is no suggestion of any problems appropriate to the system battery voltage.
In the BIOS thread it was suggested by a non-Dell moderator that the problem is a known one, and it could be the surge protector. I unplugged my PC from it and plugged it into the mains directly, and this appears to have solved the problem. But it raises other question?
I purchased the surge protector from Dell with the PC to protect my system from mains voltage surges. I am now unprotected.
What type of problem is this? Is it that particular type of surge protector? Is it all surge protectors? Is it Dell's system battery configuration? How can I protect my system from voltage peaks? What should I do to protect from voltage surges if Dell does not recommend the use of surge supressors or if the battery error always comes up when attached to a surge supressor? Is the battery really low, or is this an error message that is supposed to be warning you that the voltage will become low if you continue to connect to a surge suppressor? (I understand that even with the battery, most computers require some small amount of current (flea power) to reach the motherboard even when the power is off and this does not happen when connected to a surge supressor).
Your advice would be appreciated.
Many thanks
Mark
I use a Dell Dimension 8300, 3.06ghz Pentium, 2GB RAM and Raid 0 dual HD 220GB purchased 9th September this year.
In the last few days, whenever I perform a cold boot, (switching on from a period of being switched off), I get the following message at the BIOS screen;
"Alert! System battery voltage is low. - Strike the F1 key to continue, F2 to run the setup utility"
F1 works ok. F2 just brings me to the BIOS setup, and there is no suggestion of any problems appropriate to the system battery voltage.
In the BIOS thread it was suggested by a non-Dell moderator that the problem is a known one, and it could be the surge protector. I unplugged my PC from it and plugged it into the mains directly, and this appears to have solved the problem. But it raises other question?
I purchased the surge protector from Dell with the PC to protect my system from mains voltage surges. I am now unprotected.
What type of problem is this? Is it that particular type of surge protector? Is it all surge protectors? Is it Dell's system battery configuration? How can I protect my system from voltage peaks? What should I do to protect from voltage surges if Dell does not recommend the use of surge supressors or if the battery error always comes up when attached to a surge supressor? Is the battery really low, or is this an error message that is supposed to be warning you that the voltage will become low if you continue to connect to a surge suppressor? (I understand that even with the battery, most computers require some small amount of current (flea power) to reach the motherboard even when the power is off and this does not happen when connected to a surge supressor).
Your advice would be appreciated.
Many thanks
Mark
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Denny Denham
2 Intern
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18.8K Posts
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November 5th, 2003 19:00
This problem has been posted several times which seems to indicate that Dell may have gotten a bad batch of CMOS batteries. Why plugging the computer directly into the wall socket corrected the problem is a mystery to me.
I'd give Dell tech support a call. Your system is probably still under warranty and if the CMOS battery is failing they will send you a new one. Instructions for changing the battery are here. Your system uses a 3-V CR2032 lithium coin cell battery (should you choose to purchase one locally).
Dell does not recommend not using a surge protector. That is the least amount of protection that should be used for protection against surges and spikes (an uninterruptible power system is even better).
salucchi
2 Intern
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275 Posts
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December 3rd, 2003 23:00
Hi,
I just received my new Dimension 8300 yesterday. When I booted up tonight, I received the same error you received with your system. I checked other threads and found one where a moderator suggested reseating the cmos battery. I opened my case and pushed down on the battery and heard it "click" or lock into place. I rebooted my machine and received a few post start-up beeps. I needed to reset the system time and I also needed to re-enable hyper threading on my machine. I rebooted a few time since and no longer have the error. Hope this helps anyone who may experience the same problem.
markflax
12 Posts
0
December 4th, 2003 17:00
Thanks for your comments.
I got that advice when I emailed Dell Support. They have suggested I re-seat the CMOS battery.
I haven't gotten round to doing it yet, but it does seem to be the problem.
It's good that it's worked for you, and thanks again.
Mark
WarHawk109
14 Posts
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December 4th, 2003 17:00
markflax
12 Posts
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December 5th, 2003 16:00
????
Yeah, sure!
I trust you like I trust Saddam Hussein
Lucimir_332b2b
19 Posts
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December 5th, 2003 17:00
Good to see this advice
I have exactly the same problem with a two week old problem
so I will give it a go
from Lucimi
Cornflakes
2 Intern
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133 Posts
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December 5th, 2003 19:00
Hello Forum,
I have a Dell Dim. 8200. I have been having this problem off and on since i got my computer in 2002. i have noticed that when I get this message it says press F1 or F2. So i press F2 to go into BIOS settings to see if I can find a problem there. Whenever I get this message I notice that the Time setting is at the top of the list and is highlighted. I then press F1 to go back to desktop and checkout the Event Viewer and I always find the same warning message. That Time Service was unable to synchronize system time, System time is unsynchronized. It is reported as Error W32 Time.. So I go into Date and Time properties, under Internet Time tab and click on update and the time synchronizes and the battery warning message goes away. I don't know if this could be everyones problem but it is something to look for next time the Low Battery Warning appears.. One more thing, there is nothing wrong with my battery.. Lee
silly_Lilly
1 Rookie
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54 Posts
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December 16th, 2003 22:00
Tell me how the magnet works and the Theory behind it!! Won't that do some other kind of damage???
Linda
RP-L2
2 Intern
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617 Posts
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December 16th, 2003 23:00
Here's what tech support told me. They said that this has been an issue with Dimension 8200, 8250, 8300, and XPS. Problem is usually caused by the CMOS battery but they added that this issue is caused by the grounding protection of certain surge protectors. This has been seen mainly with the Belkin Surge Master power strip but other surge protectors are known to cause this same error message.
markflax
12 Posts
0
December 17th, 2003 18:00
What ever you do, please don't place a magnet next to or on the hard drive.
The idiot who said that would appear to be a malicious maniac. (Did I spell malicious correctly?). Whatever, it is plain dangerous.
These are the suggestions I have read.
1] Re-seat the CMOS battery. Sounds good. I haven't tried it myself 'cause I'm a weak-kneed chicken and wouldn't dare open up the case or touch the circuit boards myself. I'm waiting for a friend to do it for me who understands these things. But one person replied and said it seems to work.
2] Re-flash the BIOS. Whoa! scary!! See above reference to weak-kneed chicken. I'm not even telling my friend about this unless everything else fails. Even then he has to sign a contract promising he will buy me a new computer when the insides burn out.
3] Unplug the PC power lead from the surge protector and plug it straight into the mains. I did this, shivering with fear in case a mains surge fried my PC, but so far so good. It "did" solve the problem for a few days but then the fault returned, intemittently. Don't you just love that word? Intermittent. It's the word you use when you take a car/vehicle to a garage with a fault and the mechanic groans when you say it's an "intermittent" problem.
4] Cornflakes suggestion was that the system time was wrong. I did as he said, (Start/Settings/Control Panel/Date&Time Properties and click on the "Internet Time" tab, and put a tick next to the "automatically synchonise with an internet time server" option. I had to find a site that worked from the pull down list, but, since then, I have had no System Alert messages.
I'm not sure how this should have worked. The error message always appeared before Windows started up, and the Date&Time properties is a Windows utility, which would not have kicked in until after the start up system, (CMOS, BIOS, etc), had checked itself and finished loading. It seems back to front to me.
But anyway. Since then, (about 2 weeks ago), I haven't had the alert error message re-appear. So my problem seems to have disappeared. Don't worry, if it re-appears, I'll be back, kicking and screaming and moaning as well as the rest.
Anyway, good luck.
Mark Flaxman
Lucimir_332b2b
19 Posts
0
December 17th, 2003 18:00
Dear Mark
Good to see a common sense message.
I should have made it clear that I too was frightened stiff about opening the computer. And what I failed to write was the whole scenario that went on before. ( I had written it all down as a reply but I kept losing my Aol connection which was driving me up the wall and with that I kept losing all that I had written. So my posting was a cut down version of events)
Basically, I was not happy to open up any brand new computer knowing full well that I could innocently damage the motherboard and have total failure if even one spark of static got in. I exchanged many an email with Dell and its customer service expressing my worries about this flashing bios and clearing nvram business. I did attempt to do it but was having problems with that. Anyhow basically I then insisted that they activated my warranty as this was getting ridiculous, I am not a computer technician and most computer advice states that you should never open up the computer unless you know what you are doing. I dont qualify in this area. Anyhow they then said that I would be covered if I messed up. They also sent another email to say DONT FLASH THE BIOS OR TOUCH THE NVRAM. ( after I had spent a number of days trying to do just that.)
So the clear message coming back was reseat the CMOS battery. I followed the instructions to the T. including the touching of the metal in order to ground the whatever and the rest is history ( so far)
from Lucimir
markflax
12 Posts
0
December 18th, 2003 16:00
I'm glad it worked for you, re-seating the battery I mean. Like you say, let's see if it works.
I had a wry grin about the contradictory messages Dell was giving you, Flash/Don't flash the BIOS. Sure gives you confidence in expert technicians don't it! :)
I have to say that my Dell PC is brilliant, and I love it to bits. These little problems are just there to test us I reckon. To see if we will go mad with frustration! Well I won't. Go mad that is.
So, gotta go, they've arrived to put me back in my straight jacket!
Regards,
Mark
Lucimir_332b2b
19 Posts
0
December 18th, 2003 17:00
my family believe me to be a direct descendant
of lucifer.
markflax
12 Posts
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December 19th, 2003 16:00
LOL
pasthegray
3 Posts
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December 19th, 2003 17:00