BIOS battery backup issue...

Layback Bear said:

I think trying a different power strip would be the next thing to do. I don't use power strips. I use surge protectors and I shut them off several times a day. The only thing I can think of is the power strip has a partial power to ground short causing the problem. You could also try just plugging the computer into the wall outlet; when done shut the computer down and unplug it from the wall. Plug it back in again and boot your computer and see if their/there is still a problem.
If I have missed this action already has been done I apologize.

No need to apologize, I appreciate your help...

I've been contemplating some short issue that may change some of the CMOS/BIOS bits that triggers running the setup. My thinking was more around the motherboard than the power strip, but I'll try couple of things:

1. Shut off the power supply switch, once the PC is shutdown
2. Change the power strip
3. Change the outlet where the power strip connected to

There had been no changes made to either the outlet or the power strip for almost two years, the life of PC so far. And you might be right, power strips do go bad with time and so do outlets.

It's still hard to understand how it can impact the CMOS/BIOS settings? Windows shutdown kills the power and then I flip the switch to the power strip. As such, even if there's some search resulting in flipping the switch on the power strip, it should not impact the PC since the power supply is off by that time.

The power supply could have some problem when the system shuts it off, but I sort of doubt that. When the power strip is shut off for 10-15 minutes only, the PC boots just fine. It's the longer term, an hour or more, when the machine stops at BIOS setup.

Despite the stop at setup, all previous CMOS/BIOS settings are unchanged. That different from the original issue, where some of the CMOS/BIOS settings were lost. The change is probably due to flushing the BIOS couple of days ego.

Did I mention that I hate to learn about BIOS issues? Especially my own...

Layback Bear said:

A long time ago I did run into a problem with the on/off switch on the tower with a slight short that would drain the cmos when the power was off. Just like one would do to reset the bios. Remove power and hold down button for 30 sec. That took a long time to figure out.

Your suggestion looks promising, based on the initial test it might just work...

I've shutdown Windows, turned off the power strip, returned after about an hour, flipped on the power, started the PC, and voila, it booted without the BIOS complaining. Can't wait for the results of overnight test...

Layback Bear said:

Please keep us informed. You are having a strange problem. Sometimes it takes strange things to solve them.

Your solution to fix this issue has been just as strange as the issue in itself. The PC started up just fine this morning, without stopping at the BIOS screen. I am still shaking my head in disbelieve, but glad that your suggested fix worked.

Thanks Layback Bear