BIOS gave strange "New CPU detected" message

[Marty McFly]

Following a recent security concern, my computer suddenly started acting very weird and slow, so just to be safe, I quickly shut down with the intention of re-installing Windows, but then something strange happened...

A couple of days later I hooked up a CD drive to reinstall Windows, plus a blank hard drive. To my surprise, when I booted, the BIOS informed me that a NEW CPU had been detected and it was being installed! This made no sense as I have made absolutely no hardware changes. This strange message only ever appeared once.

Since then, my graphics card has also been really strange (even with a clean Windows re-install). The graphics are glitching not only in Windows but in the BIOS right from the splash screen.

I'm wondering if malware could have flashed my HARDWARE?

 

[samuria]

What is most likely is the cmos battery is dead so it cleared the bios and it thinks its got a new cpu put a new battery in and see if that cures it if the battery has died bios setting may all be wrong

 

[Marty McFly]

Thank you Samuria. I've just remembered that my computer's clock suddenly became very inaccurate (by hours) which has never happened before, so this would seem consistent with the idea of the battery having run out. I'm not sure where the battery is or how to replace it, but the clock seems to be keeping time now so maybe it's been recharged by running the machine more?

 

[samuria]

The clock will be right if windows updates from time server its normally very clear were the battery its normally near the back on the mother board it just pops out

 

[SIW2]

Packs of 6 or 8 are available in pound shops.

 

[Marty McFly]

Thanks guys.

Maybe is the battery but it seems a strange coincidence that the battery failed exactly the same time as my OS died and I had to reinstall.

 

[samuria]

Not really if the battery fails the bios will revert to default that can stop windows booting

 

[siliconbeaver]

Sometimes, old PC intermittently run into malfunctionality status. and reset CMOS battery (not really replace it. take it out then put it back later) could help.

my ECS GF7100 with DDR2 is over 15 yrs old. still runs good. but occasionally when boot-up it pop-up "super-user password" which I never setup. I was trying some meaningful or meaningless passwords. but none worked. ECS web no any solution as it's completely out-of-date. hence the PC blocked at boot. No BIOS access.

After tested various solutions, it's found, an easy fix is to remove its CMOS battery, leave it out awhile then put it back. then PC can boot normally again.
It is maybe the time to replace CMOS battery. the PC is too old, no plan to spend any more.

 

[videobruce]

One would think that M$ would/could design something built into the O/S that could detect that, or at least report oddities than maybe the result of that happening.

 

[maxseven]

The CMOS glitches which result from battery depletion have caused me no end of problems over the years. Probably because I've left PCs shut-down and disconnected from power for months at a time (we have two homes), when I've returned and tried to power-up again, well it doesn't work. As I type this I have two computers that are dead and replacing the CMOS batteries have not revived them.

 

[Mike Lynch]

Ditto!

I have four Gateway AIO PC's that are doing something similar.

They were retired from my son's business about four years ago.
I like them so much; I was unable to send them to the Recycle Center.
Recently, I decided to clean them up and reload W7-Pro and sell them.
I tried by replacing the Battery like you did.
Zippo, nada, nothing!
All four reacted the same and essentially did nothing.
They gave no indication of trying to boot into the BIOS.
I'm at a loss as to what's wrong but will leave any additional symptoms or solutions I come across.

 

[videobruce]

Interesting that both of you report Intel based MB's (not necessary made by Intel) with the problem, not to say it couldn't happen with other MB manufactures.
How about AMD based next time. None of that has ever happened to any AMD based MB in my 25 years of tinkering.

 

[maxseven]

I have four Gateway AIO PC's that are doing something similar.
They were retired from my son's business about four years ago.
I like them so much; I was unable to send them to the Recycle Center.
Recently, I decided to clean them up and reload W7-Pro and sell them.
I tried by replacing the Battery like you did.
Zippo, nada, nothing!
All four reacted the same and essentially did nothing.
They gave no indication of trying to boot into the BIOS.
I'm at a loss as to what's wrong but will leave any additional symptoms or solutions I come across.

Good grief. I can understand the BIOS getting "scrambled" when an unplugged PC sits for a long time and the CMOS battery gets depleted, but to render the mobo dead?

One of my mobos is an Intel and the other is an MSI. I suppose I should look again and see if there are any e.g. jumper resets that can be applied to these motherboards.

 

[videobruce]

Has anyone considered the 'bad caps' issue/problem from decades ago?? I would like to assume those problems were taken care of, but you never know.

Those "AIO" deals, are those the ones that have the 'guts' built into the back of the monitor?

 

[maxseven]

Has anyone considered the 'bad caps' issue/problem from decades ago??

I have not. Will have to look, though neither of my mobos is "decades" old.

 

[Mike Lynch]

BEHIND the monitor!

 

[videobruce]

But it is one piece?

 

[Mike Lynch]

You might say that/
The Monitor is attached to the rest of the PC by a swivel device.
Like if the Monitor was attached to a wall.
It's totally separate and can be removed and a non Gateway Monitor attached.

 

[videobruce]

Seems different than what I saw once. Not that I would ever consider anything like that. I want separates, which is why I don't like Laptops, all one can do is swap/upgrade the HDD or add more memory.

 

[maxseven]

I have a Gateway Profile 6 that I've not used in a long time but intend to power-up again this summer, for my garage.