Compaq Computer Geek Squad Best Buy laughed at when seeking repairs Vancouver British Columbia

1. Most computers have a battery (coin battery) which holds the CMOS memory. However, on newer machines these batteries can easily be replaced. Further, it is a normal proceedure to remove such a battery to FORCE a DOWNLOAD from chip ROM to the CMOS when the CMOS data is corrupted.

2. It's very unlikely that the battery is bad. Most (if not all) NEW computers ship with a lithium cell for the CMOS battery and this battery can easily last 6 - 10 years. Even a cheaper akaline CMOS battery should last 3 years easily. IF your CMOS appears corrupted you should turn the machine OFF (unplugged) and remove this battery for about 15 minutes. Then reinstall the battery and turn the machine on. This will force a reload of CMOS from chip ROM during POST operations.

If this doesn't clear the issue, I would contact COMPAQ for a warranty repair.

In the OLD days (circa 1985) most of the CMOS batteries were in fact SOLDERED to the motherboard. Not any more, unless you purchase a super cheap knockoff from China.

Good luck.

Hope this clarifies the situation!!

It is the bios chip that is welded on the board. When the removable cmos
battery failed, I bought a new battery. Upon installing, I found the bios information gone. Geek Squad stated there is no way to reload the bios.

If it's a new machine contact Compaq (HP) for a warranty repair.

Ok, the first problem is listening to Geek Squad and taking what they tell you as GOSPEL. They appear on some reports here to tell customers something can't be done because THEY don't have the skills or equipment to do it. Look at Ripoff Report http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/292/RipOff0292927.htm and you'll see what I mean.

The chip ROM on most better computers is actually an EPROM or an EEPROM. These types can be reprogrammed with the proper equipment. Lesser machines still in fact use a "one time" ROM that is "burned" and cannot be reprogrammed.

For YOU this doesn't matter. It's a new machine with a warranty so please get hold of HP to arrange a warranty repair. The chip can replaced - doesn't matter if it's soldered to the board or not. I and others have YEARS of experience replacing soldered ICs and repairing multi-layer PCBs.

HP should make arrangements to repair your computer under warranty. Especially for a hard component failure as this. The exception might be if the geeksters actually caused the component failure.

Good luck and let us know what happens. There are other avenues for you to take to get the machine fixed if HP tells you (IN WRITING) they won't cover it and why.

Unless you documented the CMOS settings, he is correct, there is no way to "retrieve" the previous BIOS/CMOS settings.

But it should not be a big deal to set the time and boot sequence etc..

""They are right
Unless you documented the CMOS settings, he is correct, there is no way to 'retrieve' the previous BIOS/CMOS settings.""

They are NOT RIGHT.

CMOS BIOS is reloaded from ROM (forced ROM download) when the machine is unplugged and the CMOS battery is removed, reinstalled, and the system is powered up. This forced download from ROM occurs before the BIOS routines are run (it's triggered by a hard wired signal to the CPU.) This is a common procedure to restore the CMOS when the CMOS bios is corrupted. Further, as part of the POST, the running BIOS software then compares the setup information in CMOS with the actual hardware that is DETECTED during POST-the machine (depending on the BIOS software installed) may autoconfigure the CMOS bios to the actual hardware detected or may direct the operator to go to the bios "setup" utility to confirm/correct the hardware configuration.

Also, FYI, most newer machines come with a "flashable" ROM for the bios. One can go to the bios producer, such as Pheonix) download the upgraded BIOS and FLASH it to the ROM chip. Then force a dowload from the ROM chip to the CMOS bios by unpowering the machine, removing the CMOS battery for 10 minutes or so, reinstalling the CMOS battery and powering the machine.

""But it should not be a big deal to set the time and boot sequence etc..""

IF the BIOS information in the ROM is corrupted or otherwise unusable (won't download to CMOS) you have a PAPERWEIGHT-nothing is going to work-the machine will fail to complete the POST.

-> The author of this report should contact HP to arrange a warranty repair of the machine.

->The geeksters at CC should admit their service shortcomings when they are presented with an issue they CAN'T handle rather than give the customer incorrect or FALSE information.