Old PC - CMOS Checksum Error, please help

[Diane]

I gave an old pc which hasn’t been switched on since 2004 - kept in a dry cupboard - and I want to check what’s on it before getting rid of it - it has turned on and please see screen pic for what it says - I have plugged in mouse and keyboard but it doesn’t seem to be doing anything - is this fixable? Sorry but I’m a no knowledge person so any help really appreciated

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
I'd just remove the hard drive it has all the data on it then just see about recycle centers near by to drop the pc off at.

 

[delshay]

Hi,
I'd just remove the hard drive it has all the data on it then just see about recycle centers near by to drop the pc off at.

No, don't do that. Read what it says at the bottom of the screen, "press F1 to continue", motherboard battery is most likely dead.
It should load default BIOS settings & start after pressing F1. A new battery is required otherwise that screen will continue to pop up.

 

[Diane]

And how do I do that

 

[The Foldinator]

Did you put in the mouse and keyboard when it was off ?
could try a different USB port if it still doesn't work(keyboard F1)

 

[micropage7]

removing battery can reset the cmos, could be the battery has a little power but can't save any setting anymore
what about open the case and look at the motherboard and you gonna find

just remove the battery and buying the same battery, like in this case CR2032

 

[ThrashZone]

No, don't do that. Read what it says at the bottom of the screen, "press F1 to continue", motherboard battery is most likely dead.
It should load default BIOS settings & start after pressing F1. A new battery is required otherwise that screen will continue to pop up.

Hi,
OP wants to get rid of the machine not save it lol

 

[Athlonite]

Definitely a case of dead cmos battery most supermarkets stock the CR2032 it's an easy replacement item

 

[delshay]

@OP

Start the computer again & if you see that screen again press F1. Computer should still boot even with a dead battery.

Hi,
OP wants to get rid of the machine not save it lol

Yes I know, but the user wants to access the data to check what's on it before discarding.

 

[ThrashZone]

And how do I do that

Hi,
Take a image of the machine and open it up and take a couple of the inside and upload them here for more info.

 

[Diane]

IT WORKS !!!!! I replaced the battery and it’s all working ... got all my pics from years ago so THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH for your help and especially Athlonite who just suggested a battery which very oddly I had

Felt like a right tech whizz with my screwdrivers ... honestly that’s made my day

 

[ThrashZone]

IT WORKS !!!!! I replaced the battery and it’s all working ... got all my pics from years ago so THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH for your help and especially Athlonite who just suggested a battery which very oddly I had

Felt like a right tech whizz with my screwdrivers ... honestly that’s made my day

Hi,
Hard drive is located in this circled bay where the cables connect too
Disconnect them and remove screws holding the hdd in.

Looks like there is two hard drives the other is at the very top just follow the large flat cable

 

[Bones]

That looks like the drive is mounted in a drive cage.
There is an outer screw that looks like you'd remove it and the entire cage assembly with the drive will slip right out.

Once done you can then get to the actual drive mounting screws and remove it from the cage.

 

[delshay]

Hi,
Hard drive is located in this circled bay where the cables connect too
Disconnect them and remove screws holding the hdd in.

Looks like there is two hard drives the other is at the very top just follow the large flat cable

View attachment 168455

Nope, user only has one hard drive, the other is a DVD Rom drive, see very first posting by OP "boot screen". However the OP may want to press the eject button to check no disc is inserted.

 

[Diane]

I have what I need from it - is it just a case of getting rid now? No one would want this would they?

 

[ThrashZone]

I have what I need from it - is it just a case of getting rid now? No one would want this would they?

Hi,
Not sure if you can but fell free to inquire if you can sell it on this sites market place or eBay/.... if not.

TPU's Nostalgic Hardware Club

Hi, 50 something++ is lol I suppose that could be a blessing for some then... :laugh: I'm taking a leaf out of Intel's play book and saying i'm 40+++++++++++++++++ I suppose at the moment I could go with 40=, next year will be 40+ :laugh: Apologies guys, I de-railed a little here!! :laugh:

www.techpowerup.com

If you use bleach bit known to work from Clinton escapades lol you can leave the hdd in.

 

[Bill_Bright]

No one would want this would they?

Probably not. Being that old, it likely will not support W10.

We used to collect used parts and old computers and cobble together parts to make working computers. We then donated them to a local church to give to families with school kids who needed a computer for school. But thanks to the bad guys and their nefarious deeds, schools started to require any connected computer to meet specific and current security requirements, to include being able to run Windows 10.

Computer and motherboard makers will only support their products with current drivers for a few years. At some point, they want you to buy new. So they stop developing current drivers for their legacy products which means that hardware will not support the latest OS and security programs. So, as much as the churches and families wanted and needed working computers, it got so I couldn't even give these "legacy" computers away - the were just too old to meet today's security demands.

Everything came to a stop when support for W7 ended and all the school systems in my area started to require W10.

So, if you don't have any luck selling it, you have two viable options. Contact the Salvation Army, Goodwill, or Disabled Vets and donate it to them. They will either tear it down and remove all the recyclable and hazardous materials and dispose of them properly, in an environmentally safe way. Or they may install a version of Linux on it and find someone or an organization who can then use it. They may also use it in training programs to teach a new skill that helps put wayward people who deserve and need a second chance in life, back on a decent and honest career path.

Goodwill will also "wipe" your drives, though I recommend you do that yourself before getting rid of the computer.

Your second option is to find an electronics recycling center in your area and take it there. They will scrap the aluminum and steel and precious metals (there's gold, for example, in some!). And then they will dispose of everything else in an environmentally safe way. The electronics recycling center in my area even pays us a few cents per pound for the materials that can be recycled. The one in my area will wipe the drives, but again, I recommend wiping the drive yourself first - just to be safe.

Whatever you do, do NOT throw the old computer in the trash where it will just end up as a pollutant in a landfill somewhere.

As far as wiping the hard drive, you really should do that just to ensure there is no personal data on the drive. See How to Wipe (Securely Erase) Your Devices Before Disposing of or Selling Them.

Alternatively, if you have access to one, you could put your drive(s) through a hard drive shredder.

 

[biffzinker]

Whatever you do, do NOT throw the old computer in the trash where it will just end up as a pollutant in a landfill somewhere.

The Salvation Army up here was trashing anything, and everything that wasn't worth their time investment. Sometimes clothing/apparel wasn't ever checked, and went start to the trash. The only stuff not going to a landfill was refrigerators, washing machines, and old CRT/TVs. Maybe it's changed since I was last there in 2009-2010.

 

[Diane]

Thanks very much

 

[rtwjunkie]

I have what I need from it - is it just a case of getting rid now? No one would want this would they?

It’s quite possible that you may be able to sell the parts separately for so eone who has need of older parts....they are out there. Also you might find someone wants the whole thing as a nostalgia build.

 

[Bill_Bright]

The Salvation Army up here was trashing anything, and everything that wasn't worth their time investment. Sometimes clothing/apparel wasn't ever checked, and went start to the trash.

That's too bad. I think that regional commander (or whatever they call that person) should be notified. If nothing else, almost all metals can be recycled - meaning the SA could earn money from the steel and aluminum in computer cases, if nothing else.

I just took a quick look and could not find any stated policy for how the Salvation Army deals with hard drives. When I search Goodwill, I don't see a national policy but when I look at each regional page, they all indicate they are in partnership with Dell via their "Dell Reconnect" program. This program accepts all sorts of electronic items, "of any brand, in any condition".

And as seen here,

Q What happens to my data?

A Dell’s approach to the handling of data storage devices returned to Dell and for any services carried out at your location aligns to the National Institute of Standards and Technology "Guidelines for Media Sanitization” (“NIST 800-88 r1”), and Dell will either:

1. Sanitize the device (in accordance with NIST 800-88 r1 “purge” or “clear” methods) in preparation for reuse; or
2. Destroy the device using physical shredding or other appropriate physical destruction methods (in accordance with NIST SP 800- 88 r1 “destroy” methods) when Dell elects not to reuse the device or when it is pre-sorted for recycling.

I say if in doubt, pull the drive and wipe it (or do a "secure erase" if SSD) yourself before donating or selling the computer.

 

[Dux]

The battery is dead. You need to connect jumper cables from another PC to get it started. Or replace the battery, yes. Idk anything about computers, but i do know about cars. I presume it can't be so much different.

 

[Kursah]

Changed title to something more appropriate for the actual issue at hand. Please do so with new topics in the future.