CMOS MESS

Q: I have a 1998 IBM computer. About two months ago, it started to revert the date and time back to 1998. When I turn on my computer, I get a message to reset the time and date. What is wrong, and how can I fix it? I am 80 yrs. old and computer illiterate.
I. Peterson
A: When I first read your question, I initially thought that it might be the result of something that you have downloaded. My original inclination was that you may have installed a performance program or screen saver on your computer. The third party or store bought versions of these programs have been known to alter your computers time setting. It normally only slows the time down, but it doesn’t revert the date.
There are some viruses that can change the date and time on your computer, but that is not what I would check first. I think that you may be experiencing a fluctuation in the supply of power to the complimentary metal-oxide semiconductor on your computer. This is a way of using fifty-cent words to say that the battery that powers the area of your computer that stores the date and time may be going bad.
The complimentary metal-oxide semiconductor or CMOS is a type of memory chip. This memory chip is dedicated to one task. It remembers the basic settings and configurations of your computer. These basic settings include your computers’ date, time, hard drive configuration, and memory settings. The CMOS has its’ own battery that helps to store this information when your computer is shutdown or unplugged. When the CMOS battery goes bad it is common for it to reset to a date preset by the manufacturer. This would explain why you receive the message each time that you start your computer, and why it reverts to 1998.
You were forthcoming about your computer experience; so I would suggest that you had someone else fix this problem for you. In order to fix it, you need to first try to save the date and time in CMOS setup. You can normally enter the CMOS setup menu by pressing the necessary function key, or the keys on the top of the key board that have the letter “F” and a number, while the computer is starting up. Your computer will tell you which key to use if you watch the screen while the computer is booting up. After saving the date and time in the CMOS setup, continue using the computer before shutting it down. It this doesn’t solve your problem, then your battery would need to be replaced. You would have to remove the case from your computer and replace the battery. It often looks like a watch battery, although some CMOS batteries are soldered onto the motherboard. Once this is done, you only need to set the date and time in the CMOS setup menu. This may be a little too hands on for the novice computer user.