CMOS checksum error

[erictrumpet]

Hi guys,

Not sure where to post this, software forum seemed most appropriate.

Got an old (2002) P4 machine I'm setting up as a MAME computer. Very simple box: ASUS P4PE mobo, 1Gb "newer" memory (single chip from Kingston, 2005), a single optical drive, floppy (gotta have that floppy! lol), one hard drive, Nvidia GeForce3 video card. Everything clean, brand new XP install on freshly formatted drive (also "newer," 2005).

At bootup, it sometimes pauses on a CMOS checksum error. If I hit F1 to continue the boot sequence, all is well, no issues. This error does not appear at every bootup. So... 1. What's causing it? 2. Does it even need fixing?

The two things I thought of (and now I'm out of ideas)...

Memory: I'm fairly confident the memory is good (and it is the correct type for the mobo); I did not scavenge it from a dead abandoned machine or anything like that, it's a NOS chip.

Mobo battery: it seems to remember all settings so I don't have any reason to suspect it is dead/dying. But it is old (2002), and obviously that would be a cheap thing to try, might be worth replacing anyway.

Thoughts?

Thanks

Eric.

[Thenasty]

ckeck the battery

[Edwards80]

Have seen hundreds of CMOS error messages - has been the battery in every single case bar one, which was caused by the motherboard dying.

Has the PC been off for a long time before you started setting it up? Leaving it on for 24 hours could charge the CMOS battery and stop the error.

Otherwise, spend a few pennies on a new one

[erictrumpet]

Thanks for the replies guys.
Edwards80, yes it was off for a while - the machine was off for literally 2 years or so. Since rebuilding it, I've had it on maybe 3 hours continuously. I'll try leaving it on. I'll also order a new battery

Eric.