BIOS settings keep changing

Motherboards use a small battery that provides just enough power to retain hardware configuration data, as well as the date and time. In older PCs this battery is actually soldered to the motherboard and is difficult to replace without expert assistance. Many newer motherboards use a small battery that looks much like the ones you’d find in a calculator or watch, and if you research the specifications on your motherboard, you can determine the battery model and find a replacement. You may have to open your PC to find out what kind of battery your motherboard uses.

You can open the case and look at the motherboard battery after you follow a few basic safety precautions, which you’ll want to use every time you open your computer. Disconnect the power cable and then move the computer to an area where you can work comfortably. Remove the case, and before you go poking around inside, touch a doorknob or other grounded metal to prevent static electricity discharge, which can render your PC’s sensitive parts useless.

Locating the battery is easy. Most batteries are about the size of a nickel, and you will see a plus sign (+) facing you. Different motherboards use different types of retaining clips, but these are pretty basic. Just undo the clip, remove the old battery, and pop in the new one.

Replace the case, reconnect the power cable, and start up your PC. Motherboards respond differently to the battery replacement procedure. In some cases your PC may start up normally, but there’s also a chance that your computer will indicate that settings have changed and then load the BIOS menu. You may have to set some basic information in this menu and save your changes. Then exit the menu, and your PC should start up with no problems. To set the date and time in Windows, double-click the clock on the lower right of your screen.