The abbreviation CMOS stands for Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor. This is a tiny storage device that is used to store BIOS or UEFI settings. These settings are responsible for how your computer will boot, various low-level settings for the processor, memory, buses, and overclocking.

You may need to reset the CMOS memory after an unsuccessful attempt to overclock your computer, or when your computer simply won't boot as a result of something you did wrong in the BIOS settings. Resetting CMOS will simply return all settings to default and everything will work. If you assembled your own computer, then you know exactly how to do this, but for people who bought their own device, this task can be difficult. In this article we will look at how to reset your computer's CMOS memory.

HOW DOES CMOS MEMORY WORK?

CMOS memory that stores BIOS settings volatile. It is powered by a special battery built into the computer's motherboard. This was not done in vain. Default BIOS settings are stored in non-volatile memory and are never changed. All changes that the user makes are saved in volatile memory.

The correctness of these settings is very important, because they determine whether the computer will boot or not, and as a result, you can change them or not. And if the user makes any mistake in the settings, simply turn off the memory and the settings will return to the default value. It's simple. Now let's look at how to do this.

HOW TO RESET CMOS MEMORY VIA RESET?

If your computer case has a Reset button, then you can reset the CMOS settings using it. It can be used not only to restart your computer, but also for this. Just follow these steps:

  • Turn off your computer;
  • Unplug your computer; you can pull the cord from the outlet or power supply connector on the back of the computer;
  • Find the Reset or Clear button near Power buttons on the front panel of the computer;
  • Press and hold the button for five to ten seconds, then release. If the button is very small, you will have to use a needle or pen;
  • Connect your computer to the network and launch.

Basically, that's all. This set of actions is quite enough to reset the settings in most cases. You can also launch the BIOS, to do this you need to press Del or F2 before starting boot and select the option "Load Optimized Defaults" this would be ideal.

RESET CMOS BY BUTTON ON THE MOTHERBOARD

Most modern motherboards have a dedicated button to reset the CMOS. It can be accessed after you open the computer case cover. It may be called CLR, CLEAR or RESET. The procedure is almost the same:

  • Turn off your computer;
  • Press the power button several times to discharge the capacitors on the motherboard;
  • Disconnect the computer from the power supply or remove the power supply cable;
  • Locate the button on the motherboard. If you can't find it, use the manual for your board model. IN different models they are located differently;
  • Hold the button and do not release for five ten seconds;

RESET CMOS BY REMOVING THE BATTERY

If your board does not have Reset buttons, and this situation very often happens with laptops, then all you have to do is remove the CMOS battery. This battery powers the memory when the computer is not connected to the network. Removing the battery is equivalent to forcibly clearing the memory. How to reset cmos on a laptop:

  • Turn off your computer;
  • Disconnect the computer from the power supply;
  • Press the power button several times to discharge the capacitors;
  • Locate the battery on the motherboard. This is usually a CR2032 battery, about the size of a coin. You can find her around PCI slots Express;
  • To remove the battery, you may need to press the retaining element with a sharp object or pull it out from under the latch. Proceed carefully, do not break the structure;
  • Wait a few minutes, and then insert the battery back, the same way it was installed before;
  • Connect power and turn on the computer.

RESETING CMOS USING A JUMPER

Among other things, there is a special jumper on the motherboard with which you can reset the settings:

  • Turn off your computer;
  • Disconnect it from power;
  • Press the power button several times;
  • Open the computer case and locate the CMOS reset pins on the board. Typically, these are two or three contacts assembled together and labeled CLEAR CMOS or CLRPWD;
  • For a three-pin configuration, move the plastic jumper so that central contact was closed with that contact from which it had previously been disconnected. With a two-pin connection, simply disconnect the contacts.
  • Wait a few minutes and then return the switch to the position it was in before;
  • Turn on your computer.

CONCLUSIONS

In this article, we looked at how to reset cmos on the motherboard, as well as using the Reset button on the case. If you forget your password or mess up your BIOS configuration, it’s quite easy to restore everything. I hope this information was useful to you. If you have any questions, ask in the comments!

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How to reset the BIOS - this question has probably arisen more than once for many users personal computer. A procedure such as resetting the BIOS settings can be extremely useful in cases where rebooting the computer does not help and, as it seems, can no longer be revived by the user, and the only way to restore the PC’s functionality is a visit to a repair shop. Since resetting the BIOS returns the settings to factory defaults, this method often helps solve problems related to improper functioning of the PC.

You may need to reset the BIOS settings for various reasons. For example, it may happen that you were experimenting with your computer hardware as part of your CPU overclocking efforts, and as a result, your computer simply stopped booting. Or you need to reset the password that prevents you from entering the BIOS. In short, the reasons may vary. Methods for resetting the BIOS can also vary, and not every method can be applied in every situation. But it’s better to talk about everything in order.

All BIOS reset methods can be divided into two main categories: hardware and software. To the most famous this moment methods include the following:

  1. Resetting BIOS to default settings using BIOS Setup.
  2. Reset by installing special jumpers on the system board.
  3. Reset by removing the battery motherboard.
  4. Reset by closing certain contacts of the BIOS chip.
  5. Reset using port programming.

Let's take a closer look at these options.

Resetting the BIOS to default settings using BIOS Setup

The easiest way to perform the BIOS reset procedure is to start with this software method. To implement it, just enter Setup (usually by pressing Delete key when you boot the computer), find the appropriate partition, select the desired option and restart the computer. After the reboot occurs, the BIOS will return to factory default settings. The option to load default BIOS settings is available in almost every BIOS version. It's usually called Load Defaults or something like that.

Everything seems simple, but there are some limitations. The thing is that it will be difficult for you to apply this method in the event that you cannot enter BIOS Setup - for example, when your computer does not boot at all. A similar situation arises when an unknown password prevents you from logging into Setup or continuing to work with the computer after booting. Thus, the functional usefulness of the described method is limited.

Resetting the BIOS by installing special jumpers (jumpers) on the motherboard

Naturally, many motherboard manufacturers provided for the possibility that the user would not be able to clear the BIOS memory using Setup and load standard factory settings in a similar way. Therefore, solutions were built into the design of the boards that allow you to reset the BIOS settings using hardware.

Most often, you can use a special jumper for this purpose. Of course, finding a small jumper on a large motherboard is not always easy. So it's usually best to look at your motherboard's manual to find it.

If you do not have the manual with you, then you should remember that quite often this jumper is marked on the motherboard as Clear CMOS (and therefore this type jumpers are often referred to as Clear CMOS).

Clear CMOS jumper on motherboard

Additionally, the jumper is most often found near the battery that powers the CMOS memory. However, this rule is not always observed, so it is still safer to use a diagram to find a jumper motherboard.

Usually closing the Clear CMOS jumper is enough to clear the CMOS memory. To be safe, keep the jumper closed for a while. As a rule, after a few seconds the BIOS memory is erased, and after that you can turn on the computer again.

We hope that all readers know the following principle, but let us remind you of it once again: all operations for setting jumpers must be carried out on a computer that is completely disconnected from the network, otherwise the results can be disastrous for the motherboard.

Resetting the BIOS by removing the CMOS battery from its slot

If there is no corresponding jumper on the motherboard (or you were unable to find it), but there is a CMOS battery on the board, then you can try to reset the BIOS memory in the following way - simply remove the battery from its socket. However, this method is not always as effective as it might seem at first glance. The fact is that CMOS memory usually does not require much power to operate and therefore BIOS data located in this type of memory can be stored in it for a long time even in the absence of power. Therefore, in order to make sure that you managed to completely clear the BIOS memory, you need to hold system unit without a battery for a while. Usually, after a day, the CMOS memory is completely cleared, although very often a shorter period of time may be sufficient for this.

Appearance CMOS batteries

The CMOS battery is usually quite easy to find on the motherboard - it is usually made of shiny metal, and its surface is shaped like a circle with a diameter of 1 cm. Removing the battery is also quite simple - just press the special latch that holds the battery in the socket.

Like setting a jumper, removing the CMOS battery can only be done with the computer completely disconnected from the network.

However, it is worth keeping in mind that the battery is not always removable. Quite often, especially on a laptop, it is simply impossible to remove the battery without damaging the system board. In this case, the only option for the user is often to go to a service center.

Other methods of resetting BIOS

If none of the above methods helped you, and you don’t know how to clear BIOS memory, then in some cases you can try other methods. However, they are not as reliable and you should use them at your own risk.

First of all, it is worth noting that such a frequently mentioned method of resetting the BIOS as short-circuiting the contacts of the BIOS battery is unlikely to help you. Moreover, if you use it, it will be fraught with failure of the motherboard.

However, for some BIOS chips positive result sometimes it causes the closure of certain contacts of these microcircuits. Below we provide a list of relevant microcircuits and the procedures that must be performed with them to reset the BIOS:

  • Р82С206 Chip – closure of contacts number 12 and 32 (or 74 and 75).
  • F82C206 Chip – closure of contacts 3 and 26.
  • Dallas DS1287A, DS12887A, Benchmarq bq3287AMT - closing contacts 12 and 21.
  • Motorola MC126818AP, Hitachi HD146818AP, Samsung KS82C6818A – closing contacts 12 and 24 (it is also possible to remove the chip from the socket).
  • Dallas DS12885S, Benchmarq bq3258S – closing contacts 12 and 24 (or 12 and 20).

When performing actions to close the contacts of microcircuits, you should adhere to several simple rules. First of all, it is worth remembering that all operations with microcircuits should be carried out only with the power of the computer’s motherboard turned off! In addition, often simply closing the contacts may not be enough to reset the BIOS, so it is best to keep the contacts closed for a few seconds.

In addition to hardware BIOS reset, as well as reset using the Setup program option, there is also a pure software methods, based on recording a specific set of data to the computer ports. Firstly, for this purpose you can use special utilities. But if you don’t trust programs downloaded from the Internet, then you can create a similar program yourself. The easiest way to do this is to use the Debug utility included with MS Windows. To carry out the operation of clearing the BIOS from AMI or AWARD manufacturers, just run the “Run” program and enter the following set of commands:

After entering these commands, the computer must be restarted.

Features of resetting BIOS for a laptop

How to reset the BIOS - this question arises no less often for users working on a laptop than for those users who use a desktop PC for work. However, on a laptop, implement this operation, as a rule, is somewhat more complicated. In many cases, you can use the same methods on a laptop as you can on a desktop PC. However, often on a laptop the user may encounter enhanced protection BIOS data, especially on a high-end laptop. In this case, to perform the BIOS reset operation on a laptop, it is best to contact specialists.

Conclusion

Any user may benefit from information on how to reset BIOS settings. If your computer shows no signs of life, is malfunctioning, or you cannot boot it because you do not know the password, then do not despair. Resetting the BIOS contents to factory settings will, in most cases, restore the computer's functionality.

There are many ways to reset BIOS settings, and the most reliable and universal of them are hardware methods, such as setting jumpers on the motherboard or removing the CMOS battery.

I have a very strange problem here, sorry for this specific case, but I'm not sure what to do at this point.

So this is for context. I don't Think, what is this related to the problem: I had this problem which was causing problems arising due to Windows updates(Windows 10). Couldn't find it because the temporary fix was "don't shut down the system".

Here's the real problem: I had break V power supply. But the only thing What went wrong was I couldn't boot into Windows. Failed to load into safe mode but may boot to the console (I could go to "eliminate Windows problems EUFI"). This may be related to the above issue, perhaps due to the power being removed from the . So, after looking into the first one, I thought I would point out the problem with the BIOS. I looked and I turned off all PC power and held the power button, in other words, a flea leak.

Seems pretty harmless But now my computer won't show at all. Disabling my graphics card, tried the integrated graphics. Nothing yet. These are not my monitors because they were working before I did this (after turning off the power). I then took the battery out for 10 minutes while holding the power button down for 30 seconds (on off). Nothing yet. But it posts messages (at least the motherboard LEDs are turning on, the fans are spinning, everything is as you think it should be). The case speaker makes a barely audible ticking sound(not full sound signal). I just installed it after getting the problem, so I don't know if the ticking will return to normal.

Don't think my specs are relevant, got a custom PC. Will publish specifications if asked.

So I'm not asking for any help in Windows problem, I'll find out later ;). I would just like to know what should I return back?

TLDR: Not displayed during boot. POST, no obvious hardware problems. A quick list of things that lead to the problem:

  • Power error caused by a (presumably unrelated) Windows issue
  • Tried to fix by holding the power button off (power flea leak... it resets the BIOS, doesn't it?)

List of things I tried to fix:

  • Took out the CMOS battery, pressed the power button down (while unplugged)
  • The following are diagnosed and in working order: monitor, video card, power supply. The motherboard LEDs turn on.

I'm at a loss, any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you!

EDIT: Added information about chassis dynamics. It's ticking.