Sager 5760 CMOS battery replacement.

Hello, I've been a happy owner of a Sager 5760 for a year or so now, and I'm still happy. But lately I've been having problems and I'm thinking I know the answer.

A couple months ago, my computer's startup procedure changed. Usually I had this cute blue startup screen masking my startup, with a little brown progress bar at the bottom and that lead directly to my windows loading screen. But it changed, went to the normal POST screen. I didn't even notice at first, then I noticed at the very bottom, about a split second before it switched to windows loading, right after Mouse Initialized, it started saying ERROR: CMOS checksum bad - loading default startup settings. (Or something very close to that)

I was confused and looked it up. I found that one of two things could do that, a low CMOS battery or a virus. I've checked for viruses but I have a very strong AV and Firewall installed and have noticed nothing else out of the ordinary, so that possibility is doubtful. Till that point I was turning on my computer every day and I my system clock was still fine, so I was not worried. But there was one time where I did not turn on the computer for 2 days, and after that it gave me 2 beeps and made me go into bios and reset my system clock. A couple weeks later, one day spent off meant I had to reset the clock. Now today I had to reset it after turning off my laptop last night. So I think the battery is slowly dieing.

I think I'll have to replace it. (But if anyone thinks I have a different problem, please tell.)

Anyway I've sent 2 emails to PowerNotebooks (Where I bought it) at their tech support address and have had no reply. I have no idea the procedure to replace the thing, a friend said that updating the BIOS itself would be a good idea. (I think mine is 1.0.0 right now) I don't know how to do any of that, so can anyone find me a place where I can look up info on replacing the battery, clearing my CMOS or re-flashing the BIOS please?

Thanks in advance.

-Andrew.

 

Oh come now, don't tell me that the 5760 is such old tech now that no one knows how to service it.

Someone should know, I just don't have any documentation on servicing the CMOS.

 

Unplug the laptop. Remove the main battery. Remove the 11 screws holding the bottom cover on--see manual for exact locations. Remove bottom cover. Locate CMOS battery. Replace CMOS battery. Reassemble in reverse order.

 

Thanks for the reply! I was beginning to wonder...

Is there not some special procedure for clearing the CMOS to get a good refresh of the settings? On my desktops there's a special jumper setting that you change to clear it out. None in this case?

And where may I obtain a replacement battery? The guys I bought the laptop from?

 

No idea, I've never had to re-set mine. FWIW, my desktops all used CR2025 or CR2032 style batteries available anywhere that sells watch batteries.

Note, doing this yourself this will probably void the warranty unless you send it back to them (or maybe powernotebooks) to have the work done.---but it's a $3 battery + 15 minutes work vs probably $100 in repair, shipping, ins, etc + gone for several days/weeks......your choice.

Also, if you've never taken the cover off before, be warned that the screws on mine were secured with loctite or some such compound and were a pain to "break" loose---use a proper fitting screwdriver.

 

Alright, I've recieved my call-back from Sager. My model requires a very common Lithium Ion battery, 3v, model CR2032 battery with a very uncommon modification. The one inside is not in a bracket but has 2 wires solders onto the battery itself that lead to a connector that fits onto the motherboard. He said they would send one for 15 dollars, but I'm wondering if there are any nearby places (or online) where I can get them cheaper.

Does anyone have a secret source for computer batteries?

 

As I said in the last post, CR2032s are available anywhere that sells watch batteries. CR2032s are used for lots of things besides PCs. My local grocery store even sells them.

 

Just as a follow up, I had the same problem with my 5760 with the CMOS battery going out after 2 years.

I took the old CMOS battery out, removed the wrapping, and was able to gently pop off the metal tabs that were soldered to each side of the CR2032 battery. I then took a new battery and with a tiny drop of super glue, glued the tabs onto the new battery (making sure that there was still metalic contact, not all glue). I then gently wrapped the battery in electrical tape and put it back into the machine.

Worked like a charm...