Bit of a problem...

[Kitaeru]

I have a Compaq Evo N600c that I got about a month and a half ago. I'm running Windows 2000 Professional (Service Pack 3). The past few days, every time I boot up the laptop, I get a message at start-up:
162 - System Options not Set
The following configuration options were automatically updated:
Total memory installed: 262144 Kbytes
CMOS checksum invalid, default values loaded
And then it gives me three options:
F1 - Save Changes
F2 - Ignore Changes
F10 - Computer Setup

When I press F1, the computer starts up and allows me to log on, but the date and time are invalid and need to be reset - it always changes the date and time to Thursday, January 3, 1980, 11:01 PM.

When I press F2, it says:
Non-system disk or disk error
Replace and strike any key when ready
And I have to reboot the laptop.

F10, obviously, takes me to the computer setup.

I don't know why it's doing this - I don't have an internet connection and the only way I could possibly have gotten a virus is if I transferred it from the computer I'm currently using, and we haven't had any problems with this computer. If it's nothing serious I'm not going to worry about it - the laptop runs fine otherwise, it's just a bit annoying having to fix the date and time every time I get on the computer. I just want to make sure it isn't a serious problem. Has anyone else had a similar problem or maybe have any idea what's wrong?

Thanks in advance for any info/help.

 

[anothEr]

i think your cmos battery is dead. try replacing it.

 

[brian]

or just try entering your cmos. so hit f10 and just change the date etc.

 

[Kitaeru]

If I replace the CMOS battery, would I lose all the stuff on my laptop?

 

[brian]

o it is a laptop. . o that will be hard. but no you will not lose anything. if it is dead it did all the damage already. but finding a battery is going to be hard. how old is the computer?

edit ya. it is going to be hard to a) get to the battery. (may have to open it up) and b) find a replacement.

 

[Kitaeru]

I found a replacement battery already - they had the one I was looking for at RadioShack. And I found a user manual showing me how to get to the battery; it doesn't look too difficult. I'm honestly not sure how old the computer is; I bought it on ebay. If by some chance, when I replace it and it isn't the CMOS battery that's the problem, do you have any idea what else it could possibly be?

 

[brian]

no. you get that error because the cmos is not retaning the info. so it should be that if not i dont know what it would be