problem with CMOS on my HP notebook

[clifftopdweller]

hello,
i've had a problem with my laptop for a while now, and it's gotten worse.

now whenever i switch on laptop, it halts on the boot menu, showing the image i've attached.

i just recently upgraded to a newer version of my linux OS (linux mint)... and the screen makes these random flashes/flickers of black.. not sure why. but could be a result of this error with CMOS.

i'm no expert. but seems i need to replace my CMOS battery? i hear from a techy friend, that it's not the easiest task...

would love to know if that's likely the issue/reason my laptop isn't booting up without this message... and if so,

1. what battery i need to buy to fix the problem.
2. and if i can fix it myself (i heard the battery may be behind the motherboard).. so may need someone in the shop to carry it out.

i did replace my battery about a year ago (reason i don't think it's a problem with my battery)... as well as upgrading the RAM 6 months or so ago (so used to opening up the laptop)...

this is main issue in fact.. is that i cannot use my laptop without it being charging/connected to power...it dies within 10 seconds or so of being disconnected (i checked a number of commands, and seems my battery health is very good)... 

i leave it connected/powering all the time, as i heard this is best, as it doesn't use the battery at all, and hence doesn't use up the 300 hundred or so cycles batteries have (i've heard the 80-20% battery 'myth', isn't actually the best approach)? but im no expert. just trust my computer repair friend.

appreciate some pointers regarding these few questions. love to keep my laptop going for another while longer!

thanks for reading.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

Chapter 5 page 32 of the service manual has the procedure to remove and replace the RTC/CMOS battery.

HP 14s Laptop PC Maintenance and Service GuideIMPORTANT! This document is intended for HP authorized...

Chapter 3 indicates the battery does not have a spare part number.

Looking at the illustration of the RTC battery it appears to be a commonly found CR2032 battery.

[clifftopdweller]

hi paul, thanks for the response. i really value the support within this HP community. has been invaluable up until now.
(i got a long msg from Gaya also, regarding my query on my laptop dying when i disconnect the power cable)... i've not explored in depth my options to resolve that issue... but i sense there is a lot of overlap, regarding the CMOS problem.
which would be amazing if it was that the battery had lost it's power/ability to keep charge..
the description in the manual you shared does sound 'doable', for someone not very experienced with the inner workings of my laptop (i have opened it up twice, to change my main battery over a year now, and my RAM upgrade about 6 months ago i think)...
but i watched a video on replacing the CMOS battery, and it seems i'd need to do a lot more than RAM changing, with taking out the keyboard etc? is that correct... if so, not as straightforward as taking off the back AFAICS...
but just to let u know what i'm currently working with on my laptop, to give a whole perspective... as if i open up the back panel (and possibly more, i could potentially work on a few problems that may be apparent)

- clock time doesn't sync if switched off and comes back on *offline*... i need to wait til i come online, for clock to resync (this is new issue, since the upgrade to linux mint 22)
- battery doesn't work, or something is preventing it from holding charge... when no power cable > laptop doesn't work
- touchpad not working > mouse stops working after period (esp left click) > when happens *laptop is unusable* > if i close lid, it suspends, and then the mouse tends to work again! but maybe only for a while..
- screen flickers/flashes black often. not sure why... could be CMOS related? or something that happened as a result of my OS upgrade, and my hardware not being sufficient. i'm not sure..

so, just to give a sense of my laptops current state. it's far from ideal! it works. but i close the screen often, when mouse freezes, so i can continue using my laptop... i wonder if m touchpad has come out of alignment, and need to be refitted? and this is effecting the mouse.

thanks so much for all the support. love to keep this laptop going for another few years! with the communities help, i think it's likely...
regards

cliff

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome, Cliff.

All I can tell you is that chapter 6, page 41 of the service manual indicates the RTC battery is visible after you remove the bottom cover, so it shouldn't be hard to find or remove.

Unless the video you are watching is for your notebook's model series, it will be of no help to you.

There are no HP service videos for your notebook's model series.

There are many notebooks where the CMOS battery is not visible after you remove the bottom cover and that would mean you would have to remove the motherboard to get to the battery.

The RTC/CMOS battery should last 5 years or so--maybe up to 7, so it is possible the battery has worn out.

[clifftopdweller]

great. thanks for the clarity on this paul. appreciate it. and seems  would make sense the cmos battery is acting up, as i've had the laptop for over 6 years id say. maybe 7 even..
glad to hear i should be able to change the battery relatively easily.. and will be able to pick up this cr2032 battery easily too (i will gladly wait til i open it up, to make sure of the exact type of battery i need).

and from all that i shared regarding my current issues
- laptop not working without power cable

- touchpad not working.. and now mouse often not working

- screen flashing black occasionally

- time not syncing unless online

do you think that changing the CMOS battery alone could remedy a number of these issues?
man, that'd be amazing..

i wonder if i should/could do anything about the touchpad once the back is opened? as that's the main issue right now... the mouse out of no where not working, and then need to suspend screen, and works again..

im happy to fiddle with the mains battery connections when the back is open (as suggested by gaya)... well, make sure they are well connected/fitted.. which hopefully will rectify the battery not working.

thanks again.
cliff

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

You're very welcome, Cliff.

Unfortunately, I would not know the answer to any of your other questions regarding the other problems your notebook is having.

Hopefully, replacing the CMOS battery will fix the time not synching and not maintaining the BIOS settings.

Cheers,

Paul