Odd Battery

[Woodsz]

The computer wont start up until the battery is taken out and replaced. Tried new battery several times but every time the computer is turned off the computer wont start up again until the battery as been taken out and replaced again
cleaned the battery terminals but still the same thing every time.
Would be grateful for any help

[ACtheTROLL]

can't remember seeing that before

how old is the machine?
it could be the bios battery I suppose
if it's flat the lappy batt takes over

any messages on startup?

[Woodsz]

Hi ACtheTROLLi Thank you for replying.
The computer is about four years old its not a laptop and there is nothing on the start up screen either. As I said we have tried new battery but nothing until the battery as been taken out and put back. Its really odd

[ACtheTROLL]

that does indeed make it worse.
removing the battery will reset the bios - windows accesses (and can change options) the bios - so it could be either

when you say won't boot ... how far does it get?
press the button .... and then ... what?
do the fans kick in?
does the network card ... or any other leds light up

check all the connectors are OK - it's possible that by removing the battery you are actually flexing or disturbing something else. (worst case - the mobo has a bad track)

try booting from a 98 floppy (floppy will happen "naturally" so I'd try that first - http://www.bootdisk.com/) or cd (knoppix, ubuntu or ultimate boot cd or) when it won't boot normally.... it's possible that it's the O/s - a boot disk will eliminate the hard disk.

two things I'd also do is update the bios firmware
and then the mobo chipset drivers (might as well do all the others if you can as well)