Clearing CMOS, in this case, involves unplugging the white connector from the motherboard and then plugging it back in.ĭesktops: The CMOS battery in most desktop computers is much easier to find and looks just like a standard cell-type battery like you'd find in small toys or traditional watches. This is an increasingly common way that manufacturers of small computers include a CMOS battery. Laptops & Tablets: The CMOS battery shown here is wrapped inside a special enclosure and connects to the motherboard via the 2-pin white connector.
Close the case or battery panel and then plug in, or reattach the computer's main battery.īy disconnecting and then reconnecting the CMOS battery, you remove the source of power that saves your computer's BIOS settings, resetting them to default. Sometimes you will need to remove the whole back cover.įinally, remove the CMOS battery for a few minutes and then put it back in. Instead, it may be in the same compartment where you will find the hard drive(s) and/or RAM memory chips and/or Wi-Fi radio(s). Some may have a small battery compartment with its own cover, but many don't.