"CMOS checksum error - defaults loaded" (it's not the battery)

[Kenobi]

My specs are as follows:

Athlon 64 3200+
Asus A8N SLI Deluxe
Asus Geforce 6800 GT 256 Megs
2048 Megs RAM
Creative Live! 5.1
Windows XP Pro + SP 2

So,ever since I got a new hard drive and an extra RAM stick things have been weird. At first the board wouldn't recognize the RAM, so I got a new stick. There were still issues, so the computer technician (I'm an hardware noob, btw) resetted the bios. The new drive was recognized, and so was the new RAM stick.
All things seemed to be fine, except that the video card wasn't properly connected to the PSU, meaning that it failed to play any game, although everything else worked just fine.
(A possibly relevant note: seeing as the PC crashed everytime I tried to play the game, I had to hard reset the machine several times. Can this have anything to do with my problem? I'll leave that to you )

After the video card/PSU thing got sorted out, my PC worked just fine...except for the error message I posted in the topic title.

The battery has been replaced by a brand new one, and the BIOS settings were set to default - all to no avail.

The error is not a huge problem per se. I don't overclock or anything, so the only issues (as far as I can tell,at least) are the fact that onboard sound is always enabled and I have to set the system clock manually each time I turn on the PC to avoid problems with my anti-virus.

I've got a few questions: what can be the reason for this error? Does this mean that my board is "dying"?
I wasn't planning to upgrade until December/January. Is it OK if I just keep using my computer normally until then, or is there a risk that I might somehow seriously damage my computer?

Sorry for all the questions, but as I said, I'm a hardware noob.

Thanks in advance!

[Scott]

Make sure the battery you put in is not dead. Also make sure you put the battery in the right way.

Those are the only 2 things I have seen before to cause that.

[Xero (1)ne]

It could be that a default setting in the BIOS it doesn't like and resets it to the defaults? :lol:

Look in the BIOS and see if you can find any complications or anything that might not seem right.

[zachig]

It could be that a default setting in the BIOS it doesn't like and resets it to the defaults? :lol:

Look in the BIOS and see if you can find any complications or anything that might not seem right.
Yeah, I also tend to think it's more like an incorrect setting in the BIOS. :???:

I got it few times due to bad overclocking, so BIOS setting were back to default.

Anyway, still check though the battery issue, mainly after you replaced it, so maybe you put the battery the wrong way like Scott suggested. :roll:

GOOD LUCK and keep us updated. :icon_tiphat:

[Bio-Hazard]

Memory settings could cause that on that board if he's using 4 sticks of ram (command rate) depending on the ram installed, the bios would treat it as a bad OC and give you a CMOS checksum error and have to reset the bios, I think anyways, it's been a long time sence I used that board.

[Bill]

What Scott says AND make sure the battery is pushed in ALL the way too. That gave me the same error too. And I am not a haredware noob...lol

[westy87]

Make sure that the jumper over the 2 pins is over the correct pins and not in the position for it to load defaults

[Blue Moon Dragon]

I got an error like this a little while ago. Try resetting your bios to either fail safe or optimized settings. if that doesnt work, reset your bios using the jumper that should do it. if it doesnt, take it into customer service wherever you bought it.

[Kenobi]

Thanks for tips everyone, but nothing worked. The tech tried everything, but it's a no go.

The tech suggested that I should send the board to Asus so that they could give me a refund, but the thing is, I'd have to use that refund within the following two weeks. Since getting a new board would mean getting a new CPU...well, it's not the best moment for spending that much money.

Basically, and since the rig will work fine except for a few details, I'll have to wait until December to upgrade.

[Blue Moon Dragon]

that sucks...oh well. december isnt that far away, and atleast it still works ok...

[Kougar]

Did you try flashing (Or reflashing) the BIOS to the latest version for your board, or having the tech do that for you?