Why Does My PC Keep Saying 'Devices Changed' and Show a Dead Clock?
Asked by
TechieWizard42
Every time I boot up my PC, I see a message saying 'Devices Changed (CPU or Memory) or CMOS have been Cleared. Please enter Setup to configure your system.' It gives me options to enter setup or load defaults. My specs are an AMD Ryzen 3 3200G, 16GB DDR4 RAM, and dual 240GB SSDs, running Windows 11 Pro. Additionally, my system clock doesn't update correctly—it always shows the last shutdown time. Could this be due to a dead CMOS battery, or is there another issue here?
Answers
Sounds like your CMOS battery might be dead. When a CMOS battery fails, it can cause the BIOS settings to reset every time you power on your PC, which leads to that message you're seeing. It's usually a simple fix—just replace the battery with a standard CR2032 button cell, and you should be good to go!
Reply to this answer
Replacing the CMOS battery usually resolves these kinds of boot messages. If your PC has been running fine for years without changing any hardware, it’s probably just time for a new battery. Go for it!
Reply to this answer
Before you swap the battery, make sure you back up your data. Just in case, as changing BIOS settings or doing a reset might lead to data loss. But I really think it's just the battery—especially since the clock isn’t updating at all!
Reply to this answer
Add your answer
Answers are reviewed before publication.
PCFixer007: Yeah, I had a similar issue, and swapping the battery fixed everything for me!