How to identify battery

[gwlogue]

Is there a way to identify the type of battery on the motherboard before taking the system apart? The machine is in use every day and it's a real pain to get it out, tear it apart and have to put it back together for the user so I can go buy a battery.

I have an AIDA32 report that tells me the motherboard is:

AMPTRON PM-7900/8800

Am I going to need to write down all the BIOS settings or will the system figure them out when I get the new battery installed?

Thanks

[naptownman]

Looking at the picture of it on Amptron's website it looks like a standard lithium 2032. But you can always read the on-line manual and it might tell you what to replace it with.

[rsfnatik]

Do you know if it's the PM-7900 or PM-8800? From the picture the PM-7900 appears to use a pretty standard battery... looks like they've just changed the orientation on the PM-8800. All of the info should be on the battery itself and it's not a major job to take it out.

The BIOS will probably be reset to defaults but the manual will help you set everything back up... if the defaults don't do the job that is.

[gwlogue]

I can't tell which it is until I take it apart, which is what I'm trying to avoid. The owner is considering getting a new system later this year so I'm recommending they live with the dead battery until then. Not worth the aggravation and expense just to throw it out in a few months.

Thanks ...

[naptownman]

You should be able to remove the side cover if it's a tower or the case cover for a desktop without taking it out of service. That will let you see the battery and if it's a coin-type lithium as most are, the side you'll see will be the side with the markings for the type. If you keep the power on you won't lose the CMOS settings.

[gwlogue]

This machine is tucked into a section under the desk and the cables are not long enough to pull it forward. Have to shutdown and disconnect to get at the panels. Thanks anyways.