On 14 Dec 2001, at 23:56, Abdul Samad Abdul Razzak wrote: > Hello, > > Does flash memory have to be "recharged" continuosly like RAM? Is > that the purpose of the battery on my motherboard? If the battery > becomes weak does the entire BIOS fail? > > Personally I have a new gigabyte motherboard and I recently > flashed my BIOS and I did not have any problems. > > Thanks > Abdul Samad Abdul Razzak, > Sri Lanka. No. Flash memory keeps its contents without power, which is why it's also popular in "Compact Flash" cartidge format for digital cameras, etc. The battery on the motherboard provides power for two basic functions: 1. Configuration data is stored in RAM (generally CMOS) that *does* require a small amount of current to keep its contents. (This is "static" RAM, so all it needs is a trickle of power to the memory circuitry. "Dynamic" RAM needs somebody to rewrite each and every memory location every so often, which makes it cheaper but more power- needy.) 2. There is an electronic clock, similar to the innards of an electronic watch (sans display) that keeps track of the time and date; as part of the boot sequence, the operating system obtains the current time from this circuit and keeps track of time itself while up and running. One of the early signs of imminent battery failure is that the machine, each time booted, doesn't know what day/time it is. DG PCBUILD maintains hundreds of useful files for download visit our download web page at: http://freepctech.com/downloads.shtml