What Happens if CMOS RAM Dies?
Because CMOS RAM is run by batteries, they can die out. When this happens, the PC will boot with whatever information was shipped with the motherboard. However, this means that you won’t be able to access the hard disks. Since the operating system is stored on the hard disks, the computer won’t be able to load the operating system and you’ll be without your computer for a while. The good news is that CMOS RAM that is built today is protected by nickel cadmium batteries. These batteries are able to recharge when the computer is on; therefore, they are consistently ready for long periods of time where they don’t receive power. Despite the fact that there are these durable batteries provides power to the CMOS RAM, it’s a good idea to have the information on the CMOS stored elsewhere just in case something happens. While the data won’t be lost if the batteries die, if something more disastrous happens, the data could be lost forever.
