Hi, my Dell Dimension 8200 is acting weirdly. 1 1/2 years old, XP PRO. Two nights ago, I turned it on, and there was an error saying: Alert! System battery voltage low! I turned the computer off after I booted into windows to save the little power that was left? in it. I waited until the next day, no error, but the keyboard acted up. I contacted Dell on my other computer, saying to clear the NVRAM. I cleared it, but now when the system boots up, the Caps Key, Scroll Lock Key, and Num key stop responding for a few seconds, the key board shuts off, (nothing else shuts off), and then turns on about ten seconds later. The keyboard is a Dell Quiet Key, connected to PS/2, mouse is connected to PS/2. They are in their right ports. After I am on the Welcome screen, the keyboard functions normally. This is freaking me out.

Alert! System battery voltage low

That refers to the battery fitted to maintain the setting in the BIOS.
Have you changed it yet?
If not, change it now.

I would, but why would this happen? I mean, three other dell desktops that we have had never had to have teir battery replaced. D300 non replacement, XPS T450 and 550 never needed any replacement. The computer is on for about 40 hours per week. It was not really used heavily for a year when we bought it.

Not unusual to need a battery replacement after 1½ years.
Personally, if I keep a computer for more than 2 years, I replace the battery anyway.

Sorry to be a little pest, but the getting a battery thing is kinda like a last resort, such as uninstalling a troubled software or formatting a troubled hdd.They message never came up after I booted three different times, one per day. How much would one that lasts long be?

I've had my PC for seven and a half years and have had one battery replacement.
So that's about 4 years per battery [fingers crossed].

Perhaps not the best way to do things, but it does find out just what can be got out of a battery.

I use rechargeable batteries in almost everything else and what an improvement that is! :)

A VERY worthwhile investment.

We've never had to replace any battery on any of our 10 computers we've had and this ay be the first. How much would a good rechargable one be?

Here is a Link to the battery used in most systems old and new
http://www.computerhope.com/help/cmos.htm

Your system most likely has the coin cell

The cost to replace it is $3.00 to $5.00

They can last forever or die in a few months.
Depending on how often the system is used

Every other day would last this long? My XPT T450 PC was used like this!

Replace the battery already...GOOD GRIEF!...it's under $5 and takes all of two minutes. Some last 4-5 years, and I've seen brand new motherboards with batteries that needed replacing in 3 weeks. That's the nature of the beast. If it's going dead, change it...it's not a $100 hard drive after all...

Sorry to sound so irritated, but all this over a $3 battery??? Change the thing and carry on...it could have sat on a shelf for 3 years before it was put in the computer.

OFF TOPIC

Ever put a battery in a vice and give it a bit of a squeeze?

try it - you get more power out of an old battery - mind you where your gonna fit the vice is a bit of a poser....

That's it I'm off to bed now - later dudes