Notebook won't save CMOS settings after spill

[nevets]

I'm working on a Dell Inspiron E1705 notebook PC that had a mixture of orange juice and wine spilled into the keyboard. Upon booting, the screen says "Invalid configuration information - please run SETUP program - Time-of-Day Not Set". Setting the time and date in the CMOS allows it to boot into Windows, but the problem returns when the PC is rebooted. I checked the CMOS battery and the voltage was good. I went ahead and replaced it anyway, but the problem remains. I downloaded and installed the latest BIOS update, but that didn't fix the problem either.

The computer also had a problem(after the spill) where it would frequently not power on and this problem was getting worse. I resolved that problem by removing the motherboard and thoroughly cleaning it with denatured alcohol. I literally soaked the sticky motherboard in a tray filled with the alcohol and then brushed it with a soft bristle brush and I was careful to remove any juice/wine residue I could see. I'm sure I got it very clean. I also cleaned the CMOS battery contacts. I then blasted the alcohol off with compressed air(120psi), let it dry for a few hours in the hot sun and reinstalled the motherboard. The PC powers up every time now and has no problems, except it still won't save CMOS settings. I ran Prime95 on it for 12 hours. Dell's onboard diagnostic tests passes everything including the real time clock.

The only thing I can figure is that there might be a short in the CMOS clear/reset circuit(if there is one) caused by some juice residue I didn't get out. However, it's hard for me to believe that my cleaning process didn't get it all. Perhaps the juice damaged the CMOS or the real time clock(I don't entirely trust Dell's onboard diags). Conceding that I won't be able to fix this problem(short of replacing the motherboard), I've tried a few utilities that will automatically update the date and time in Windows by communicating with a time server over the net. Unfortunately these didn't work probably because the PC's date and time are so far off.

Any comments or suggestions?

Steve Smith
21st Century Computers
New Bern, NC 28562

[minus-sign]

well; I always like to look at the simplest solution first.

Try changing your battery and see what happens.

Next in line: its possible you shook something loose with your bristle brush. You'd have to track down the broken connection.

[nevets]

Thanks for your reply. I've already replaced the CMOS battery with a known good battery even though the old battery tested good at 3V. Changing the CMOS battery didn't help. The notebook PC had this problem(not saving CMOS settings) soon after it was spilled on and before I cleaned it. So, the problem wasn't caused by my cleaning. I had hoped the cleaning would solve the problem, but it didn't. While it's possible that some juice residue remains and this residue is causing a short, I kind of doubt it. I was very thorough when I cleaned the motherboard. I knew that juice residue might be shorting somewhere so I was carefull to clean everthing. I strongly suspect something in the motherboard was damaged and this damage is keeping it from saving the CMOS settings. Someone with a knowledege of notebook motherboard repair might know what part is affected and how it can be fixed. Otherwise I suspect my best option is to find a utility that will automatically update the date and time in Windows.