BIOS problem?

[cl_nm80]

Hello, I installed a 120GB Seagate PATA hard drive in my mom's computer and installed windows xp on it (this is the only HDD installed). Whenever I boot up from a shutdown, it will tell me that there is no fixed boot disk recognized, (only the DVD drive is recognized). If I enter the BIOS or hit F1 to save the configuration, it will reboot. This second boot DOES recognize the HDD as the primary master drive. I still have to hit F1 to save changes, and it will boot into windows normally. Restarting the computer does not yield this problem, only after a shutdown. The computer recently remained idle and disconnected from an outlet, so is this simply a case of a dead CMOS battery? Or is there a bios configuration I need to change?

Thanks for your time!

[Paul Komski]

If the BIOS is not saving from cold then dead battery high on cards. Particularly likely if date is being reset to default date. Faulty HDD or controller more unlikely.