The CMOS battery in my Mac Pro was cracked. My friend was fooling around to replace it before I could finish trying to find how to in the instruction manual. He pryed it up and broke the metal contact. My computer seems to function OK without it minus an error with one App causing a restart. Is it ok to run my Mac Pro without this CMOS battery? Since the metal contact is broke i don't see a good way to fix it.
Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.2)
Hi Matthew, did your fix work? My mom just did this same thing with her Mac Pro 2006 model. I included some pictures. The metal spring clip on top broke off AND the battery holder broke off flush on one side and up above on another. I can't do what Gregory Speck did in his video with wires because there isn't a holder left in place to attach wires on the flush side. From what I'm reading, using epoxy solder underneath the holder isn't a safe option to reattach it. Is that correct? Is this board ruined now?
Here is the top of the holder, including the broken clip that broke off at the square:
And here is the holder underneath.
Any and all suggestions or advice will be appreciated.
I'm not sure what to tell you except that the computer will function without it, and that it isn't worth the risk of fixing. You could try putting a new one on it by taking the entire logic board out of the case, but i'm pretty sure its built into motherboard and made not to be replaced. A new logic board costs almost as much as a new comp so.
Tell your friend: "RTFM" first! ðŸ˜
Goodluck and Cheers!
My friend is my mother, and I have said RTFM to her more times than I can count! LOL
Had same problem, bought replacement battery holder at Radio Shack, and used liquid sliver solder. Here is link to video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hx_4zq8U6U4
Has been working for a 9 months w/o problems.
@moonatics ;-))))))))))
@Gregory Speck: I watched your video but my mom's situation is different. Your connector was still attached and the top clip was the broken part, but she ripped the whole connector off. There isn't enough of the old connections remaining on the board to connect a wire with liquid solder. My only solution will have to be unsoldering the old remnants and resoldering a new connector. i just don't want to go that way unless it's absolutely necessary. But I appreciated your solution and your excellent video. Thanks!
moonatics! I have the exact same problem as you on my Mac Pro early 2008. I read that some folks suggested to you to run your Mac Pro without the battery. Did you try it and how successful was it?
thanks
The CMOS reference is the technology use to build the lower-power RAM used for parameter RAM on a PC. On the Mac, the term for the similar low power, battery-backed RAM was Parameter RAM or just PRAM. The battery itself has always been a long life non-recharging battery of a nominal voltage similar to that "always-on" power supply. On much older Macs, these were just long-life Alkaline batteries. The BR2032 is a Lithium cell, 3 volts nominal, with a wide operating temperature range and a long life.
This area of private memory is usually maintained by an "always-on" power supply, available any time the Mac has its AC power cord plugged in. (even when nominally off.)
The only time the PRAM Backup battery does any work is when the AC power fails, and the "always-on" power supply, Isn't. so it you are going to have problems running with no battery, it will be after a power failure.
Mac Pro CMOS battery
