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If your computer starts misbehaving after a BIOS/UEFI setting change, restore setup defaults first if you can still enter setup. If you cannot, a motherboard-specific Clear CMOS procedure can reset stored setup values. The right button, pins, and timing depend on the exact motherboard model and revision; follow its manual rather than assuming one sequence fits every board.
What a BIOS reset changes—and what it does not
A BIOS/UEFI setup reset returns stored configuration values to defaults. Clearing CMOS or RTC settings is a hardware-level way to prompt that reset. Depending on the board, this can undo problematic CPU, memory, or other setup choices that interfere with startup. It is not a universal fix for every no-boot or display problem.
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Resetting setup values is also different from reinstalling or recovering BIOS firmware. If a fault began after a BIOS update, clearing CMOS may not be enough; firmware recovery is a separate manufacturer-directed procedure.
Choose the least invasive reset method
| Method | Use it when | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Load defaults in setup | The computer can enter BIOS/UEFI setup. | Find the model’s “Load Optimized Defaults” or equivalent command, then save and restart. Keyboard shortcuts differ by model. |
| Clear CMOS button or header | You cannot reach setup, or the manual directs you to use the board’s reset control. | Confirm the exact button or pins, required power state, and timing in the motherboard manual. |
| Remove and reinstall the battery | The manual supports this method and the board has a removable battery. | Check battery type, removal and wait instructions, polarity, and whether the manual also requires using a Clear CMOS control. |
How to restore defaults from BIOS/UEFI setup
- Restart the computer and enter BIOS/UEFI setup using the key or method specified for your motherboard or computer.
- Choose “Load Optimized Defaults” or the equivalent option. ASUS describes using F5 to load defaults in its guidance, but that shortcut is not universal.
- Save the changes and restart. ASUS describes F10 for saving; use the save command shown by your own setup screen if it differs.
How to clear CMOS when setup is unavailable
Before opening or touching the motherboard
Shut down the computer and disconnect its AC power cord before using a board reset control or opening the system to remove a battery. Identify the motherboard’s exact model and revision, then find its manual and follow the documented procedure. Intel’s guidance stresses that jumper location, position, and wait time vary by motherboard; ASUS likewise gives instructions for its own button and CLRTC-pin examples, not a universal sequence.
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Use the documented button or jumper/header
- Check the manual for the Clear CMOS button or header location and the required system state. Do not guess which pins to bridge or move a jumper to an assumed position.
- With the system shut down and AC power disconnected, use the specified control exactly as directed. ASUS’s general guide specifies about 5–10 seconds for its described button/header examples; use that interval only if it applies to your board’s documented procedure.
- Restore the jumper or other control to its normal position if the manual instructs you to do so, then reconnect power and start the computer.
Remove a battery only if the manual supports it
Board designs differ. Intel’s general battery instructions say to disconnect AC, remove the battery, wait 1–5 minutes, and reinstall it. ASUS notes that its documented battery method may also require using the board’s Clear CMOS control. Follow your own manual if its steps or timing differ, and preserve the polarity shown for reinsertion. Some boards use a wired battery rather than a removable coin cell, so do not assume every board takes a coin cell.
ASUS identifies a CR2032 3V cell for the holder-based replacement instructions in its battery guide. That type is relevant only if the installed battery is depleted and your motherboard uses that battery and holder; confirm compatibility in the board manual before replacing it.
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What to do after the reset
Start the computer and enter setup if prompted. CMOS settings include the system clock/date and configuration parameters; ASUS and Intel both advise restoring the date and time after clearing CMOS. Load optimized defaults if the setup screen asks you to, then save changes. Any settings you previously customized may also need to be configured again.
If the computer still will not boot—or a password remains
Boot trouble continues
A clear can correct a misconfiguration, but it does not establish that a failing component, firmware problem, or other startup fault has been repaired. Intel advises looking at BIOS recovery when clearing CMOS does not resolve a no-boot condition after a BIOS update. Use the recovery instructions for your exact motherboard or computer; recovery is not the same operation as resetting setup values.
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A BIOS password remains
Do not assume a CMOS clear will remove a BIOS password. MSI says the result depends on an option selected when the password was configured; if its password persists after the documented clear procedure, MSI directs users to contact its service team. Other manufacturers may have different policies and procedures, so consult the maker of your system or motherboard.
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Manufacturer instructions
- Intel: How to Clear CMOS — common jumper and battery methods, with a reminder that details vary by board.
- ASUS: How to Reset Motherboard BIOS Settings? — button, CLRTC-pin, and battery methods, plus post-reset steps.
- MSI: BIOS password guidance — explains why a CMOS clear may not remove a password.
- ASUS: CMOS battery replacement — holder-based CR2032 3V replacement guidance.
- Supermicro X14SAE/X14SAE-F manual — an example of a model-specific clear-pad procedure.
- Intel Desktop Board guidance — resetting date/time and considering BIOS recovery if clearing CMOS does not fix a no-boot condition.
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