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    #1

    Inspiron 3200 loses time.

    I have a Dell Inspiron 3200 laptop that keeps losing time if I leave it off for a few hours or more. This laptop was made in 1998, and I don't think the previous owner changed the CMOS battery either. The main battery is still OK.... I can get roughly an hour of use out of it.
    The CMOS setting don't disappear and all stay the same. It's only the time that walks out on me. I have a feeling that the CMOS battery may be weak or flat.... the only problem I am having is finding where the CMOS battery is. Does anyone know where the CMOS battery for this laptop is located??
    Doing some searches online to buy a replacement battery revealed nothing so my guess is that the unit uses a standard CR2032 battery due to the fact that they cant be purchased anywhere.
    I have a service manual for the unit but that doesn't even tell me where the battery is.

    I also have an unrelated question. This unit has a PII 233MHz CPU, 64MB of RAM and a 3.2GB HDD. I am currently running Windows 2000 Pro on it and I'd have to say the performance sucks at times. It had 98SE on it originally but that kept doing BSODs on me. I can't use NT 4.0 because I need to use the USB port.
    Is there a version of Linux that will fit on this smallish HDD and also be able to run well with a PII 233MHz CPU and 64MB of RAM??.

    Thanks.
    Don't find love, let love find you. That's why its called falling in love, because you don't force yourself to fall, you just fall. - Anonymous
    Tags: None
    #2
    Re: Inspiron 3200 loses time.

    I'm currently typing this message using the inspiron 3200 laptop and i've noticed that it doesn't lose time when booted up into Windows.

    Thanks.
    Don't find love, let love find you. That's why its called falling in love, because you don't force yourself to fall, you just fall. - Anonymous

    Comment

      #3
      Re: Inspiron 3200 loses time.

      Stevo
      I am only guessing with some of the below so probably best to wait on those that know the lappy

      all I can tell you is there are other reasons why it would or could be losing time when off.
      what they are I've forgotten

      The CMOS battery might need changing but I suppose if its holding all settings it probably nothing to do with the battery....

      BSOD my have been related to the 98 install and drivers or something if
      (as I suspect ) it was re-installed from a 98 disk not for system?
      (or was it..if so maybe you need later ones)

      Win2K is much closer to winxp then people think and probably thats why it runs like a dog with 4 broken legs on that system.

      not to mention 64Mb ram (which I think would really slow it up)
      512MB..or more really
      not the guru
      but I think most defiantly for that you would really need some ram for it to run in, 64MB I think it would be constantly shuffling out to HDD
      can someone give me a yay or nay on that?

      I am sure there my be a Linux that will run with those specs (possibly older version)
      what might be the headache is drivers etc for it

      anyway quick search site below says "Dam small linux"

      http://www.linux-on-laptops.com/dell.html

      http://damnsmalllinux.org/wiki/index...00_Walkthrough

      http://damnsmalllinux.org/

      but I know there are few guru's on the forum so maybe hang for what they advise.

      anyway wait for some posts
      I am sure others here can give you some real answers on the clock and linux

      Cheers
      You step into the Road, and if you don't keep your feet, there is no knowing where you may be swept off to." Bilbo Baggins ...

      Comment

        #4
        Re: Inspiron 3200 loses time.

        Originally posted by starfury1
        Win2K is much closer to winxp then people think and probably thats why it runs like a dog with 4 broken legs on that system.

        not to mention 64Mb ram (which I think would really slow it up)
        512MB..or more really
        not the guru
        but I think most defiantly for that you would really need some ram for it to run in, 64MB I think it would be constantly shuffling out to HDD
        can someone give me a yay or nay on that?
        From my experience you really need at least 256mb of RAM to get Windows 2000 running decently. That laptop seems to be suited more towards Windows NT4, Windows 98 or ME or as starfury stated, a Linux distribution designed for older hardware.

        Comment

          #5
          Re: Inspiron 3200 loses time.

          I don't know about that laptop in particular, but many of the earlier Pentium-2 laptop CPU's were housed on a card (MMC1), which can potentially be upgraded:

          http://www.tomshardware.com/2000/11/...nia/page7.html

          You might be able to find a cheap part on ebay to jack up that laptop a bit.

          Biggest thing is the memory though, as noted above. I had 64MB on my Celeron-550 laptop when I upgraded to win2k, but immediately noticed it wasn't working well at all. I went to 256MB and it's been perfectly fine since then.
          I looked up your laptop on Crucial
          http://www.crucial.com/store/listpar...03200%20Series
          and disturbingly they don't claim to have anything for you. I wonder what's so unusual that they've taken this position.
          According to this
          http://ubuntuforums.org/archive/index.php/t-362505.html
          it uses a 440BX chipset, like every other P2 laptop seems to, which shouldn't be hard to upgrade.

          Comment

            #6
            Re: Inspiron 3200 loses time.

            @ stevo: what you need is a disassembly guide, or better a service manual. You are quite lucky: instead of forcing you begging on questionable sites for questionable pdfs, Dell offers all manuals on its site.
            You may find three types of battery:
            - standard 3 v Li button cell, such as CR2032: replacements are easily available;
            - 3.6 v NiCd batteries: harder to find but do exists. If you can't find them, there is an evergreen tricks: join 3 NiCd AA batteries in series and connect the results to the mainboard connector;
            - Dallas chip: this is an infamous clock chip with a battery inside. Not much info about, but I don't think it's easily replaceable.

            Your Inspiron is powerful enough to support 2000, what reall slows it down is the limited amount of ram: according to the manual, you can expand memory up to 144 MB if you manage to find compatible modules (should be 64 MB PC100 Sodimms). I can't find out if ram slots are available only disassembling your portable or not, but I imagine you have to (at time upgrades were done by techs only, so easily reacheable ram slots weren't a priority).
            BTW, even DSL requires 64 MB as a minimum, but enjoys having more ram: I think only really stripped down distros can live happily with only 64 MB, such as Slak and other minimalists Slackware derivates, but I won't recomend you them for daily use unless you are a linux geek.

            Tips: portables are hard to disassemble for first time, but after that you recognize there are a few rules. First: remove all damageable parts such as hard disks, memory, pc cards and so on and keep them in a safe place; second: start removing all bottom screws and divide them into boxes according to type (dimensions, head, thread and so on); third: detach the lcd screen but do not attempt to disassemble it unless you are forced to (e.g. broken lcd inverter). The screen is the hardest part to reasemble once you have disassembled it, springs tends to jump everywhere and screws are prone to be lost. Fourth: plastic pieces are usually kept in place by pressure contacts, so be gentle when removing them and avoid breaking any dent.

            Have fun ;-)

            Zandrax
            Have an happy life.

            Comment

              #7
              Re: Inspiron 3200 loses time.

              iirc that unit uses several nimh button cells in a shrinkwrap.
              look for a lumpy green thing inside.

              Comment

                #8
                Re: Inspiron 3200 loses time.

                NO!
                Not THAT lumpy green thing! - The other one!
                [kidding]
                .

                What are you using USB for?
                Mann-Made Global Warming.
                - We should be more concerned about the Intellectual Climate.
                -
                Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.
                - Dr Seuss
                -
                You can teach a man to fish and feed him for life, but if he can't handle sushi you must also teach him to cook.
                -

                Comment

                  #9
                  Re: Inspiron 3200 loses time.

                  yeah the green thing...I thought it might be about that vintage but wasn't sure

                  Hey stevo I think you posted on the lumpy green thing before but not sure if it was for that lappy

                  Thanks guys
                  thought memory (or lack of would be more the issue)

                  Cheers
                  You step into the Road, and if you don't keep your feet, there is no knowing where you may be swept off to." Bilbo Baggins ...

                  Comment

                    #10
                    Re: Inspiron 3200 loses time.

                    I looked for a photo of the right one and couldn't find one.

                    About those though.
                    Ones for sale are often unused but old old old.
                    It may be best to get fresh batteries and build your own replacement pack.
                    Mann-Made Global Warming.
                    - We should be more concerned about the Intellectual Climate.
                    -
                    Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.
                    - Dr Seuss
                    -
                    You can teach a man to fish and feed him for life, but if he can't handle sushi you must also teach him to cook.
                    -

                    Comment

                      #11
                      Re: Inspiron 3200 loses time.

                      Originally posted by PCBONEZ
                      What are you using USB for?
                      I need USB for support of my USB flash drive and sometimes my USB mouse.

                      Originally posted by starfury1
                      yeah the green thing...I thought it might be about that vintage but wasn't sure

                      Hey stevo I think you posted on the lumpy green thing before but not sure if it was for that lappy
                      Yeah the green thing. I had a post on that except it was for my older and more ancient P133 Texas Instruments Travelmate 6030. This Dell Came in earlier this year to replace that one. The bettery in that one is leaking acid but still remembers time and date?!.
                      Don't find love, let love find you. That's why its called falling in love, because you don't force yourself to fall, you just fall. - Anonymous

                      Comment

                        #12
                        Re: Inspiron 3200 loses time.

                        Reinstalling Windows 2000 solved the problem?? wow.... this is strange.... in fact it's something i've never encounted before. Anyway, all is fine again now.

                        Thanks.
                        Don't find love, let love find you. That's why its called falling in love, because you don't force yourself to fall, you just fall. - Anonymous

                        Comment

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