Question, Why does my Laptop not keep it's settings? (hard drive, bios, game)

[JD59]

It's weird but when I set my laptop settings before shutting down it doesn't save them for some reason. I just got a new battery four months ago. Does my Laptop have a built-in battery that saves memory?


Thanks, John

[EscapeCalifornia]

Which settings? Computers have a small battery on the motherboard that powers some memory which retains BIOS settings.

[JD59]

My wireless internet settings and the user account control on or off setting will not keep in memory. I'm not been able to connect to my wireless rounter because of this problem. Is there a way to check the battery on motherboard?


Thanks, John

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by John1960

My wireless internet settings and the user account control on or off setting will not keep in memory. I'm not been able to connect to my wireless rounter because of this problem. Is there a way to check the battery on motherboard?


Thanks, John

That's a Windows issue and has nothing to do with the battery. Those settings are stored on the hard drive, probably registry values, not in memory.

[JD59]

Whats weird is I can connect to other wireless systems and also use passwords and it will save it but on my wireless system it will not save my password and settings for some reason.

John

[TurcoLoco]

Originally Posted by John1960

Whats weird is I can connect to other wireless systems and also use passwords and it will save it but on my wireless system it will not save my password and settings for some reason.

John

I am guessing it is either controlled by the 3rd party application you are using or if it is the Windows' own feature.

If you installed a program with this Wireless hardware (card/router, etc), check the program's own settings, there should be a related option. If this is Windows own tool then perhaps Explorer is not retaining its settings or you have a utility that is cleaning Windows prefetch or cache on every startup.

Do you have something like that? Like a temp file cleaner? CCleaner or MRU-Blaster type programs have features/options that could create this outcome.

One other possibility is that you have utility that is reverting back the changes you make during a session.

The only setting that pops in my head that might have that kind of an effect could be a policy setting located at 2 common locations:

START > RUN > regedit > OK then browse to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Policies\Explorer

After you click on 'Explorer' key, on the right hand side if you see something like "NoSaveSettings", that should either be deleted or have a value of 00 00 00 00. It will likely to be a DWord value since it is not a program specific control value per se. If it has a value of 00 01 00 00 that means, all changes you make within any given Windows session will not be saved. This typically refers to visual changes/customization rather then program settings but it might be the cause so worth checking. If it is not there then it is not applicable.

Also check this as a related value at this location would be affecting all users:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Policies\Explorer

One other possibility is either prefetching is turned off or gets dumps every reboot. To know is that is the case, you will need to answer me this:
Is this the only setting/customization that is not retaining the changes or are there any others?

Location of Windows 'prefetch' settings in the registry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Contro l\Session Manager\Memory Management

Once you click on "Memory Management" on the right hand side the
"ClearPageFileAtShudown" value should be 0. "DisablePagingExecutive" should also read 0.

If all other changes you make stick, then I would lean towards a setting/option you will have to look for within the application you are using to control wireless connections.

Hope this helps.

[Pruzhany]

Whats weird is I can connect to other wireless systems and also use passwords and it will save it but on my wireless system it will not save my password and settings for some reason.

If it works fine on outside routers and not on yours then replace your router.

[JD59]

I do use Adware software.

My roommate has a laptop that works great on this router and but mine of course doesn't for some reason. My laptop is four years old and my roommates is brand new. She paid for the router and I cann't change it.


Thanks, John

[Pruzhany]

How old is your WiFi card? If its as old as your computer, maybe you need to change it? Which brings us back to the original premise. If your computer is holding the passwords and is functional on all other WiFi systems without issue, then its an encryption issue in relation to your older OS. If your roommate does not have an issue, then it comes down to your WiFi card that needs to be replaced.

[JD59]

Found out today that my Wii game system cann't find the wireless router either. Now what does this mean?

My laptop is a Toshiba Satellite A205-S5825

Router is a Netgear WGR614 Wireless G


Thanks, John