PC Troubleshooting Questions and Answers - Invalid Configuration Information, Please Run Setup Program Message on Startup

Stuart writes in with a troubleshooting question
Question: I have a Dell Dimension8300 Series, BIOS version A05. When I turn it on it says as follows:

Invalid configuration information - please run SETUP program
Performing automatic IDE configuration...
SATO Primary Master: Disk Drive
Secondary Master: CD-ROM Device
Secondary Slave: CD-ROM Device
Time-of-day not set - please run SETUP program
Strike the F1 key to continue, F2 to run the setup utility

I do not know how to set the Time-of-day or run the SETUP program. Thus, I don't know what to do in the setup utility. When I hit F1 it appears to boot up okay, but the mouse does not work. Therefore, I cannot enter any programs.

Can you help?

Answer: You will see this message if your computer thinks something has changed such as when you add more RAM to your system. If nothing has changed then most of the time you can press F2 to go into setup and then do a save and exit and the message won't come back. While you are there I would find the date and time section and make sure it is correct in case its off. If it is off then that can be a sign of a failing CMOS battery but I have seen plenty of computers that don't keep the correct time in the BIOS no matter what the condition of the battery is. If everything is working fine then I wouldn't worry about it and just go into setup and do the save and exit to get rid of the configuration message.

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