Try this simple fix--replace the CR2032 coin cell battery on the motherboard. Available anywhere that watch and hearing aid batteries are sold. Only $3. Be sure to replace with the right side up--you can read the instructions in your manual.
I need to format my desktop (Dell 4600). But I lost my Dell WinXP Home CD.   My question is if I use the Dell's Recovery Partition, will it remove the operating system? Do I stil need the CD when doing the set-ups?      
Restoring factory settings (Dell Dimension 4600)