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When a CMOS battery fails, it typically affects the data stored in the CMOS chip, which is responsible for maintaining system settings when the computer is powered off. This includes essential configurations such as the system time and date, boot order settings, and hardware configurations (like settings for drives and peripherals).

Installed software programs, on the other hand, are stored on the hard drive or other storage media and are not impacted by the state of the CMOS battery. The software remains intact regardless of whether the CMOS battery is functional or not. Thus, when the battery fails, while the computer may exhibit issues such as incorrect time or configuration errors upon booting, the programs that were installed on the system will still be accessible and unaffected.

This understanding is crucial when troubleshooting computer systems, as it helps to identify which areas are likely to encounter problems due to hardware changes versus those that remain stable despite the state of the system battery.