How old is the computer?
Typically, your computer's BIOS settings are kept in a small battery-backed RAM chip. If the battery dies (typically after five years or so), and you lose all external power, the settings revert to factory values. It sounds like your BIOS backup battery has gone dead, and you had improper BIOS settings which got reset as a result of the power failure. That would account for the improvement in your machine's operation.
If you need customized settings for some reason, you should replace the BIOS battery. It's usually a small watch battery held onto your mother board by a clip.
Thank you cynwoody, I will definitely get that done soon! The computer is seriously old, it’s an xp and though I have newer models, it is like a pair of old slippers. Whenever I try to get used to a new computer, it winds up in a closet or is given away.
Even got used to that clock nonsense — fixing it several times a day. It’s working fine since the power failure...but why, I’m not sure I understand. If the battery’s dead, and the BIOS settings now work with a dead battery, what was the point of the battery?