(T) First visit to the tech section! Duff battery/electrics?

Hi There!
This is my first foray into the tech section, not to be done on a regualr basis I hope!
I have a mk2 sporting and this morning my car wouldn't start, i waited then tried again this time it did fire up but when it did my claock was on 12:00 and my trip computer had reset as if the battery had been disconnected or something. The alarm/c locking worked okay though . It was very colkd this morning but I was surpprised to see it struggling to start I also have a problem with the bulb warning light on the dash coming on even though all my lights are working okay -maybe related?
When I was getting a replacement manual from FIAT I mentioned the bulb becasue I didn't know then what it was and he said it could be a 'bad earth' whatever that means.
Any ideas ? I don't fancy resetting my clock and losing all my trip computer stats every morning when it's cold

Nicola

i would be checking the battery 1st.central locking takes far less power than cranking the engine.
clock and trip computer could have been cleared if the battery dipped low enough.

bad earth(read earth connection)on a light circuit may cause the warning light but i dont think it would cause battery drain

batteris are cheep atm, got mine from local motor factors for £20 2 year garentee.

yeah sounds like batery to me i had the reseting non starting happen to my car about 2 years ago replaced with new battery all was well

and as dave said batterys are cheap iunless you go to fiat or halfords lol. a good motor factor should do. make sure its fits, when i got mine the book he used was printed wrong grrr dam battery did not fit in plastic battery box. i went back he checked another makers book andthat also told him wrong one. he came out and looked at in end and done it that way think mine was a bosch battery 4 year garentee abiyt £35 could of had a 2 year for aboyt £25