I need some help with my Intel slot 1 motherboard please.

I believe it is a Seattle-2 motherboard with the 440BX-2 chipset.

When I power on the board, it beeps once and displays the error: "Invalid System Configuration Data - run configuration utility"
I have configured everything in the BIOS as required.
If I change the setting in the bios to clear configuration data it boots without the error after exiting the BIOS, but as soon as the PC is rebooted again, the error returns.

Pressing F1 does continue the boot process into Windows 98.

I have also confirmed that the cmos battery is good and that all bios settings are retained when he system is powered off and disconnected from power.

About a year ago when I got the board, I flashed the P17 BIOS and don't recall having any issues with the board. After that it was left stored for months.
Recently I wanted to do some comparisons of this system to my K6-III 450 overclocked to 600 and found that this board is misbehaving.

It isn't a complete showstopper but it's really annoying that it requires F1 to be pressed every time, otherwise it won't continue to boot.

Any ideas?