trip computer.....

well recently my battery died leaving my computer flashing red dots...now I looked in my manual on how to reset it, which it says to hold the start button for a certain amount of time and it would reset but I could push that button all day long and it wouldn't do anything except flash at me so........ i looked for a possible reset insert where i stick a pin in it and it reset but it doesn't have one soooooo its been flashing at me for weeks now and i'm not sure what to do about it.... any suggestions????!!!!