Its not an issue with the ROM, actually it means that the ROM is correct. There is no battery.

There is a battery in the original cartridge and has always been this way since the NES and up through the GBA. On the GBA, the battery no longer keeps the save file there (I think) but instead keeps the clock counting. It was a very bad idea really. In silver and gold, the battery keeps both the save file saved and the clock counting, so the battery died much quicker. It just so happens that my Pkmn Red and blue still save properly, but my silver gold do not...THats is because red and blue do not have an in-game clock.
Just a little tidbit for ya. Listen to Nemesis for the setting change.
