Last Revised
AST RESEARCH, INC.        TECHNICAL BULLETIN # 1783          12/02/97 
 
 
 
TITLE:  Ascentia M, MS WinNT Service Packs
 
 
ISSUE 
 
   Installing the Microsoft Service Pack 2 (SP2) or Service Pack 3 
   (SP3) on an Ascentia M computer may cause problems with the 
   software installed on the computer. 
   
   Before you consider installing a service pack, read the README 
   file that accompanies the service pack and the information on 
   service packs at the Microsoft Web site: 
   http://www.microsoft.com.
   
   This issue affects all Ascentia M systems.    

 
BACKGROUND 
 
   N/A    

 
ACTION 
 
   Before installing a service pack:
   
      Make sure the CD-ROM drive is installed in the 
      SmartBay and the floppy drive is connected to the
      external floppy connector.
   
      Use the AST Disk Utility to make a copy of the video 
      driver on your computer. (See your Ascentia M Series 
      User's Manual for more information about the AST Disk 
      Utility.)
   
      For SP2 only, use the AST Disk Utility to make a copy 
      of the CardWizard software on your computer.
   
   Service Pack 3
   
   Install SP3 following the instructions that accompany the
   service pack, with this exception: Make sure to answer
   NO when you are prompted to overwrite the PCMCIA.SYS file on your 
   computer.
   
   Installing SP3 will overwrite the video driver that was installed 
   on your computer at the factory.
   
   The first time you restart your computer after you install the 
   service pack, reinstall the video driver.
   
   1. When you are prompted to select an operating system as
      the computer starts, select Windows NT Workstation
      Version 4.00 [VGA mode] and press the [Enter] key.
   
   2. Log onto the computer as administrator. The Invalid
      Display Settings window will appear.
   
   3. Click the [OK] button. The Display Properties window
      will appear. If the Change Display window appears, 
      skip to step 6.
   
   4. Click the [Display Type] button. The Display Type 
      window will appear.
   
   5. Click the [Change] button. The Change Display window
      will appear.
   
   6. Click the [Have Disk] button. Then insert the video 
      driver disk that you made with the AST Disk Utility 
      into the floppy drive and click the [OK] button.
   
      The following line will appear under the Display 
      option:
   
        Cirrus Logic CL-GD 755x 1.30 Graphics Adapter
   
   7. Click the [OK] button. The Third-Party Driver window 
      will appear.
   
   8. Click Yes. The driver will be copied. A window will 
      appear prompting you that the driver has been 
      successfully copied.
   
   9. Click OK. Remove the disk from the floppy drive. Close
      the open windows on the screen.
   
   10. Click Yes when prompted to reboot the computer. The
       computer reboots.
   
   11. At the opening screen, select the default operating
       system: Windows NT Workstation Version 4.00. Press 
       the [Enter] key.
   
   12. Log on as administrator. The Invalid Display Settings
       window will appear.
   
   13. Click OK. Click the Test button at the Display 
       Properties window and follow any directions on the 
       screen to finish setting the display properties.
   
   
   Service Pack 2
   
   NOTE: AST DOES NOT RECOMMEND INSTALLING SERVICE PACK 2 DUE TO 
   VARIOUS KNOWN ISSUES ON DIFFERENT PLATFORMS. 
   
   AST RECOMMEND USING THE LATEST SERVICE PACK, WHICH AT THE TIME OF 
   THIS PRINTING IS SERVICE PACK 3 AND INCLUDES THE FIXES TO KNOWN 
   ISSUES TODAY.
   
   If you install SP2, you must remove and reinstall CardWizard and 
   you must reinstall the video driver.
   
   1. Before you install SP2, double-click the Add/Remove
      Programs icon in the Control Panel and follow the
      instructions to remove CardWizard.
   
   2. Install SP2, following the instructions that accompany 
      the service pack.
   
   3. Reinstall the video driver, following the instructions
      for reinstalling the video driver in the section 
      "Service Pack 3."
   
   4. Reinstall CardWizard:
   
      a. Remove any PC cards in the PC Card slots.
   
      b. Insert the CardWizard disk that you made with
         the AST Disk Utility into the floppy drive.
   
      c. Click the [Start] button on the Windows taskbar and
         click Run.
   
      d. Enter the following command:
   
             A:\SETUP 
   
         and click the OK button.
   
      e. Accept the default settings during the 
         installation.
   
      f. Restart the computer when prompted.    

 
NOTES 
 
   The text above was copied from AST document # 003931-001A.
   
   Copyright 1997 AST Research, Inc. All rights are reserved, 
   including those to reproduce this document or parts thereof in 
   any form without permission in writing from AST Research, Inc. 
   AST Research, Inc. shall not be liable for technical or editorial 
   errors or omissions contained herein; nor for incidental or 
   consequential damages resulting from the furnishing, performance, 
   or use of this material. AST and AST Research are registered 
   trademarks and Ascentia and SmartBay are trademarks of AST 
   Research, Inc. Microsoft, Windows, and Windows NT are registered 
   trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. SystemSoft is a registered 
   trademark and CardWizard is a trademark of SystemSoft 
   Corporation. All other brand or product names are trademarks or 
   registered trademarks of their companies.    

 
TAN N/A 
 
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