                                                             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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