AST RESEARCH, INC.             TECHNICAL BULLETIN # 0962               8-24-94




                   ASCENTIA 900N REG.DAT ISSUE WITH WINSTONE BENCHMARK


PROBLEM:        The REG.DAT file generated during the hard disk master
                generation does not properly reflect the environment which
                would typically be generated during a "virgin" installation of
                Windows.  When using the WINSTONE program, the Ascentia 900N
                system crashes with an "insufficient memory/system resources"
                error.

CAUSE:          The cause of this problem is a "corrupt" REG.DAT file in the
                Windows directory.  It is not corrupt in the sense of being
                unreadable, but it contains "extra" information (which is used
                for other applications) which is not a part of the Ascentia
                bundle.  This extra information causes problems for the
                WinStone benchmark.

SYSTEMS
AFFECTED:           AST                                              REVISION
                PART NUMBER         DESCRIPTION                        LEVEL

                501299-2XX      ASCENTIA 900N 4/50 CS10                 All
                501300-3XX      ASCENTIA 900N 4/50 CT9                  All
                501302-2XX      ASCENTIA 900N 4/75 CS10                 All
                501304-3XX      ASCENTIA 900N 4/75 CT10                 All


SOLUTION:       The solution is to remove the REG.DAT file and re-create it
                through Windows.

                MicroSoft has provided a method by which a "corrupt" REG.DAT
                file may be purged and a proper REG.DAT file generated after
                the installation process.  Following this procedure should
                resolve the problem on the Ascentia 900N hard disk master.
                This procedure should be followed if you have this error.

                -  From the DOS prompt, enter into the "WINDOWS" sub-directory.
                -  In the Windows subdirectory, delete the file "REG.DAT."
                -  Type "WIN" and press <Enter>.
                -  From the Program Manager/File, select "RUN."  Enter
                   "REGEDIT" and press <Enter>.
                -  From the "Registration Info Editor" "File" option, select
                   "Merge Registration File."
                -  Once in the dialog box, go to the "SYSTEM" sub-directory,
                   select the file "SETUP.REG" and click the "OK" button.
                -  An appropriate "Restoration" message will be displayed.
                -  Exit the Registration Info Editor. Exit Windows.
                -  Restart Windows.