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 --------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this data sheet is subject to change without notice. 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. This material contains information protected by copyright. No part of this material may be reproduced in any form without prior written consent from AST Research, Inc. All rights reserved. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Template Rev 02