How to Make and Use the CLEAR NVRAM Diskette

This document contains instructions on making and using the CLEAR NVRAM Diskette referred to in FaxBack^® documents 3159, 3160, 3161 and 3162. This procedure is used to clear CMOS NVRAM which resets all the information in CMOS back to the original state.

This utility is ONLY for the Thor, Tiger-eye, Mailman, Aladdin, Zappa, Venus and Aurora systemboards.

To make sure you have the latest version of the CLRESCSD.EXE file, DO NOT use the utility provided on the Gateway 2000 System Software CD disc.

The following chart contains the Gateway part number, which is located on the invoice received with the computer, and the Reference name of the systemboard. For the sake of simplicity, the reset of this document uses the Reference name of the systemboard.

Gateway part #	Reference name
MBDSAC032AAWW, MBDSAC033AAWW, MBDSAC034AAWW, MBDSAC035AAWW, MBDSAC036AAWW, MBDSAC037AAWW, MBDSAC032ABWW, MBDSAC033ABWW, MBDSAC034ABWW, MBDSAC035ABWW, MBDSAC036ABWW, MBDSAC037ABWW, MBDSAC057AAWW, MBDSAC056AAWW	Tiger-eye
MBDSAC020AAWW, MBDSAC020ACWW, MBDSAC021ABWW, MBDSAC021ACWW	Aurora
MBDSAC016AAWW, MBDSAC017AAWW, MBDSAC019AAWW, MBDSAC023AAWW, MBDSAC024AAWW, MBDSAC024ABWW, MBDSAC027AAWW, MBDSAC028AAWW, MBDSAC029AAWW, MBDSAC030AAWW, MBDSAC044AAWW, MBDSAC045AAWW, MBDSAC046AAWW, MBDSAC047AAWW	Thor
MBDSAC026AAWW, MBDSAC026ABWW, MBDSAC038AAWW, MBDSAC038ABWW, MBDSAC067AAWW	Venus
MBDSAC050AAWW, MBDSAC051AAWW, MBDSAC052AAWW, MBDSAC049AAWW, MBDSAC053AAWW, MBDSAC054AAWW, MBDSAC055AAWW, MBDSAC056AAWW, MBDSAC058AAWW, MBDSAC059AAWW, MBDSAC060AAWW, MBDSAC061AAWW, MBDSAC062AAWW, MBDSAC063AAWW, MBDSAC064AAWW	Mailman
MBDSAC007ACWW, MBDSAC007ADWW, MBDSAC007RCWW, MBDSAC008AAWW, MBDSAC008ABWW, MBDSAC008ACWW, MBDSAC008ADWW, MBDSAC008AEWW, MBDSAC008AFWW, MBDSAC008RAWW, MBDSAC008RBWW, MBDSAC008RCWW, MBDSAC009ABWW, MBDSAC009ACWW, MBDSAC009ADWW, MBDSAC009AEWW, MBDSAC009AFWW, MBDSAC009RBWW, MBDSAC009RCWW, MBDSAC010ACWW, MBDSAC010ADWW, MBDSAC010AEWW, MBDSAC010RCWW, MBDSAC011ABWW, MBDSAC011ACWW, MBDSAC011ADWW, MBDSAC011RBWW, MBDSAC011RCWW	Aladdin
MBDSAC005AAWW, MBDSAC005ABWW, MBDSAC005ACWW, MBDSAC005ADWW, MBDSAC005RAWW, MBDSAC005RBWW, MBDSAC005ACWW, MBDSAC006AAWW, MBDSAC006ACWW, MBDSAC006ADWW, MBDSAC006AEWW, MBDSAC006RAWW, MBDSAC012AAWW, MBDSAC012ACWW, MBDSAC012ADWW, MBDSAC012AEWW, MBDSAC012RAWW, MBDSAC013ABWW, MBDSAC013ACWW, MBDSAC013ADWW, MBDSAC013AEWW, MBDSAC013AFWW, MBDSAC013RBWW, MBDSAC014AAWW, MBDSAC014ABWW, MBDSAC014ACWW, MBDSAC014ADWW, MBDSAC014RBWW, MBDSAC015ADWW, MBDSAC015AEWW, MBDSAC018AAWW, MBDSAC022AEWW, MBDSAC048AAWW	Zappa

Note: Before running the CLEAR NVRAM diskette, you may wish to enter CMOS and write the current CMOS settings on a piece of paper so you can reset the values later. Once NVRAM is cleared, all the CMOS values must be checked, since all values entered previously are now set to the default values.

Before running the CLRNVS program, you must have a BLANK formatted diskette and the CLRESCSD.EXE file. Once the file is downloaded to the hard drive, you are ready to create the CLEAR NVRAM diskette.

To make sure you have the latest version of the CLRESCSD.EXE file, DO NOT use the utility provided on the Gateway 2000 System Software CD disc.

Creating the CLEAR NVRAM diskette.

1. Make sure the computer is powered Off. Place the computer boot diskette into the A: drive. The diskette came in an orange envelope or with an orange sticker on the diskette.
2. Power the computer On. The computer will now boot to the diskette in the A: drive. Exit the Main Menu Screen. An A:\> prompt is displayed. Type:

   c:

   and press Enter. At the C:\> prompt, type:

   cd\

   followed by the name of the directory where the CLRESCDS.EXE file is located and press Enter. An example of this is FAXWORKS\DOWNLOAD if you are using the default directory in the FaxWorks software. If you are using HyperTerminal, provided with Windows 95, the default download directory is \PROGRAM FILES\ACCESSORIES\HYPER TERMINAL.

3. Once you are at the directory where the CLRESCSD.EXE file is located, type:

   CLRESCSD.EXE

   and press Enter. This expands the files onto the hard drive. Insert the BLANK formatted diskette into the A: drive. Once the files are expanded, type:

   install

   and press Enter to create a system diskette with the NVRAM clearing utility on it. Follow the instructions on the screen while you are creating the diskette.

Using the CLEAR NVRAM diskette

1. Make sure the CLEAR NVRAM diskette is in the A: drive. Power the computer On. The computer boots to the diskette in the A: drive.
2. During the CLEARNVRAM procedure, you DO NOT PRESS ENTER unless specifically instructed. Once the system boot up, the following screen appears:

   3 Current image to a file
   2 Restore an image from a file
   1 Clear NVS
   0 Exit

   Press the number 3 key at the top of the keyboard to save the current image file. DO NOT PRESS ENTER. The screen prompts you to type a file name for the current image. Type:

   cmosbkup

   and press Enter when finished typing. The file is saved on the diskette in the A: drive.
3. Next, press the number 1 key at the top of the keyboard to clear the NVRAM. DO NOT PRESS ENTER. The system may appear to be doing nothing, since nothing new is displayed on the screen, including the number 1 you just typed. Wait a few minutes and the system returns an indication of whether or not the NVRAM was successfully cleared.
4. Once the message appears, press the 0 (zero) key at the top of the keyboard to Quit the utility. DO NOT PRESS ENTER. The A:\> prompt appears. Reboot the computer.
5. As the computer boots up, immediately press F1 when the computer starts counting memory to enter CMOS. Reset any of the values necessary, according to the notes you took before clearing NVRAM. Refer to FaxBack^® documents 3160, 3161 and 3162 for further "special" instructions on some of the settings.
6. Repeat this procedure if necessary to make sure the settings are holding.

If you experience any further difficulties, please refer to FaxBack^® documents 3159, 3160, 3161, and 3162 for additional information concerning these difficulties.

The information in these articles is provided "as-is" without warranty of any kind, and all warranties are hereby disclaimed, whether express or implied, including, without limitation, the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement. Gateway 2000 will not be liable for any damages whatsoever, whether direct, special, indirect, incidental, or consequential (including, without limitation, damages for loss of business profits, business interruption, loss of business information, or any other pecuniary loss) arising out of, or related to your use of, or inability to use the information in any such article, even if advised of the possibility of such damages. Because some states and jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of liability for consequential or incidental damages, the above limitation may not apply to you. You may not further distribute, reproduce, rent, sell, transfer or license these articles.

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