I have translated NVRAM 1.1 to english and repackaged it with Atari's
CONFIG.PRG and this short readme file.  The original doc file is still
in German.  Maybe someone who knows German could translate it for us.


**************************** Caveat Emptor ************************

   Atari is adamant that you not mess with any NVRAM settings and
insists that it is for the O.S. only.  But since many users will change
their settings no matter what Atari says I thought I would pass
alongwhat little info I have picked up on the subject.  I cannot and
will not, however, be responsible for any problems you may experience
with your hardware/software by altering your system's internal NVRAM in
any way or with this or any other utility.


Packing List
------------
README.1ST     -    You're reading it now.
NVRAM1_1.TXT   -    German docs
NVRAM_E.CPX    -    NVRAM 1.1 translated to English
NVRAM.CPX      -    The original NVRAM 1.1 CPX in German
RESETNVR.PRG   -    Resets NVRAM to default settings (if you're German)
CONFIG.PRG     -    Atari's NVRAM set program
CONFIG.RSC     -    Resource for CONFIG.PRG


Notes:
-----

  Make an emergency disk with AHDI.PRG in the AUTO folder and the Atari
Hard Drive Utilities and CONFIG.PRG & CONFIG.RSC in the root or another
folder on the disk. (You should have an emergency floppy even if you
don't plan on twiddling the NVRAM.)  This way if you screw up you have
a better chance of recovering on your own.

Don't use the RESETNVR.PRG to reset the system unless you speak German.

  If you do get into trouble use CONFIG.PRG to reset NVRAM back to
defaults en masse by country.  If you are in real trouble and cannot
boot the machine, try the following:

     1) Turn off the computer for a few seconds and insert a floppy
         into the disk drive.
     2) Turn the machine back on and when the Fuji comes up hold down
         the CONTRL, ALT, and UNDO keys.
     3) When the desktop comes up, run CONFIG.PRG and select the
         appropriate country, i.e. USA.

  The above steps should work starting with TOS 4.04.  Atari claims
that step 2 alone should suffice, but I have found only some settings
are restored by CTRL-ALT-UNDO.  So you'll still have to run CONFIG.PRG
to completely reset the system NVRAM.

  Even if you're TOS is < 4.04 you should be able to run CONFIG.PRG
from a boot floppy to get back the system defaults.

Below are the results of my limited experiments (I have not tested
overscan mode but I do know one thing.  DO NOT USE OVERSCAN ON A VGA
MONITOR!

NVRAM video settings comparison
===============================

with VGA monitor** or NEC 3D multisync (Falcon in VGA setting)
--------------------------------------------------------------

Video mode     line double    compat.mode    effect

TV/16/80            on             off       normal VGA 640x480
TV/16/80            off            off       ln-dbl VGA 640x240
TV/4/80             off            on        ST med comp. mode 640x200


VGA/16/80           on             off       ln-dbl VGA 640x240
VGA/16/80           off            off       normal VGA 640x480
VGA/4/80            off            on        ST med comp.mode 640x200

* compatibility mode not selectable with more than 4 colors in 80 column
     mode

* notice the line doubling switch has the opposite effect in TV mode on
    VGA monitors

** I assume a VGA monitor behaves the same as an NEC 3D in VGA mode.



with TV (SC1224) monitor** or NEC 3D multisync (Falcon in TV setting)
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Video mode     line double    compat.mode    effect

TV/16/80            on             off       interlace 640x400 (ST Hi)
   "                off            off       normal 640x200 (ST Med)
TV/4/80             off            on        normal 640x200 (ST Med)


* compatibility mode not selectable with more than 4 colors in 80 column
     mode

* notice TV mode only on TV and SC1224 monitors

** I assume a TV monitor behaves the same as an NEC 3D in TV mode.





 One final but very important note, NVRAM 1.1 seems to be pretty good
about warning you about changes that are dangerous to your monitor's
health, at least when using a VGA or SC1224 with the respective Atari
adapter.  Don't take this as gospel though, the programmer could have
missed something.  The point I'm trying to make is that the other NVRAM
setting programs I've seen circulating the services, do not even check
what monitor is connected, let alone give warnings or disallow
potentially disasterous combinations of settings, as far as I can tell.
Therefore if you do insist on changing your boot parms with one of
these programs, NVRAM 1.1 does seem to be the 'least dangerous' one out
so far (that I know of).


Bob Semaan
September 1993