By the way, you've just surfed into a website very rich in information about Windows software, tips, tricks and tweaks. Don't leave without exploring the resources listed on the main page.
Here's what the author says about his tiny utility:
Sometimes, a motherboard's CMOS settings will get corrupted due to a power-flux or just because it felt like it. The level of corruption may keep you from even into the CMOS menu. KillCMOS basically "resets" your computer's CMOS settings to the factory defaults. Works with all CMOS. KillCMOS only changes checksums & values that makes the motherboard CMOS revert back to factory defaults. It does not ReProgram your CMOS like a flash ROM writer does. It does not damage hardware. KillCMOS reads/writes to areas of the CMOS that gets written to everyday, the difference is the values that we give it (CMOS).
Computer reboots, Says "CMOS Checksum Failure, Default Settings Loaded..." Now it's time to reconfigure your motherboard to your specific hard-drives, floppies...etc.
In Windows systems your "open session" will continue as normal. Only when you reboot your system, will the CMOS checksums be recognized as "bad" & the CMOS reset.
Software Review - Pros
It really does what it's supposed to do (I have tested it on half a dozen different machines. My notebook included...)
It's "bannerware", which means it is basically free, you should only send an email to the athor stating that you liked it (or didn't). Speaking of which, I still haven't emailed him...
Software Review - Cons
You may use it inadvertently and lose all your CMOS settings. But, on the other hand, the program was never intended for lamers...
User Report - Tips, Tricks and Tweaks
Suggested Further Reading
Interested in firmware/CMOS/BIOS/ROM stuff and just don't know where to look anymore? Been messing with your BIOS settings (or installing a new piece of hardware) and - puff! - screwed it up? Tell me about it! Been browsing through your bookmarks, your downloaded BIOS tutorials, leafing through your loose notes and hefty reference books - and just can't seem to find the bit of info you need so badly? Well, info about BIOS is pretty hard to
find, no doubt about that. Even on the Net. And downright impossible to find in one place. Unless...
Unless you have the Bios Companion. The essential manual that's guaranteed to give you more info on your motherboard than the very manual that came with it. It's over 400 pages long. What does it cover? Motherboard/CPU/chipset types, RAM and memory chips, bus types including FireWire, expansion slots, optimizing your CMOS and chipset setup - you'll finally know exactly what each cryptic setting does, power management, plug'n'play/PCI configuration, POST/error beeps/messages/codes, known BIOS problems, HD parameter tables, manufacturers info - you name it. A must-buy that belongs in the library of anyone who is serious about BIOS optimizing and speed tweaking. You can find
Bios Companion for $35 at www.alphacraze.com. A more-than-fair price.
Or, you can opt for the renown System Bios for IBM PCs, Compatibles, and Eisa Computers. A classic you've certainly heard of before. Constantly updated. Includes: The ROM BIOS - XT, ISA, and EISA hardware - System RAM Data - CMOS RAM Data - ROM BIOS Data - I/O Ports - Power-On Self Test - Nonmaskable Interrupt Service - Keyboard Services - Video Service - Diskette Service - Fixed Disk Service - Serial Communication Service - System Service - Parallel Printer Service - Time-of-Day Service - Single Function Service - ISA/EISA Error Codes and Messages - XT BIOS Error Messages. At www.ecampus.com, you will get
System Bios for IBM PCs, Compatibles, and Eisa Computers: The Complete Guide to Rom-Based System Software for about 33 bucks.
