CMOS Memory Utility v1.2
                          by Paul Howe, 1994


     This program is a read, write, and compare utility for the CMOS
memory found in 286 and newer computers. It is designed for use in 
batch files by utilizing command line parameters as needed. It was created
to fill the niche left by all the other CMOS utilities...command line
operation. This is especially valuable if the computer operator is a 
relative newcomer to computing because this utility will automatically 
insure that the CMOS data is correct. How many people know the CMOS drive
type for their hard drive without looking it up? Some computers won't
even start if the CMOS info is incorrect...This little program fixes
all those problems quietly and automatically.
     On-line documentation is provided in the .EXE file. In keeping with the
intent of batch file operation, return status values are provided for
use with the ERRORLEVEL batch file function.
     The CMOS data is stored as a 66 byte binary file. This file is 
a true image of the 64 bytes of CMOS data plus two checksum bytes. The
checksum bytes are used to validate the stored CMOS data before any
restore operations are allowed. This prevents disk or data file corruption
from destroying the contents of CMOS memory.
     The CMOS data is read via CPU ports 70h and 71h which bypasses any
CMOS password scheme.  This is handy if some unauthorized person has 
changed the CMOS access password. If you have the image file saved you
can easily restore the correct password.  This utility does not crack
the password encryption used by some BIOS manufacturers. It simply saves
the raw image after encryption.

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Usage:

   CMOS [/r][/w][/c] [filename]

 /r - This switch reads a CMOS data file previously established using
      this utility and updates CMOS memory using that data file.

 /w - This switch writes a CMOS data file using the CMOS data currently
      in memory.  It will cheerfully overwrite an existing file with the
      same file name so be careful to select unique data file names.

 /c - This switch will compare the contents of CMOS memory to a data file.
      The first 16 bytes are not compared as they hold the date and time.
      If there is a good match the utility will simply return without 
      taking any action. If there is a mismatch the utility will update
      CMOS memory from the data file and cold start the computer. The
      restart is necessary for a correct equipment list in memory.

 [filename] - This is the CMOS data file name.  If the data file is not
              in the same directory as the utility the full path must be
              specified. For security the PATH stored in the environment
              space is ignored.  Any legal DOS file name is fine.

 Note: Entering the utility file name by itself will bring up the
       abbreviated documentation stored in the .EXE file.

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Return Codes:

     The following return codes are used in this utility. They are useful
when performing ERRORLEVEL routines in a batch file.

     Exit Code           Description
        0             Normal program termination. 
        1             File read error or invalid command line argument.
        2             File write error.                                 
        3             Data file checksum error.

Note: A comparison failure using the /c switch will not return a code to
      the calling batch file.  A cold start is performed internally so
      control is never returned to the batch file. This makes a return
      code unnecessary.

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Examples:

1.  Creating a CMOS data file called CMOS.DAT in a specified location:

    CMOS /w c:\dos\cmos.dat

2.  Creating a CMOS data file called CMOS123.BIN in the current directory:

    CMOS /w cmos123.bin

3.  Restoring CMOS memory from a data file called CMOS.DAT in the current
    directory:

    CMOS /r cmos.dat

4.  Using the compare switch in a batch file with the CMOS data file
    called CMOS1.DAT in the F:\PUBLIC subdirectory:

    :  :  :
    cd\pub
    ndir > out.lst
    cmos /c f:\public\cmos1.dat
    if errorlevel 3 goto ...
    if errorlevel 2 ...
    :  :  :

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Final Notes:     

     Remember to update the CMOS data file if the CMOS data is legitimately
changed!  This is especially true when using the /c switch. The utility will
automatically restore CMOS memory to reflect the data file in that case.  
     A public domain license is hereby granted to all to find this program 
useful.