diff -urN 2.3.99-pre2/arch/alpha/vmlinux.lds bss/arch/alpha/vmlinux.lds
--- 2.3.99-pre2/arch/alpha/vmlinux.lds	Sun Feb 27 06:19:41 2000
+++ bss/arch/alpha/vmlinux.lds	Thu Apr  6 01:16:27 2000
@@ -50,9 +50,11 @@
   .got : { *(.got) }
   .sdata : { *(.sdata) }
   _edata = .;
-  _bss = .;
+
+  __bss_start = .;
   .sbss : { *(.sbss) *(.scommon) }
   .bss : { *(.bss) *(COMMON) }
+  __bss_stop = .;
   _end = .;
 
   .mdebug 0 : { *(.mdebug) }
diff -urN 2.3.99-pre2/arch/i386/kernel/head.S bss/arch/i386/kernel/head.S
--- 2.3.99-pre2/arch/i386/kernel/head.S	Mon Mar 27 22:44:26 2000
+++ bss/arch/i386/kernel/head.S	Thu Apr  6 01:16:27 2000
@@ -101,22 +101,12 @@
 
 #ifdef __SMP__
 	orw  %bx,%bx
-	jz  1f				/* Initial CPU cleans BSS */
+	jz  1f				/* Initial CPU setup the system */
 	pushl $0
 	popfl
 	jmp checkCPUtype
 1:
 #endif __SMP__
-/*
- * Clear BSS first so that there are no surprises...
- */
-	xorl %eax,%eax
-	movl $ SYMBOL_NAME(__bss_start),%edi
-	movl $ SYMBOL_NAME(_end),%ecx
-	subl %edi,%ecx
-	cld
-	rep
-	stosb
 /*
  * start system 32-bit setup. We need to re-do some of the things done
  * in 16-bit mode for the "real" operations.
diff -urN 2.3.99-pre2/arch/ppc/vmlinux.lds bss/arch/ppc/vmlinux.lds
--- 2.3.99-pre2/arch/ppc/vmlinux.lds	Tue Oct 12 02:40:34 1999
+++ bss/arch/ppc/vmlinux.lds	Thu Apr  6 01:16:30 2000
@@ -132,6 +132,7 @@
    *(.bss)
    *(COMMON)
   }
+  __bss_stop = .;
   _end = . ;
   PROVIDE (end = .);
 }
diff -urN 2.3.99-pre2/arch/sparc/vmlinux.lds bss/arch/sparc/vmlinux.lds
--- 2.3.99-pre2/arch/sparc/vmlinux.lds	Fri Feb 11 00:05:33 2000
+++ bss/arch/sparc/vmlinux.lds	Thu Apr  6 01:16:30 2000
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@
    *(.bss)
    *(COMMON)
   }
+  __bss_stop = .;
   _end = . ;
   PROVIDE (end = .);
   /* Stabs debugging sections.  */
diff -urN 2.3.99-pre2/arch/sparc64/vmlinux.lds bss/arch/sparc64/vmlinux.lds
--- 2.3.99-pre2/arch/sparc64/vmlinux.lds	Fri Feb 11 00:05:33 2000
+++ bss/arch/sparc64/vmlinux.lds	Thu Apr  6 01:16:30 2000
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@
    *(.bss)
    *(COMMON)
   }
+  __bss_stop = .;
   _end = . ;
   PROVIDE (end = .);
   /* Stabs debugging sections.  */
diff -urN 2.3.99-pre2/init/main.c bss/init/main.c
--- 2.3.99-pre2/init/main.c	Sat Mar 11 20:02:33 2000
+++ bss/init/main.c	Thu Apr  6 01:17:53 2000
@@ -466,6 +466,13 @@
 
 #endif
 
+static void __init clear_bss(void)
+{
+	extern char * __bss_start, __bss_stop;
+	memset(__bss_start, 0,
+	       (unsigned long) __bss_stop - (unsigned long) __bss_start);
+}
+
 /*
  *	Activate the first processor.
  */
@@ -478,6 +485,7 @@
  * Interrupts are still disabled. Do necessary setups, then
  * enable them
  */
+	clear_bss();
 	lock_kernel();
 	printk(linux_banner);
 	setup_arch(&command_line);