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    AST RESEARCH, INC.          TECHNICAL BULLETIN # 1474               3-28-96

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      Difficulty Installing Add-In Cards that Appear to Conflict with Integrated
    				Plug and Play Devices

    ISSUE

    Replacing a Plug and Play system's integrated hardware device with a third
    party enhancement product such as a more advanced sound card, can sometimes
    lead to confusion.

    SOLUTION

    When a Plug and Play system is used with a non PnP operating system, it is
    sometimes necessary to use separate utilities to configure the hardware
    properly.
    Some systems may allow the user to remove or disable an integrated device,
    through a setting in the system's BIOS Setup, while others may not.
    Both methods are widely used and accepted.

    If your system Setup does not allow you to disable a device, you must use a
    utility such as the "ISA Configuration Utility" (ICU) to do so.  This utility is
    shipped with your AST system.  In addition to this utility, your computer is
    shipped with a booklet titled

    "ISA Configuration Utility for AST User's Manual" (P/N 003039-001A)

    which describes the function and use of ICU for DOS and Windows 3.x
    environments.

    EXAMPLE

    Situation - You desire to install and use a high-end sound card in place of
    	    the Bravo MS P/133's  (501894-XXX) built-in audio circuitry.
    	    Because there are no provisions for disabling the integrated
    	    CS4232 in system Setup, you must use the ICU to accomplish this
    	    task.

    	    Page 22 of the ISA Configuration Utility for AST User's Manual,
    	    Modifying the Configuration of a Listed Card, explains that
    	    disabling a device will free up the resources which had been used
    	    by the card.  This in turn will make these resources available to
    	    other add-in devices which you may desire to install in your
    	    computer.

    Procedure-1. Run ICU.  ICU will usually be located in the following
    	     directory:

    		      C:\PLUGPLAY\ICU.

    	  2. Highlight the CS4232 sound device and select "Modify."
    	     The screen will list all of the functions supported through this
    	     device.  In this case they are WSS/SB, Game, Ctrl, and MPU.

    	  3. Highlight and press  on each of the functions you wish
    	     to disable.

    	  4. Once all the desired functions have been disabled, select "OK"
    	     to return to the "Cards Configured in System" screen.

    	     NOTE: Do not enable card locking; if you do so, the card will
    	     reclaim it's resources upon the next boot.

    	  5. Select "File" and "Save."

    	  6. After saving this new configuration, select "File" and "Exit."

    	  7. Reboot the system.  NOTE: When booting the system,
    	     the device you disabled may still be reported as successfully
    	     configured.  This is normal and should not be a cause for alarm.

    	  8. Power OFF the system and install the add-in card.

    SYSTEMS AFFECTED

    All systems using a Plug and Play BIOS and a non-PnP operating system.