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    AST RESEARCH, INC.         TECHNICAL BULLETIN # 0991A                11-2-94

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            ASCENTIA 900N LOCKING UP IN A POWERSTATION WHILE LOADING 3COM
                                   ETHERLINK DRIVERS

    PROBLEM:        While docked on a PowerStation (both PowerStation I and
                    PowerStation II), the Ascentia 900N system locks up loading
                    the 3COM Etherlink III drivers.
                    With a 3COM Etherlink III adapter installed in the
                    PowerStation, the notebook locks up when either the 3COM NDIS
                    (3C5X9.COM) or the 3COM ODI (ELNK3.DOS) drivers are loaded.

    CAUSE:          The 3COM driver, version 4.1 and below,  is incompatible with
                    the Ascentia 900N's VLSI I/O controller.

    SYSTEMS
    AFFECTED:       All Ascentia 900N systems using a PowerStation and a 3COM
                    Etherlink III Adapter.

                        AST                                               REVISION
                    PART NUMBER           DESCRIPTION                       LEVEL

                    501299-2XX      ASCENTIA 900N 4/50 CS10                  All
                    501300-3XX      ASCENTIA 900N 4/50 CT9                   All
                    501302-2XX      ASCENTIA 900N 4/75 CS10                  All
                    501304-3XX      ASCENTIA 900N 4/75 CT10                  All
                    500982-001      POWERSTATION I                           All
                    500982-002      POWERSTATION I                           All
                    501600-001      POWERSTATION II                          All

    SOLUTION:       Contact 3COM's Technical Support at (800) 876-3266 to obtain
                    the latest 3COM Etherlink III drivers that support the AST
                    Ascentia 900N system, or download file AST5X9.EXE from 3COM's
                    BBS by dialing the following number: (408) 727-2768.
                    This file contains the fix for this problem.

    CAUTION:        In no case will AST Computer be liable for damage to the
                    system or loss of data caused by the improper implementation
                    of this technical bulletin.