    AST RESEARCH, INC.        TECHNICAL BULLETIN # 1593          09/24/96

    TITLE:  DirectX Win95 Replaces Crystal Drivers

    SUMMARY

       Applications written for Windows 95 that utilize "DirectX"
       technology replace the existing Crystal Audio CS4232 drivers with
       the default Microsoft Sound System drivers.

       This issue affects the following systems: 501766, 501767, 501768,
       501769, 501770, 501794, 501795, 501829, 501855, 501856

    ISSUE

       Applications written for Windows 95 that utilize "DirectX"
       technology replace the existing Crystal Audio CS4232 drivers with
       the default Microsoft Sound System drivers.

       The Microsoft Sound System drivers will limit some of the audio
       performance capabilities originally available on the computer.

    BACKGROUND

       "DirectX" technology searches for a compatible sound system to
       take full advantage of "DirectX". The first compatible sound
       system that it finds is Microsoft Sound System. It installs and
       sets up to run with this sound system. Some of the programs that
       are known to cause this issue are:

       Return to Fire
       Hive
       Mech Warrior
       Microsoft Fury
       Doom for 95

       This issue occurs only upon installation of the program. Once the
       issue is corrected, the program should perform as designed on all
       subsequent executions.

    ACTION

       Delete the Microsoft Sound System device driver and reinstall the
       Crystal CS4232 Audio drivers.

       AST provides a disk utility called ASTDU which allows the user to
       make disks of the software needed for the system.
       Use ASTDU to make the "Crystal CS4232 Audio Drivers" diskette.
       Using the diskette created by ASTDU, follow the steps below to
       reinstall the CS4232 audio drivers.

       To install or update audio drivers in Windows 95, follow these steps.

       Audio Device Removal Instructions

       1. Using the right mouse button, click on the My Computer
          icon.

       2. Choose Properties from the drop down menu.

       3. Select the tab labeled Device Manager.

       4. Click on the listing called Sound, video and game
          controllers to access the devices contained inside.

       5. Select Microsoft Sound System from the list and click
          on Remove.

       6. Answer any prompts with the appropriate answer to
          remove the driver.

       7. Click OK to close Device Manager.

       Installing The Audio Device

       1. Click on the Start button. Then go to Settings and
          click on Control Panel.

       2. Double click on Add New Hardware.

       3. Click the Next button. Click on No, then click on the
          Next button again.

       4. Scroll the list of devices and select Sound, video and
          game controllers, then click on Next.

       5. Insert the CS4232 drivers diskette in the floppy drive
          and click on Have disk.

       6. Insure that the path in the text box is A:\ and press
          OK.

       7. Select CS4232 and click on Next.

       After the installation of the audio drivers is complete, AST
       recommends that the computer be shut down properly and restarted
       to ensure that all the proper drivers are correctly loaded into memory.

    NOTES

       N/A

    TAN 003600RL

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------
    The information in this data sheet is subject to change without
    notice. AST Research, Inc. shall not be liable for technical or
    editorial errors or omissions contained herein; nor for incidental or
    consequential damages resulting from the furnishing, performance,
    or use of this material. This material contains information protected
    by copyright. No part of this material may be reproduced in any form
    without prior written consent from AST Research, Inc.
    All rights reserved.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------