    AST RESEARCH, INC.        TECHNICAL BULLETIN # 1714          05/06/97

    TITLE:  Ascentia J, Serial Mouse Freezes

    ISSUE

       A serial mouse attached to the Ascentia J may stop responding
       after a few minutes of operation under Windows 3.xx.

       This issue affects all Ascentia J systems.

    BACKGROUND

       A problem with the 16550 UART implementation in a
       Pentium(TM)-based system causes the chip to become trapped in a
       mode in which data is always detected in
       its FIFO buffer.

       The system may stop responding if there is data in the chip when
       the serial communications application attempts to open the
       communications port.

    ACTION

       To resolve the issue, perform the following:

       1. Download the file SERIAL.ZIP from the Standard
          Microsystems (SMC) website located at:

            ftp://170.129.51.1/pub/chips/superio/

       2. Unzip the file mentioned above and follow the
          instructions in the enclosed README file.

    NOTES

       N/A

    TAN 000540NS

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