    AST  RESEARCH, INC.          TECHNICAL BULLETIN # 0958                8-22-94

                          CRU DATA PORT FAILS IN BRAVO LC SYSTEM

    PROBLEM:        When attaching a CRU Data Port Drive bay adapter with a Maxtor
                    7345A hard drive to an AST Bravo LC system, Microsoft Windows
                    3.1 causes corruption with the Windows group files such as
                    Accessories and Main, and eventually corrupts data on the hard
                    drive.

    CAUSE:          The IDE cable is too long. The cable specifications affect
                    system integrity and the maximum length that can be supported
                    in any application.  The ATA specification for IDE cables is
                    18".

    SYSTEMS
    AFFECTED:           AST
                    PART NUMBER       DESCRIPTION

                    501196-XXX      BRAVO LC2 4-25S
                    501197-XXX      BRAVO LC2 4-33D
                    501198-XXX      BRAVO LC2 4-50D
                    501199-XXX      BRAVO LC2 4-66D
                    501233-XXX      BRAVO LC2 4-33S

    SOLUTION:       Since the CRU Data Port adds 4" to the cable length, the
                    customer should purchase a cable no longer than 14".  This
                    will comply with the ATA specification and will resolve the
                    problem.