    AST RESEARCH, INC.         TECHNICAL BULLETIN # 0976                  9-1-94

                         ADVANTAGE! NB/BRAVO NB PRINTER PROBLEM

    PROBLEM:        The following message appears on the screen when trying to
                    install a printer on an Advantage! NB or Bravo NB system:

                    CANNOT ASSIGN A PORT TO THE SELECTED PRINTERS BECAUSE THE
                    [PORTS] SECTION OF WIN.INI FILE IS MISSING.  CHOOSE OK TO SET
                    OTHER OPTIONS, OR CHOOSE CANCEL, AND THEN USE NOTEPAD TO
                    EDIT THE WIN.INI FILE.

    CAUSE:          The Ports section of the WIN.INI file is ignored because there
                    is a missing remark (;) statement at the beginning of the
                    second line.  An incorrect example is listed below:

                    [ports]
                    ; A line with [filename].PRN followed by an equal sign causes
                     [filename] to appear in the Control Panel's Printer
                    ;Configuration dialog box. A printer connected to [filename]
                    ;directs its output into this file.

    SYSTEMS
    AFFECTED:           AST                                               REVISION
                    PART NUMBER          DESCRIPTION                        LEVEL

                    500883-XXX     ADVANTAGE NB 386SX/20                     All
                    500866-XXX     ADVANTAGE NB 386SX/20                     All
                    500901-XXX     ADVANTAGE NB 386SX/25                     All
                    500945-XXX     ADVANTAGE NB 386SX/25                     All
                    500966-XXX     ADVANTAGE NB 386SX/25                     All
                    500967-XXX     ADVANTAGE NB 386SX/25 Color               All
                    501460-XXX     ADVANTAGE NB 486/33                       All
                    501247-XXX     BRAVO NB 486SX/25 Mono                    All
                    501248-XXX     BRAVO NB 486SX/25 Color                   All
                    501249-XXX     BRAVO NB 486SX/25 ColorPlus               All
                    501373-XXX     BRAVO NB 486SX/25 Color STN               All

    SOLUTION:       In the WIN.INI file, under the Ports section the first three
                    lines should be remarked (begin with a ;).  Add a ";" to the
                    beginning of the second line.  A correct example is listed
                    below:

                    [ports]
                    ; A line with [filename].PRN followed by an equal sign causes
                    ; [filename] to appear in the Control Panel's Printer
                    ; Configuration dialog box.  A printer connected to ;
                    ; [filename] directs its output into this file.

                    The software will now recognize the ports.