    AST RESEARCH, INC.        TECHNICAL BULLETIN # 1627          11/19/96

    TITLE:  Ascentia J and Comm Ports under DOS

    ISSUE

       If all internal serial devices (serial port, infrared port,
       internal modem) are enabled in System Setup, the Microsoft
       Diagnostic utility (MSD) may report four COM ports when the unit
       is booted to MSDOS.

       In addition to the possibility of MSD reporting a nonexistent COM
       port, it may also be necessary to disable all internal serial
       devices in order to successfully install a PCMCIA modem.

       This issue applies to all Ascentia J10, J30, and J50 series
       mobile systems.

    BACKGROUND

       N/A

    ACTION

       Update the system BIOS to version 3.11 (part number 905599-031)
       or later.  This BIOS is available under file name 05599031.EXE on
       all of AST's On-Line! services.

    NOTES

       It may be necessary to disable the internal modem (through System
       Setup) to get some PCMCIA modems to function.

    TAN TPR 1858MW

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