                                                             Last Revised
    AST RESEARCH, INC.        TECHNICAL BULLETIN # 1752          08/26/97

    TITLE:  Ascentia P, SRAM PC Card, Windows 95

    ISSUE

       When inserting an SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) PC card into
       a computer that is running Windows 95, the operating system may
       cause the system to lock up. This issue affects all Ascentia P
       systems. This issue may also affect any system using an SRAM PC
       card and Windows 95.

    BACKGROUND

       SRAM PC cards provide a means for external removable storage
       which is much like a floppy disc, but with greater capacity,
       reliability, and higher cost. Windows 95 views the SRAM card as a
       fixed disk.

    ACTION

       To resolve the issue, perform the following steps:

       1. Add the following lines to the CONFIG.SYS file:

          DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\CSMAPPER.SYS
          DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\CARDDRV.EXE/SLOT=2

       2. Reboot the system.

       NOTE: Before inserting the SRAM card, perform the following
       steps:

       1. Open PC card in Control Panel.

       2. Click the Global Settings tab.

       3. Uncheck "Automatic Selection"

       4. In the Start, Stop, and Length sections, enter the
          following values:

           Start   000C8000
           Start   000D0000
           Length  00001000

       The values shown represent one example; these may be modified if
       necessary.

    NOTES

       The above configuration will allow the SRAM card to work in
       either of the Ascentia P slots. However, Windows 95 will show two
       drive letters representing the card. One of the drive letters
       will be the actual card, and the other will be a "phantom" and
       Windows 95 produces an error if the phantom file is accessed.
       This occurs because Windows 95 reserves a drive for each possible
       SRAM card that the user is able to insert.

       An alternative is to modify the following line:

            DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\CARDDRV.EXE/SLOT=2

       to read thus:

            DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\CARDDRV.EXE/SLOT=1

       This will cause Windows 95 to show only one drive letter for the
       SRAM card. The card will only work in the computer's slot 0. In
       the Ascentia P, the top slot is slot 0, therefore, the SRAM card
       would need to always be in the top slot to function. The bottom
       slot will still be available for other PC cards.

    TAN TPR 1049DS

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