    AST RESEARCH, INC.         TECHNICAL BULLETIN #0707                  10-10-91

                    PREMIUM II 486SX/20 AND LOTUS 123 RELEASE 3.1

    SYMPTOM:       Unable to input numeric values into the Lotus 3.1 worksheet.
                   The numeric values appear only as zeros while alphanumeric
                   values are fine.

    PROBLEM:       Lotus 3.1 recognizes that the system has a 80486 Processor and
                   assumes that there is a Math Coprocessor available.  This is
                   true for the 80486DX Intel Chip but not for the 80486SX.  When
                   a Math Coprocessor is present, Lotus passes on the tasks of
                   numeric calculations to the Math Coprocessor which is not
                   available in the Premium II 486SX/20 as a standard option.
                   This can be checked by accessing the Worksheet Status Menu
                   option which will show the system information such as;
                   Available memory, Processor type, Math Coprocessor type and
                   other Lotus configuration information.

    SOLUTION:      By typing "123 -s" at the Lotus 3.1 prompt the Premium II
                   486SX/20 system will be recognized as a 80386 system with no
                   Math Coprocessor, enabling Lotus to handle the numeric
                   calculations.  The   "-s" switch instructs Lotus that the
                   system has a 386 Processor with no Math Coprocessor instead of
                   a 486 Processor.  This will allow the Premium II 486SX/20 to
                   be able to input numeric data.

                   Lotus is also aware of this issue and customers can  contact
                   Lotus at (800) 343-5414 and order the Lotus 3.1 update which
                   resolves this problem.  With this update the Lotus program
                   will no longer assume that the 80486 Processor has a built-in
                   Math Coprocessor and the "-s" parameter will no longer be
                   necessary.