    =

    AST RESEARCH, INC.        TECHNICAL BULLETIN # 1148                  5-3-95

    =

    BRAVO MS/PREMMIA MX/ADVANTAGE! 8060P/8090P LOSS OF WINDOWS GROUPS
    (QUANTUM LIGHTNING IDE FIRMWARE UPDATE FIX)

    PROBLEM

    Some systems in the following configuration:

    Sound Blaster 16 Audio card
    Quantum Lightning 540 and 730 MB hard disk

    may have the following problems while in Windows:

    Out of memory errors
    Loss of Windows groups
    General Protection Fault errors

    CAUSE

    There is a timing issue between the BIOS reading the hard disk alternate
    status register (3F6), IRQ14 and BUSY from the drive.

    SOLUTION

    Quantum has issued a firmware update to their hard drives
    (Lightning 730 MB and 540 MB) extending the time between the end of sector
    transfer and assertion of IRQ14 from 10 usec to 15 usec.

    This firmware update is being provided by AST, via a diskette
    (AST P/N 911884-031) or from AST's BBS.

    NOTES

    Bravo MS and Premmia MX systems shipped prior to April 1995 with Qauntum
    Lightning 540 MB hard disks.

    The README file in the diskette mentions the fix for the Quantum
    Lightning 730 MB HD.  However, it also works on the Quantum Lightning
    540 MB hard drives.

    Quantum Lightning 540 MB hard disk drives marked as LT54A361-05-A,
    have the correct firmware.  These drives DO NOT have the problem! and
    should not be updated!

    This firmware change has been implemented on all Quantum Lightning hard
    drives, that are now being shipped by AST.

    To order the diskette (AST P/N 911884-031), call AST Technical Support at
    1-800-727-1278 or, download file 11884031.EXE from AST's BBS
    (817) 230-6850, from the "Systems" file area.  AST's BBS supports modem
    speeds up to 28.8k bps.  The above file will also be posted on:

    CompuServe
    Go ASTSUPPORT

    AST Worldwide Web Site
    http://www.ast.com