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    AST RESEARCH, INC.             TECHNICAL BULLETIN # 1030               12-7-94

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              MANHATTAN P AND V SERIES EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS UPDATING THE BIOS
                                    TO VERSION 1.04 OR 1.07.

    PROBLEM:        When the Manhattan P and V series is updated to BIOS version
                    1.04 or 1.07, the system will POST, then stop with half of a
                    '58' (garbled characters) in the upper left corner of the
                    screen and 58 on the LEDs.

    CAUSE:          The BIOS code is correctly updated, but the Neptune chipset
                    register values are not updated unless EISA CMOS is cleared
                    after the flash procedure.

    SYSTEMS             AST
    AFFECTED:       PART NUMBER       DESCRIPTION

                    501502-XXX      Manhattan P Series
                    501500-XXX      Manhattan V Series

    SOLUTION:       The flash update procedure on Manhattan P and V systems is as
                    follows:

                    1. Perform the BIOS flash procedure either by setting SW1-1
                       to the ON position or via the BIOS Setup "Exit & Update
                       BIOS" option.
                    2. When the flash BIOS update is done, power down the system.
                    3. Set SW1-4 to the ON position, this clears EISA CMOS the
                       next time the system runs.  If SW1-1 was set to the ON
                       position for the flash procedure, set it to the OFF
                       position now.
                    4. Power up the system with SW1-4 still in the ON position.
                    5. Wait until the system boots to the point it prompts:
                       "Press  to continue. Press  for BIOS Setup."
                    6. Power down the system.
                    7. Set SW1-4 to the OFF position.
                    8. Power up the system and update CMOS by going into BIOS
                       setup by pressing the  key when prompted to do so.
                    9. When the system reboots after running BIOS setup, run
                       EISACU to update EISA CMOS.
                   10. When the system reboots following the running of EISACU, the
                       system has been correctly flashed.