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AST RESEARCH, INC.         TECHNICAL BULLETIN # 0991A                11-2-94

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        ASCENTIA 900N LOCKING UP IN A POWERSTATION WHILE LOADING 3COM
                               ETHERLINK DRIVERS

PROBLEM:        While docked on a PowerStation (both PowerStation I and
                PowerStation II), the Ascentia 900N system locks up loading
                the 3COM Etherlink III drivers.
                With a 3COM Etherlink III adapter installed in the
                PowerStation, the notebook locks up when either the 3COM NDIS
                (3C5X9.COM) or the 3COM ODI (ELNK3.DOS) drivers are loaded.

CAUSE:          The 3COM driver, version 4.1 and below,  is incompatible with
                the Ascentia 900N's VLSI I/O controller.

SYSTEMS
AFFECTED:       All Ascentia 900N systems using a PowerStation and a 3COM
                Etherlink III Adapter.

                    AST                                               REVISION
                PART NUMBER           DESCRIPTION                       LEVEL

                501299-2XX      ASCENTIA 900N 4/50 CS10                  All
                501300-3XX      ASCENTIA 900N 4/50 CT9                   All
                501302-2XX      ASCENTIA 900N 4/75 CS10                  All
                501304-3XX      ASCENTIA 900N 4/75 CT10                  All
                500982-001      POWERSTATION I                           All
                500982-002      POWERSTATION I                           All
                501600-001      POWERSTATION II                          All

SOLUTION:       Contact 3COM's Technical Support at (800) 876-3266 to obtain
                the latest 3COM Etherlink III drivers that support the AST
                Ascentia 900N system, or download file AST5X9.EXE from 3COM's
                BBS by dialing the following number: (408) 727-2768.
                This file contains the fix for this problem.

CAUTION:        In no case will AST Computer be liable for damage to the
                system or loss of data caused by the improper implementation
                of this technical bulletin.