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AST RESEARCH, INC.         TECHNICAL BULLETIN # 1393               12-28-95

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		 Ascentia 950N with External Serial Devices


PROBLEM

The Ascentia 950N system function keys may be disabled when using a serial 
mouse.


SOLUTION

There is nothing wrong with the system.  The system is operating as designed.

Because AST does not want to break serial communications, the Power 
Management (PM) code has been designed to look at I/O port 21 (PIC) before 
granting <Fn> + <F1>, <Fn> + <F2>, and <Fn> + <F3> services.  If either 
serial port 1 or serial port 2 interrupts are enabled, PM will generate a beep, but 
will not service the hot keys.  


SYSTEMS AFFECTED
AST PART NUMBER AND DESCRIPTION
 
501707-XXX      Ascentia 950N All models