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AST RESEARCH, INC.          TECHNICAL BULLETIN # 1428A              2-28-96

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		      Ascentia 950N Updating BIOS to 3.01


This is an informational bulletin.  This technical bulletin applies to the 
202746-XXX system board and the following systems:


501741-XXX          Ascentia 950N LM 90 CSS10
501742-XXX          Ascentia 950N LM 90.CT10
501743-XXX          Ascentia 950N LM 90 CTS10
501744-XXX          Ascentia 950n LM 554C/75 CT10
501897-XXX          Ascentia 950N LM 120 CTS 10.4
501898-XXX          Ascentia 950N LM 120 CTS 11.8
501905-XXX          Ascentia 950N P54C/75W CTS10


NOTE

Do NOT flash AST Ascentia 950N notebook systems, part numbers 501707-XXX and 
501708-XXX with BIOS version 3.01.  Flashing these systems with this BIOS can 
cause irreparable damage to your system.  The system part number is located 
in the battery compartment, under the battery.

Prior to upgrading your Ascentia 950N system to BIOS version 3.01, read the 
following important notice:


			     IMPORTANT NOTICE
		    READ THIS BEFORE UPDATING THE BIOS

If your Ascentia 950N is a 75MHz system with BIOS Rel. 2.59 or earlier, and 
you want to upgrade the BIOS to a Plug and Play BIOS, read this notice 
carefully.  

Follow the BIOS update instruction in your Ascentia 950N User's Manual.  
When you boot the computer on the new BIOS for the very first time, you 
may receive the following error message, 

		     "...The computer cannot identify your hard disk
			  Press <F1> to continue"

If this occurs, go into System Setup by pressing <Fn>+<F2> to change the 
options as stated below:

1. From the Main menu, change Advanced Power Management setting to 
   "Enable."

2. From the Main menu, change Hard Disk setting to "Enable."

NOTE:  If you have Windows 95 on the system, continue on to step 3.
       Otherwise, skip to step 4.

3. Go to <Ports> sub menu and change the answer to Boot Plug&Play 
   System? question to "Yes."

4. Press <ESC> to exit and select "Yes" to save the changes made.

5. Turn the system OFF and then ON.


If you do not feel comfortable performing the steps above, call our AST Hot 
Line (800) 727-1278 for help.


SYSTEMS AFFECTED
AST PART NUMBER AND DESCRIPTION

All Ascentia 950N systems.