AST RESEARCH, INC.        TECHNICAL BULLETIN # 1583          09/17/96 
 
 
 
TITLE:  Ascentia J and Xircom PC Cards
 
 
SUMMARY 
 
   The Xircom PC card drivers may not function on an Ascentia J system
   running DOS or Windows 3.1x.
   
   This issue affects all Ascentia J systems.    


ISSUE 
 
   When the user runs a Xircom installation on an Ascentia J system 
   running DOS or Windows 3.1x, the software may report that there 
   is no available IRQ for the device.    

 
BACKGROUND 
 
   The Plug-and-Play BIOS in the Ascentia J masks all unused IRQs at 
   the interrupt controller. The Xircom drivers assume that if an 
   IRQ is masked ON, it is in use.    

 
ACTION 
 
   To correct this issue, download the file <A HREF="ftp://ftp.ast.com/P-OTHER/IRQ11OFF.COM">IRQ11OFF.COM</A> from one of 
   the AST On-Line! services. The first line of the AUTOEXEC.BAT 
   file should read:
   
      c:\source directory\irq11off.com
   
   The Xircom PC card should be configured to use IRQ 11. For 
   instructions on configuring your Xircom PC card, please refer to 
   the manual that came with the card, or contact Xircom Technical 
   Support for assistance.    

 
NOTES 
 
   N/A    

 
TAN 000337JB 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------- 
The information in this data sheet is subject to change without  
notice. AST Research, Inc. shall not be liable for technical or  
editorial errors or omissions contained herein; nor for incidental or  
consequential damages resulting from the furnishing, performance,  
or use of this material. This material contains information protected  
by copyright. No part of this material may be reproduced in any form 
without prior written consent from AST Research, Inc.  
All rights reserved. 
---------------------------------------------------------------------