Last Revised
AST RESEARCH, INC.        TECHNICAL BULLETIN # 1739          07/01/97 
 
 
 
TITLE:  Ascentia J40 and Xircom PC Cards
 
 
ISSUE 
 
   When the user runs a Xircom installation on an Ascentia J40 
   system that is running in the DOS or Windows 3.1x operating 
   system, the software may report that there is no available IRQ 
   for the device. 
   
   This issue affects all Ascentia J40 systems.    

 
BACKGROUND 
 
   The Plug-and-Play (PnP) BIOS in the Ascentia J40 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, perform the following:
   
   1. Download the file <A HREF="ftp://ftp.ast.com/P-OTHER/IRQ10OFF.COM">IRQ10OFF.COM</A> from one of AST's 
      On-Line! services as follows:
   
      AST WWW Site:  http://www.ast.com
      AST On-Line! BBS*:  See IB0001.TXT
      CompuServe:  GO: ASTFORUM
      Prodigy:   JUMP: ASTSUPPORT
   
      * Refer to IB0001.TXT for a list of AST's 
        international BBS numbers.
    
   2. Save the file to the root directory of C:
   
   3. Edit the AUTOEXEC.BAT file. The first line of the 
      AUTOEXEC.BAT file should read:
      
         C:\IRQ10OFF.COM
   
   4. Reboot the system.
      
   The Xircom PC card should now be configured to use IRQ 10. 
   
   For instructions on configuring your Xircom PC card, please refer 
   to the user documentation included with the card, or contact 
   Xircom Technical Support at (805) 376-9200 for assistance.    

 
NOTES 
 
   The Xircom PC card drivers may not function on an Ascentia J40 
   system running DOS or Windows 3.1x.    

 
TAN 000329AH 
 
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