AST RESEARCH, INC.        TECHNICAL BULLETIN # 1627          11/19/96 
 
 
 
TITLE:  Ascentia J and Comm Ports under DOS
 
 
ISSUE 
 
   If all internal serial devices (serial port, infrared port, 
   internal modem) are enabled in System Setup, the Microsoft 
   Diagnostic utility (MSD) may report four COM ports when the unit 
   is booted to MSDOS.  
   
   In addition to the possibility of MSD reporting a nonexistent COM 
   port, it may also be necessary to disable all internal serial 
   devices in order to successfully install a PCMCIA modem.
   
   This issue applies to all Ascentia J10, J30, and J50 series 
   mobile systems.    

 
BACKGROUND 
 
   N/A    

 
ACTION 
 
   Update the system BIOS to version 3.11 (part number 905599-031) 
   or later.  This BIOS is available under file name <A HREF="ftp://ftp.ast.com/P-BIOS/05599031.EXE">05599031.EXE</A> on 
   all of AST's On-Line! services.    

 
NOTES 
 
   It may be necessary to disable the internal modem (through System 
   Setup) to get some PCMCIA modems to function.    

 
TAN TPR 1858MW 
 
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