Last Revised
AST RESEARCH, INC.        TECHNICAL BULLETIN # 1752          08/26/97 
 
 
 
TITLE:  Ascentia P, SRAM PC Card, Windows 95
 
 
ISSUE 
 
   When inserting an SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) PC card into 
   a computer that is running Windows 95, the operating system may 
   cause the system to lock up. This issue affects all Ascentia P 
   systems. This issue may also affect any system using an SRAM PC 
   card and Windows 95.    

 
BACKGROUND 
 
   SRAM PC cards provide a means for external removable storage 
   which is much like a floppy disc, but with greater capacity, 
   reliability, and higher cost. Windows 95 views the SRAM card as a 
   fixed disk.    

 
ACTION 
 
   To resolve the issue, perform the following steps:
   
   1. Add the following lines to the CONFIG.SYS file:
   
      DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\CSMAPPER.SYS
      DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\CARDDRV.EXE/SLOT=2
   
   2. Reboot the system.
   
   NOTE: Before inserting the SRAM card, perform the following 
   steps:
   
   1. Open PC card in Control Panel.
   
   2. Click the Global Settings tab.
   
   3. Uncheck "Automatic Selection"
   
   4. In the Start, Stop, and Length sections, enter the
      following values:
   
       Start   000C8000
       Start   000D0000
       Length  00001000
   
   The values shown represent one example; these may be modified if 
   necessary.    

 
NOTES 
 
   The above configuration will allow the SRAM card to work in 
   either of the Ascentia P slots. However, Windows 95 will show two 
   drive letters representing the card. One of the drive letters 
   will be the actual card, and the other will be a "phantom" and 
   Windows 95 produces an error if the phantom file is accessed. 
   This occurs because Windows 95 reserves a drive for each possible 
   SRAM card that the user is able to insert. 
   
   An alternative is to modify the following line:
   
        DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\CARDDRV.EXE/SLOT=2
   
   to read thus:
   
        DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\CARDDRV.EXE/SLOT=1
   
   This will cause Windows 95 to show only one drive letter for the 
   SRAM card. The card will only work in the computer's slot 0. In 
   the Ascentia P, the top slot is slot 0, therefore, the SRAM card 
   would need to always be in the top slot to function. The bottom 
   slot will still be available for other PC cards.    

 
TAN TPR 1049DS  
 
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