[charlie_ps2]

I've been researching this further.

If a Messiah 2 from any given batch of Actel chips works OK, then we expect, but cannot guarantee that all Messiah 2s from that batch will work OK. i.e. they will operate with the small over-voltage without ill effect. It would seem form what one or two of you have said, that the problem has found its way into some of the other batches, though not all mods in that batch.

As Dust says, the batch currently identified as questionable, and thus requiring the fix, is the one using Actel batch 245. Of course any report of other batches not working due to the over-voltage (i.e. the Actel chip requires to be within the 2.6 - 3.0v window) will be acknowledged.

The cure, as you know by now is to either cut a pair of parallel tracks with an scalpel type blade or to drill the via out with a 1mm bit (can be done by hand - don't go all the way through - use a multi-meter on the diode and when it no longer shows a dead short, you have done the fix).

A working Messiah 2 needs no further attention in this regard and will not degrade with the applied operating voltage.