Archived from groups: microsoft.public.win95.general.discussion (
More info?)
I doubt that the problem you are having requires adding hexidecimal
codes to the EMM386 line. These codes used to be used to tell Windows
about peculiarities of the operating system resident in the top range
of RAM just below 1MB. However, you say your system was working fine
before you added RAM and there is no reason why adding RAM would have
altered the usage of this area.
It is my conjecture that the problem you are having relates to space
used for indexing memory. The OS stores various addresses in
conventional memory and if it tries to store to many of these, it can
run out of space for them. But with Windows 95 and higher, these
indexes do not have to go into conventional memory; they can go into
upper memory.
Below is a MIcrosoft document that explains how to manage conventional
memory. However, before trying any of this, I suggest that you try
renaming both Config.sys and Autoexec.bat. For example, change the
names to Config.syz and Autoexec.baz. You can easily undo this
renaming if it doesn't help. I am guessing that maybe Windows can
solve the problem on its own.
PSS ID Number: 134399
Article last modified on 04-21-1998
==================================================================
95
WINDOWS
kbenv kbhowto
------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Windows 98
- Microsoft Windows 95
- Microsoft Windows 95 OEM Service Release versions 2, 2.1
------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY
=======
This article describes how to increase the amount of conventional
memory available for MS-DOS-based programs in Windows 95. The
following topics are discussed:
- Determining current memory conditions
- Making more conventional memory available
MORE INFORMATION
================
MS-DOS-based programs require a certain amount of conventional memory
to run, even when you run them in Windows 95. If you attempt to run an
MS-DOS-based program that requires more conventional memory than is
currently available on your computer, the program may not run
correctly or at all, and an error message indicating that there is
insufficient memory to run the program may be displayed. When this
occurs, you must reconfigure your computer so that more conventional
memory is available.
Determining Current Memory Conditions
-------------------------------------
To determine how much conventional memory is currently available for
MS-DOS-based programs, type the following command at a command prompt,
press ENTER, and then view the value on the Largest Executable Program
Size line:
mem /c
If the value on the Largest Executable Program Size line is smaller
than the amount of conventional memory required by the MS-DOS-based
program you are trying to run, the program may not run correctly or at
all until you reconfigure your computer. To determine how much
conventional memory a particular MS-DOS-based program requires,
consult the documentation included with the program, or contact the
program's manufacturer.
Making More Conventional Memory Available
-----------------------------------------
Device drivers and memory-resident programs that load from the
Config.sys and Autoexec.bat files can reduce the amount of
conventional memory available for MS-DOS-based programs. Increasing
the amount of conventional memory that is available for MS-DOS-based
programs typically involves removing unnecessary drivers and programs
from the Config.sys or Autoexec.bat files, replacing real-mode drivers
in the Config.sys file with protected-mode versions, or loading
drivers and programs into upper memory instead of conventional memory.
Removing Unnecessary Drivers and Programs:
To determine if a particular driver or memory-resident program in the
Config.sys or Autoexec.bat file is required for your computer to
function properly, consult the documentation included with the program
or device that installed the driver or memory-resident program, or
contact the program or device's manufacturer.
If you are not sure which program or device installed a particular
driver or memory-resident program, you can attempt to determine if the
driver or program is necessary by temporarily disabling the
corresponding line in the Config.sys or Autoexec.bat file. If your
computer, the devices installed on your computer, and the programs you
run on your computer all seem to function properly after you disable a
line, the driver or memory-resident program may not be necessary.
NOTE: Before you modify the Config.sys or Autoexec.bat files, you
should make backup copies of the files. Do not remove any hard disk
drivers, disk partitioning drivers, or disk compression drivers while
you are attempting to determine if the drivers and programs in your
Config.sys or Autoexec.bat files are necessary. For information about
specific drivers that should not be removed, please see chapter 35 of
the Microsoft Windows 95 Resource Kit.
Replacing Real-Mode Drivers with Protected-Mode Versions:
Windows 95 includes protected-mode drivers for many devices. In
addition, many hardware manufacturers provide protected-mode drivers
for their devices. To attempt to install a Windows 95 protected-mode
driver for a device installed on your computer, follow these steps:
1. In Control Panel, double-click Add New Hardware.
2. Click Next, verify that Yes (Recommended) is selected, click Next,
and then click Next again.
If the Add New Hardware Wizard does not detect the device and install
a protected-mode driver for it, you can attempt to install a Windows
95 protected-mode driver for the device manually. To do so, follow
these steps:
1. In Control Panel, double-click Add New Hardware.
2. Click Next, click No, and then click Next.
3. Click the type of device for which you are attempting to install a
protected-mode driver in the Hardware Types box, and then click Next.
4. Click the manufacturer of the device in the Manufacturers box. If
the specific device appears in the Models box, click the device, and
then click OK to install the protected-mode driver. If the
manufacturer of the device does not appear in the Manufacturers box,
or the specific device does not appear in the Models box, Windows 95
does not include a protected-mode driver for the device.
To determine if the hardware's manufacturer provides a protected-mode
driver for the device, contact the device's manufacturer.
Loading Drivers and Programs into Upper Memory:
To attempt to load one or more drivers or memory resident programs
from the Config.sys or Autoexec.bat files into upper memory, make sure
that the Config.sys file contains lines similar to the following lines
(in the following order):
device=c:\windows\himem.sys
device=c:\windows\emm386.exe noems
dos=high,umb
devicehigh=c:\windows\command\drvspace.sys /move
Then, try loading device drivers in the Config.sys file using the
DEVICEHIGH command instead of the DEVICE command. In addition, try
loading memory-resident programs in the Autoexec.bat file using the
LOADHIGH command.
NOTE: If your computer is configured so that expanded memory is
available and you are loading the Mscdex.exe file from the
Autoexec.bat file, you can attempt to load part of the Mscdex.exe file
into expanded memory using the /E switch on the Mscdex.exe command
line.
REFERENCES
==========
For additional information about increasing the amount of conventional
memory that is available for MS-DOS-based programs in Windows 95,
please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
ARTICLE-ID: 37242
TITLE : A General Tutorial on the Various Forms of Memory
ARTICLE-ID: 77083
TITLE : Optimizing Your Use of Upper Memory Blocks
ARTICLE-ID: 87165
TITLE : Command-Line Switches for MSCDEX.EXE
KBCategory: kbenv kbhowto
KBSubcategory: win95 osr2 winmem
Additional reference words: 95
==================================================================
Keywords : osr2 winmem win98 win95 kbenv kbhowto
Version : 95
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbhowto
==================================================================
Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1998.
Bill Starbuck (MVP)
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