Managing Memory in MS-DOS Mode

Last reviewed: May 31, 1996
Article ID: Q151718

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows 95

SUMMARY

This article describes how to configure an MS-DOS-mode shortcut in Windows 95 for optimal memory management.

MORE INFORMATION

To manage each MS-DOS-mode shortcut separately, configure the MS-DOS shortcuts to use custom configuration files.

To enable the use of the High Memory Area (HMA) and Upper Memory Blocks (UMBs) in the Upper Memory Area (UMA), add the following lines to the custom Config.sys file:

   Device=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS
   Device=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE NOEMS ; or RAM to use Expanded Memory
   DOS=HIGH,UMB

To load device drivers high from the Config.sys file, use the following syntax:

   DeviceHigh=C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\DRVSPACE.SYS /MOVE ; loads DRVSPACE high

Other Config.sys commands that help preserve conventional memory include:

   BuffersHigh=
   FCBSHigh=
   FilesHigh=
   InstallHigh=
   LastDriveHigh=
   StacksHigh=

To load TSRs high from the custom Autoexec.bat file, use the following syntax:

   LoadHigh=C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\DOSKEY.COM ; loads DOSKey high

KBCategory: kbhowto
KBSubcategory: win95 winmem
Additional reference words: 95

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Last reviewed: May 31, 1996
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