Using Expanded Memory on PS/2 286s Windows (77271)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 3.0
  • Microsoft Windows 3.0a
  • Microsoft Windows 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows 3.11
This article was previously published under Q77271

SUMMARY

On IBM 286-based PS/2s, the Windows Setup program removes the device driver XMA2EMS.SYS line from the CONFIG.SYS file. Running Windows Setup and allowing Setup to modify the CONFIG.SYS file deletes this line. To provide expanded memory to MS-DOS applications outside of Windows, you must reinsert the XMA2EMS.SYS line using a text editor.

NOTE: XMA2EMS.SYS is incompatible with Windows versions 3.0 and 3.1, and was removed during Setup. The only way to use expanded memory with Windows is to install an expanded memory board and load the provided drivers for that board into the CONFIG.SYS file.

MORE INFORMATION

To reinsert the expanded memory driver, do the following:
  1. Locate the file C:\CONFIG.OLD, which is an exact copy of your CONFIG.SYS file before Windows changed it.
  2. Place into your current CONFIG.SYS a line similar to the following: (include the correct drive and path syntax originally used) 
          DEVICE=C:\XMA2EMS.SYS
Now non-Windows applications can access expanded memory outside of Windows.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:7/7/2005
Keywords:KB77271
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.