Using /S Switch with LOADHIGH (96028)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.0
  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.2
  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.21
  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.22
This article was previously published under Q96028

SUMMARY

You can use the LOADHIGH switches /S and /L together to control where programs are loaded in upper memory blocks (UMBs) and how much space they allocate. Both switches affect the way programs interpret UMBs.

MORE INFORMATION

If you load a program with the /L switch, the program only recognizes the memory regions you specify in the /L parameters. If you load a program with the /S switch, the program only recognizes the regions you specify and the amount of memory you specify--these switches are useful if you are optimizing conventional memory because you can restrict the way a program uses a particular memory region.

For example, the SMARTDrive utility has the ability to load itself into UMBs: it is first loaded and initialized in conventional memory and then is relocated to the largest available UMB it finds. By default, SMARTDrive attempts to load as much of itself as it can into UMBs; other programs will not be able to use free UMBs because SMARTDrive has used too much space. Since SMARTDrive does not have to reside in one memory area, you can use your UMBs more efficiently by forcing SMARTDrive to use only a certain amount of UMB space. You can accomplish this by using the /L and /S switches together.

The following command line (from AUTOEXEC.BAT) tells SMARTDrive that only region 0 (conventional memory) and 3 are free: 
   loadhigh /l:0;3,42416 /s =c:\dos\smartdrv.exe
SMARTDrive is first loaded and initialized in conventional memory (region 0) and then relocates itself to region 3. Since the /L switch specifies a minimum size of 42416 bytes and the /S switch changes this minimum to the absolute value free in region 3, SMARTDrive only recognizes region 0 and 3 as free and only recognizes 42416 bytes available in region 3. Therefore, SMARTDrive loads 42416 bytes of itself into region 3 and the rest in region 0.This loading process results in more free memory in region 3 because SMARTDrive is not able to relocate all of itself in that region. The next program you load with the LOADHIGH command has enough space to load completely and your available conventional memory is increased.

For more information on the LOADHIGH command and its switches, use MS-DOS Help by typing HELP LOADHIGH at any MS-DOS command prompt.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/19/1999
Keywords:KB96028
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