EMM386.EXE Dynamic Memory Allocation (96935)

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.0

This article was previously published under Q96935

SUMMARY

EMM386.EXE version 4.45, which ships with MS-DOS 6.0, dynamically allocates and releases memory that conforms to the Extended Memory Specification (XMS), the Expanded Memory Specification (EMS), or the Virtual Control Program Interface (VCPI) specification. For example, if a program releases a certain amount of EMS memory, other programs that need XMS memory can request and receive additional XMS memory from the released EMS memory. In other words, EMM386.EXE can provide extended or expanded memory as needed by adjusting the EMS memory pool.

MORE INFORMATION

You can limit this feature by using the maximum and minimum memory parameters of EMM386.EXE. For example, if you want to give EMM386.EXE 2 megabytes of memory and keep it from dynamically allocating that memory, use the following EMM386.EXE DEVICE line:

   device=c:\dos\emm386.exe 2048 min=2048 ram

NOTE: This feature is application dependent. If an application does not release allocated XMS or EMS memory, EMM386.EXE cannot give that memory to other applications.

Modification Type:	Major	Last Reviewed:	11/19/1999
Keywords:	KB96935