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OS/2 Shareware BBS: 8 Other
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1999-11-15
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Daniela's OS2LDR memory detection patch
---------------------------------------
SYNOPSIS
Many (most/all?) recent motherboards got a BIOS which causes OS/2 to
fail proper detection of the size of installed memory. The PatchLDR
utility fixes that.
DESCRIPTION
From Warp 4 on, OS/2 uses the BIOS function Int15 [AX=E801] to get the
size of installed memory. In the recent past some authority sentenced
this function as 'not ACPI compliant' and made the BIOS manufacturers
to remove this function. WinXX is not affected by that change because
it uses BIOS function Int15 [EAX=0000E820] which was added later and which
is considered 'ACPI compliant'.
You may run the DOS based utility MEMTEST from this package to determine if
your BIOS exhibits the defect I described. Straight DOS is preferred, but
it works in an OS/2 VDM sufficiently well. If BIOS function Int15 (E801) is
reported as 'not supported', and you have more than 64 MeB of memory
installed, the PatchLDR utility will solve the problem.
The utility patches OS2LDR so that the query for the size of installed
memory no longer uses BIOS function Int15 [AX=E801] but
Int15 [EAX=0000E820]. Due to space constraints I had to remove the
memory detection routines for PS/2 machines. But, as these aren't
affected by the recent BIOS changes, this is a non-issue.
This patch utility is supposed to work with all fixpacks of Warp 4, the
later fixpacks of Warp 3 (including derivatives), and the current version
of Warp Server for e-Business. It was able to patch all of my different
Warp 3/4/SeB installations successfully. You may decide to run OS/2 with
the patched OS2LDR even if you don't need it right now.
According to my own tests and a lot of user reports it solves the memory
size defect found with all (?) of the Athlon boards and others as well. So
I consider the patch as safe.
USAGE
1) move to the root of the boot partition.
2) enter the command 'ATTRIB -R -S -H OS2LDR'.
3) enter the command 'PatchLDR'.
If step 3 fails, an error message will be displayed. If it succeeds, the
old OS2LDR is copied to OS2LDR.bak, and a new, patched OS2LDR is created.
4) enter the command 'ATTRIB +R +S +H OS2LDR'.
From the next reboot on, the new memory size detection code is in effect.
Please remember: after installing a fixpack the OS2LDR patch needs to
be applied again because it will be replaced by a non-patched version
from the fixpack. If the fixpack installer asks you if it should replace
the patched version of OS2LDR with the one from the fixpack distribution,
then reply 'YES'! Failing that may render OS/2 unbootable because
OS2LDR and OS2KRNL need to match.
COPYRIGHT
MEMTEST and PatchLDR - Copyright (c) 1999 Daniela Engert.
All rights reserved.
STATUS OF PROGRAM
MEMTEST and PatchLDR are freeware.
DISCLAIMER
YOU ARE USING THIS PROGRAM AT YOUR OWN RISK! I don't take any
responsibillity for damages, problems, custodies, marital dis-
putes, etc. resulting from use, inability to use, misuse, pos-
session or non-possession of this program directly or indirectly.
I also don't give any warranty for bug-free operation, fitness for
a particular purpose or the appropriate behaviour of the program
concerning animals, programers and little children.
THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED ``AS IS'' AND WITHOUT ANY EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE IMPLIED
WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE. THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE
PROGRAM IS WITH YOU. SHOULD THE PROGRAM PROVE DEFECTIVE, YOU
ASSUME THE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR OR CORRECTION.
Or, in a few words:
If its good, I am responsible.
If its bad, its all your fault. ;)
Permission is granted to redistribute this program free of charge,
provided it is distributed in the full archive with unmodified
contents and no profit beyond the price of the media on which it
is distributed is made. Exception to the last rule: It may be
included on freeware/shareware collections on CD-ROM, as well as
on magazine cover CD-ROMs.
All trademarks mentioned anywhere around her are property of their
owners and the like ...
AUTHOR
Daniela Engert
Internet: dani@ngrt.de
Fidonet: 2:2490/2576
EPILOGUE
Suggestions and bug-reports are always welcome.