1. Make more memory available to run DOS games?
Try this new config.sys=.
device=c:\windows\himem.sys
device=c:\windows\emm386.exe noems I=e000-efff
highscan dos=high,umb
Delete the words *RAM* and *AUTO* from the emm386
device line. Delete the reference to the page frame. Good Luck!
>But, how can I get 600 conventional memory when
I run a DOS session? I was having no problems before win95, but now I can't
seem to get it no matter how bare bones I run. (this is "full"
DOS session, like rebooting to DOS).
After much pulling of hair, and threats to my computer,
I found the following tip which helped free up conventional memory. Try
adding the following lines to the top of config.sys:
DOS=HIGH,UMB
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE RAM HIGHSCAN
This freed up quite a bit of extra high memory in
which to load drivers. I went from 562K conventional to 612K. Hope this
helps.
Date: Thu, 02 Jan 1997 03:10:48 -0600
From: Rockn_Robin <rymabry@MO.NET>
Some Assembly Required
- DOS games
I thought I would share a summary of steps and tips
for running those "contrary" ms-dos games under win95.
Part 1 - How to free up conventional memory &
hide win95 Part 2 - Explanation of config.sys commands needed to free up
memory and List of Resources & References
< PREFACE >
The modern equivalent of Santa bringing toys (with
Some Assembly Required) is installation of new software. So it's Christmas
day and I'm trying to install a DOS game for my son. And, of course, I
don't have a enough conventional memory and the win95-L FAQ's answer still
left us 5k short.
I then spent day(s) searching the net for a better
understanding of win95 memory issues regarding MS-DOS games and re-reading
my _DOS: INSIDE & OUT_ reference book. All my new found knowledge resulted
in 30K more [(6X more then RETURN TO ZORK needed to load) but the game
now freezes after the opening sequence - oh well!] ;-)
<PART 1> This an update to the conventional
memory question 4.1. of the win95-L Windows95 FAQ - including a proposed
CONFIG.SYS file, explanation of its commands and parameters and some resource
to learn more.
The key steps are:
1.
make a ms-dos Boot Disk that frees up the maximum conventional memory.
(My boot disk CONFIG.SYS file now frees up 614k)
2.
DO NOT include an AUTOEXEC.bat on the boot disk.
3.
To see available conventional memory at the DOS prompt, type c:\windows\command\MEM
(in order to free up maximum amount of conventional memory, DOS could not
find the command without prefixing with the path name)
4.
Once your boot disk is working correctly (and freeing up the requiste 600K+)
then you'll Paste a copy of the contents in the necessary games PROPERTIES
sheet (in other words the PIF file - Program Information File).
4.1 Right Click game icon\PROPERTIES\PROGRAM tab
or Left Click game icon\<ALT key & ENTER key>\PROGRAM tab
4.2 click ADVANCED program settings button
4.3 Checkmark (click) "Hide Windows" if
your program needs it
4.4 Checkmark (click) "MS-DOS" mode
4.5 Delete the contents of Edit Box "CONFIG.SYS
for MD-DOS mode" using backspace key. Don't highlight unless you have
an enhanced clipboard that holds multiple temporary files.
4.6 Paste copy of your boot disk CONFIG.SYS file
in the Edit box.
4.7 Modify its AUTOEXEC.BAT Edit box if you need
to. The real mode drivers have already been installed using CONFIG.SYS's
"install high" command.
4.8 Press OK and exit from the properties sheet.
Your game should now run properly, assumming lack
of conventional memory is the source of the problem.
< PART 2 >
Here's My All Purpose MS-DOS Game CONFIG.SYS
(Line Number) - to reference explanations that follow; don't include in your actual config.sys files
( 1) ; CONFIG-Game.SYStem File (c:\Config-Game-Sys.txt
( 2) ; Boot Disk Generic MS-DOS game for windows95
( 3) :Jan 1, 1997 11:30 pm
( 4) rem- line 4
( 5) device=c:\windows\himem.sys
( 6) device=c:\windows\emm386.exe RAM verbose
( 7) DOS=HIGH,UMB,AUTO
( 8) ; line 8
( 9) devicehigh /l:1,12048 =C:\windows\setver.exe
(10) shell=C:\COMMAND.COM C:\ /P /E:4096
(11) SET PATH=c:\DOS;c:\windows;c\windows\system;c\windows\command
(12) DEVICEHIGH=C:\SONY_CD\ATAPI_CD.SYS /D:SONY_4X0 /Q /I:0
(13) InstallHIGH=C:\MOUSE.com
(14) ;
(15) INSTALLHIGH C:\Windows\Command\MSCDEX.EXE /D:SONY_4X0 /M:12 /V
(16) installhigh c:\windows\smartdrv.exe
(17) LASTDRIVEHIGH=G
(18) ;18
(19) SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 (20) SET PROMPT=$p$d$q$g
(21) ;this is the last line
EXPLANATION by
(Line Number) (1)-(3) ; (semi-colon) is the same as the REMark command
but can only be used in the config.sys not the autoexec.bat (5) required
(6) device=c:\windows\emm386.exe (minimum required) RAM switch allows you
to load device drivers in Upper Memory Area (UMA) freeing up conventional
memory [alternatively, one can use NOEMS which allows access but doesn't
allow the program to use EMS (extended memory) which many programs also
need] VERBOSE switch displays information about emm386.exe after loading
it - can be useful for debugging but not required
<< More info on emm386.exe and other switches
are in the WIN95 RESOURCE KIT help file (on your cd-rom probably
Ed: only on the prerelease); topic(s: Command Line Commands
Summary ... >>
(7) DOS=HIGH load in High Memory Access (HMA) rather
than conventional memory; =UMB - maintain link to UMA; AUTO load these
device drivers Himem.sys, ifshlp.sys, dblbuff.sys, setver.exe and uses
buffershigh, fileshigh, fcbshigh, lastdrivehigh, stackshigh command as
needed.
(9) loads device driver in HMA freeing conventional
memory (10) SHELL- command interpreter MS-DOS is to use (11) SET PATH -
where else a MS-DOS command might be (12) load cd-rom "realmode DOS
" driver (required for cdrom) put your machines' path name,driver
name and switches (13) load mouse "realmode DOS" driver (required
for mouse) (15) load DOS cd-rom driver for your cd-rom (required for cdrom)
substitue in your machines switches and pathnames (16) load disk caching
for harddrive & cdrom for more efficient access (17) enter last drive
usually cdrom - some programs need to know (19) set soundcard switches
(required for soundcard) subsititute your machine's specific (20) customize
DOS prompt -(optional) $p=display current drive and directory $d=display
current date $q=displays equal sign; $displays > sign C:\WINDOWS\12-31-96=>
(21) END - make sure your autoexec and config files doesn't end with blank
lines or characters or you may never see your DOS prompt
RESOURCES and REFERENCES used -- in no particular
order -- (THANK YOU to the authors -- in particular the websites and especially
the website: Running MS-DOS games under win95)****
Excellent (explanation and examples) ** Good **b
Good background explanation only **e Good examples only * Okay for additional
background information
[ 1] _DOS: INSIDE & OUT_ by Kris Jamsa **** (c)
1991 - Osborne McGraw Hill
[ 2] MS-WINDOWS 95 RESOURCE Kit - topics **b Performance
Tuning - Optimizing Conventional Memory **b Application Support - Configuring
MS-DOS based apps ** Command Line Switches for emm386.exe **b Command Line
Switches for config.sys
[ 3] Readme File for CONFIG.SYS **b C:\Windows\Config.txt
[ 5] Win95-L win95 FAQ (current version) - q/a 4.1
* http://www.wantree.com.au/~hansie/95faq/95msdos.html#BM4_1
[ 6} One of the few vendor sites showing sample config.sys
files **e (How to ...(win95) ... play games) http://www.pcco.ibm.com/answerbk/ntu47.html
[ 7} Win95 Conventional Memory Configuration help
**** http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/1226/winhelp1.html
[ 8} Understanding Windows Memory (and DOS) ****
http://www.helixsoftware.com/winmem.html
[ 9} more sample Config.sys and explanations ** http://www.bethsoft.com/Press-Releases/betwin95.txt
[10] BUG: - win95 and conventional memory * http://www.dia.govt.nz/dia/corpserv/its/bugnet/bugsw95.htm
[11] Pal Yuli's Windows Help Pages - Actually Using
DOS ** http://www.users.fast.net/~paiyili/dostweak.htm
[12] Managing Memory in MS-DOSmode (win95) * Document
Q151718 31-May-1996 MS Knowledge Base ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/peropsys/windows/kb/q151/7/18.txt
[13] _PC MOM; The Mother of All PC Books_ **** by
Woody Leonhard & Barry Simon (c) 1995 Addison-Wesley Publishing
***** [14] Running MS-DOS games under win95 http://www.orca.bc.ca/win95/faq12.htm
Good Luck. Now I only have about a dozen more games
to install not including win95 version of ATARI 2600 (12-game) ACTION PAK
(no assembly requied ?????).
Robin.