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1997-05-15
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DOS 5 and Quarterdeck Products
Quarterdeck Technical Note #200 Filename: DOS5.TEC
by Quarterdeck Testing & Compatibility CompuServe: DOS5.ZIP
Last revised: 4/21/95 Category: SW3
Subject: The use of DOS 5.0 with all Quarterdeck products.
Q. Is QEMM compatible with DOS 5?
A. The shipping versions of all Quarterdeck products are compatible
with IBM and Microsoft DOS 5.
DOS 5 contains a number of enhancements over previous versions.
Among the most notable features is more advanced memory
management--specifically, the ability to create and use regions
of upper memory above 640K. These regions can be used for
loading resident programs, drivers, and parts of DOS itself.
In many ways the facilities for managing memory that are built
into DOS 5 are similar to those first made available to users
of DOS 2.x through 4.x with the release of QEMM version 4.1 in
the spring of 1988. QEMM has evolved considerably from that
original product, incorporating improvements with each new
version. These improvements have progressively resulted in
more available memory for the user, higher reliability and
enhanced ease of use.
While the memory management features of DOS 5 represent an
advance for DOS, Quarterdeck's memory managers still provide
significant advantages for DOS 5 users.
Q. What advantages do Quarterdeck's memory managers have over DOS'
memory managers.
A. The differences between the current release of Quarterdeck
memory managers and those built into DOS 5 are as follows:
1) The combined size of DOS 5's memory managers (HIMEM.SYS and
EMM386.SYS) is 8 to 10K. QEMM provides the facilities of
both these drivers in less than 1K!
2) QEMM typically provides 96K MORE High RAM by default than
the DOS 5 memory managers on non-PS/2 systems, and 128K MORE
by default on PS/2 systems. The DOS 5 memory manager allows
these areas to be included manually, but this requires some
expertise.
3) QEMM's Squeeze technology allows larger resident programs to
be loaded by allowing them to squeeze--temporarily--into the
EMS page frame or areas used by Adapters when loading. The
DOS 5 memory managers do not provide a similar feature.
4) Using its Stealth option, QEMM can provide EVEN MORE high
RAM (211k total is common) by hiding machine ROMs and
allowing High RAM to be mapped over them. Neither DOS 5's
memory managers nor any other third-party memory manager
currently provides this patent-pending technology.
5) DOS 5 has no equivalent to Quarterdeck's Manifest program.
Manifest is a memory analysis program included free with
QEMM, DESQview, and DESQview 386. It provides extensive
information about the computer on which it is running and is
an invaluable tool when optimizing a system or diagnosing a
memory problem or conflict.
6) The DOS 5 memory manager provides no program to
automatically and OPTIMALLY load TSR's and device drivers
into the regions of upper memory. Novice users may
experience considerable difficulty achieving good results
from the DOS 5 LOADHIGH program, but even advanced users
will appreciate the speed and accuracy with which OPTIMIZE
sets up a system.
7) The DOS 5 memory manager provides no Analysis feature.
QEMM's Analysis is extremely useful in determining areas of
upper memory that can safely be used. Analysis also lets
QEMM users reclaim unused addresses in the system ROM and in
other areas in upper memory--a great advantage to
memory-hungry users.
8) The DOS 5 memory manager cannot map ROMs into faster RAM.
QEMM provides this option which can result in substantially
better performance, especially where screen update speed is
important.
9) The DOS 5 memory managers have no option to sort memory. On
machines where some sections of memory run slower than other
sections, QEMM can sort the memory so that the fastest
memory is used first.
10) The DOS 5 memory manager cannot manage ShadowRAM or Top
Memory, a feature QEMM users on limited-memory systems
depend heavily upon. Many 1MB systems turn 384K of the
first megabyte of memory into ShadowRAM or Top Memory. This
memory is unavailable when using the DOS 5 memory managers.
11) Microsoft Windows 3.x Standard mode won't run under the DOS
5 memory manager when the memory manager is active (in
virtual 8086 mode), for example when using a disk cache.
QEMM is the only currently shipping memory manager that can
run Windows 3.x in all modes whether or not QEMM is active.
12) The DOS 5 memory manager provides no control over the region
of High RAM that can be used to load programs high. This
means that even expert users may be unable to use High RAM
efficiently in situations where TSR's and drivers must be
loaded in a specific order. The Quarterdeck LOADHI programs
allow TSR's or drivers to be directed to specific high
memory locations, giving complete control to the user. Of
course, as mentioned before, this feature is used expertly
by the OPTIMIZE program in order to provide the optimum
configuration.
13) On PS/2s and other microchannel systems, QEMM can
automatically detect the addresses used by any adapter
listed in our MCA.ADL file. This is especially valuable on
systems with adapter RAM (used by many network cards, among
other adapters). Adapter RAM can be particularly hard for
386 memory managers to detect. The DOS 5 memory manager has
no such feature. As the addresses used by network cards
vary from machine to machine and card to card, QEMM's
MCA.ADL file can save considerable work for network
administrators in companies with large installations of
PS/2s or micro channel compatibles on networks. Users of
PS/2 machines that are not on a network will also benefit
from this "ease of use" feature.
14) DOS 5 has no equivalent for the VIDRAM utility that allows
users to extend conventional memory on EGA/VGA systems when
running programs that are not using EGA/VGA graphics.
15) The DOS 5 memory manager is less flexible for configuring
expanded (EMS) memory. Many DOS programs support EMS
memory; others use XMS. To have both types of memory, the
DOS memory manager requires you to divide extended memory,
part as EMS, part as XMS. To change the amounts available
you must edit your CONFIG.SYS file and reboot. QEMM allows
EMS and XMS to "share" extended memory. With QEMM,
applications can use up to the maximum amount of memory
available as EMS, XMS, or a combination of the two without
editing configuration files or rebooting the system.
16) QEMM is required for full support of Quarterdeck's DESQview.
While DESQview can run with the DOS 5 memory managers, as it
can with other EMS drivers, only by using QEMM can you get
the special features of DESQview that provide for memory
protection and the multi-tasking of "ill-behaved" DOS
programs. In addition, QEMM moves more of DESQview's data
out of conventional memory, resulting in larger DV windows.
17) QEMM now supports the Suspend and Resume features of some
portables and notebook computers that these computers use to
minimize battery drain.
Q. How can I install DOS 5 on a system already running QEMM?
A. If you are installing DOS 5 on a system that already has QEMM
installed, simply leave the Quarterdeck memory managers in
place and run the DOS SETUP program. SETUP will detect that a
compatible memory manager is installed and will not replace it.
SETUP typically makes two or three changes to your CONFIG.SYS
file. First, it places a "DEVICE=SETVER.EXE" statement at the
beginning of your CONFIG.SYS file (before the QEMM device
line.) You may want to move this line below QEMM so that
Optimize will load it into upper memory. Second, it puts the
line "DOS=HIGH" at the end of the CONFIG.SYS. Third, it puts a
"SHELL=COMMAND.COM" statement in the CONFIG.SYS if you do not
already have one.
Once you have installed the DOS 5 upgrade, switch to your QEMM
directory and run the OPTIMIZE program. Since the installation
of DOS 5 will change your memory configuration, running
Optimize will take care of any rearrangement of programs in
upper memory that is necessary, giving you the most
conventional memory possible.
If you are running DESQview, you should Optimize with the
/STEALTH option, even though Optimize may not suggest it
automatically. DESQview can take advantage of the extra memory
provided by Stealth ROM.
Also, in most cases, DESQview users car run larger programs
memory in their DOS windows by removing the "DOS=HIGH" from the
CONFIG.SYS file. This allows DESQview to use the High Memory
Area (HMA) that DOS would otherwise use. DESQview is more
efficient at using the HMA than DOS, so giving DESQview the HMA
usually results in more memory in your DESQview window. The
only way to be sure which is better is to try it both ways
(running Optimize and then running DESQview's Memory Status
program with each configuration) to determine which provides
the most memory.
Q. How do I install QEMM on a DOS 5 system?
A. If you are installing QEMM onto a system that already has DOS
5, simply put the distribution disk in your floppy drive and
run the INSTALL program. The INSTALL routines are fully aware
of DOS 5 and will automatically run the Optimize program to
configure the system optimally. There is no need to do any
"pre-configuration" to the system or to remove any of the DOS 5
memory management utilities. If the Stealth ROM feature is
needed to get your resident programs loaded into upper memory,
Stealth ROM will be offered automatically by the Optimize
program.
As suggested above, if you are running DESQview you can force
the Stealth ROM feature by running OPTIMIZE /STEALTH, since
DESQview can use the extra memory provided by Stealth ROM.
Q. I run Microsoft Windows in Enhanced Mode. Is there anything I
need to know?
A. If you will be running Microsoft Windows in Enhanced mode and
plan to use the DOS=HIGH parameter, you cannot use QEMM's
"EXT=" or "MEM=" parameters. When these parameters are used,
Windows cannot properly take over management of the High Memory
Area and will fail to start in Enhanced mode. These parameters
do not affect operation in Real or Standard modes, as QEMM
remains in control of memory when those modes are used. Further
information concerning Windows 3.x and Quarterdeck products can
be found in our technotes specific to Windows.
******************************************************************
* Trademarks are property of their respective owners. *
* This and other technical notes may be available in updated *
* forms through Quarterdeck's standard support channels. *
* Copyright (C) 1996 Quarterdeck Corporation *
******************** E N D O F F I L E ***********************