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- Problems running the Extended Memory PALASM Software
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
- PALASM 4 uses the DOS Extended Technology software from ERGO Computing Inc.
-
- Only 6 programs have been linked with the ERGO software to allow extended
- memory execution. These executables are : TREPL2.EXE, PARSE.EXE, BPP.EXE,
- EXPAND.EXE, MINIMIZE.EXE, PLDSIM.EXE. All other programs do not required the
- additional memory for large design processing.
-
- During the software QA of PALASM 4 a number of problems related to system
- compatibility were uncovered. All of these point to a problem with old (and
- in some cases new) PC BIOS on the 386. Specifically with how the interchange
- between protected memory and standard memory is managed at cpu speeds >
- 20MHz. ERGO has assured us that it is because the various BIOS that show the
- problem do not follow exactly the standard defined by IBM.
-
- The symptom of the problem is an erratic hung system in which the only
- recovery method is to POWER DOWN and then POWER UP. A software reboot is not
- effective. The problem is NOT design related. If you have this problem you
- will find compiling the same design several times will be OK, then during a
- subsequent compile phases your system will suddenly go into a hung state.
-
- There is no guarantee that your PC system will have this problem. At AMD we
- have tested a number of PC's that have never demonstrated this problem. If
- your PC does demonstrate the above problem during a PALASM 4 compilation,
- check the list of possible work-around's below.
-
- It is not possible to fully categorize the nature of all problems related to
- extended memory software usage and which PC system's are compatible.
-
- work-arounds
- -------------
-
- There are 4 known work-around's. All potentially should work, but option 3
- is the easiest to try first.
-
- 1. Install an alternative Extended Memory Manager such as QEMM
- (Quarterdeck Extended Memory Manager) or 386MAX EMM.
-
- 2. Update the BIOS on your PC386 to the latest version.
-
- 3. Step the 386 processor speed down to less than 20MHz.
-
- 4. A hard reboot (Power down, Power up) may temporarily clear the
- problem.
-
- Note,
- There is no guarantee that any of these solutions is 100% assured.
- We recommend trying solution 1 before solution 2.