KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q73829: Windows/386 2.1x Compatibility with MS-DOS 5.0 or Later

Article: Q73829
Product(s): Microsoft Disk Operating System
Version(s): MS-DOS:5.x,6.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 17-DEC-2000

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft MS-DOS operating system versions 5.0, 5.0a, 6.0 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY
=======

Windows 386 versions 2.1 and 2.11 cannot run when EMM386.EXE from MS-DOS 5.0 or
later is loaded in the CONFIG.SYS file. Attempting to use this configuration
results in the following error message:

  Error: Protected mode software already installed

This problem occurs regardless of which switches are used with EMM386.EXE. To run
Windows/386 2.1x, you cannot use EMM386.EXE to emulate expanded memory or load
drivers high.

MORE INFORMATION
================

Other device drivers from the Microsoft MS-DOS 5.0 Upgrade to be aware of are
listed in the README.TXT file section 4.5.

The following is an excerpt from the README.TXT file:

4.5 "High Memory Area in Use" Message (Windows/386 2.1)
-------------------------------------------------------

You cannot run Windows/386 2.1 when MS-DOS 5.0 is loaded into the high memory
area. Also, the MS-DOS 5.0 versions of SMARTDRV.SYS and RAMDRIVE.SYS are not
compatible with Windows/386 2.1. To run Windows/386 2.1 with MS-DOS 5.0, use the
versions of SMARTDRV.SYS and RAMDRIVE.SYS that came with Windows and remove the
DOS=HIGH command, if any, from your CONFIG.SYS file.

Additional query words: 5.00 5.00a 6.00 noupd

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbMSDOSSearch kbMSDOS600 kbMSDOS500 kbMSDOS500a
Version           : MS-DOS:5.x,6.0

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.