Q87356: EMS Unavailable at MS-DOS Prompt in Standard Mode

Article: Q87356
Product(s): Microsoft Windows 95.x Retail Product
Version(s): WINDOWS:3.1,3.11
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 04-OCT-1999

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

- Microsoft Windows versions 3.1, 3.11 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY
=======

Pages 550-551 of the "Microsoft Windows User Guide" version 3.1 incorrectly
indicate that the EMM386.EXE memory manager can be used to give MS-DOS
applications expanded memory in standard mode.

However, in standard mode, EMM386.EXE is disabled.

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

Page 550 incorrectly states:

  You can run the [MS-DOS] application in standard mode, using EMM386.EXE to
  simulate expanded memory.

Page 551 incorrectly tells you how to set up EMM386.EXE for use with MS-DOS
applications in "standard mode" that use expanded memory:

  Add a command line for EMM386.EXE to your CONFIG.SYS file.

  ...
  device=c:\windows\emm386.exe 512

This command line is supposed to allow EMM386.EXE to set up 512K of RAM memory as
expanded memory for use with MS-DOS applications requiring expanded memory.
However, this does not work. If you shell out to MS-DOS and run the MEM command
(MS-DOS 4.01 and 5.0) or run MSD.EXE, you will see that there is no expanded
memory available.

MS-DOS applications can use EMM386.EXE for expanded memory when Windows is not
running.

KBCategory: kbother kbdocerr
KBSubcategory: winmem win31

Additional query words: 3.10 3.11 doc err NoWin4

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbWin3xSearch kbZNotKeyword3 kbWin310 kbWin311
Version           : WINDOWS:3.1,3.11

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

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.

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1986-2002.