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Q96935: EMM386.EXE Dynamic Memory Allocation

Article: Q96935
Product(s): Microsoft Disk Operating System
Version(s): MS-DOS:6.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): msdos
Last Modified: 19-NOV-1999

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft MS-DOS operating system version 6.0 
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SUMMARY
=======

EMM386.EXE version 4.45, which ships with MS-DOS 6.0, dynamically allocates and
releases memory that conforms to the Extended Memory Specification (XMS), the
Expanded Memory Specification (EMS), or the Virtual Control Program Interface
(VCPI) specification. For example, if a program releases a certain amount of EMS
memory, other programs that need XMS memory can request and receive additional
XMS memory from the released EMS memory. In other words, EMM386.EXE can provide
extended or expanded memory as needed by adjusting the EMS memory pool.

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

You can limit this feature by using the maximum and minimum memory parameters of
EMM386.EXE. For example, if you want to give EMM386.EXE 2 megabytes of memory
and keep it from dynamically allocating that memory, use the following
EMM386.EXE DEVICE line:

  device=c:\dos\emm386.exe 2048 min=2048 ram

NOTE: This feature is application dependent. If an application does not release
allocated XMS or EMS memory, EMM386.EXE cannot give that memory to other
applications.

Additional query words: 6.00

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Keywords          : msdos 
Technology        : kbMSDOSSearch kbMSDOS600
Version           : MS-DOS:6.0

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