KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q104734: Setup Does Not Recognize Compaq XMS Device Driver

Article: Q104734
Product(s): Microsoft Disk Operating System
Version(s): MS-DOS:6.2,6.21,6.22
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 18-NOV-1999

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

- Microsoft MS-DOS operating system versions 6.2, 6.21, 6.22 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

MS-DOS Upgrade Setup does not recognize the Compaq extended memory services
(XMS) device driver (EXMEM.EXE). As a result, Setup adds a device command for
HIMEM.SYS to the end of your CONFIG.SYS file. When the second XMS driver loads,
you receive the following error message:

  ERROR: An Extended Memory Manager is already installed.

CAUSE
=====

Setup does not recognize EXMEM.SYS because EXMEM.SYS makes itself look like the
MS-DOS HIMEM.SYS driver.


Since Setup finds what it thinks is HIMEM.SYS in memory, it determines that it
has to update an existing HIMEM.SYS line in the CONFIG.SYS file. When it doesn't
find any reference to HIMEM.SYS, it adds a command for it.

RESOLUTION
==========

To work around this problem, edit your CONFIG.SYS file with MS-DOS Editor and
remove the device command for one of the XMS managers.

Additional query words: 6.22 6.20

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbMSDOSSearch kbMSDOS621 kbMSDOS622 kbMSDOS620
Version           : MS-DOS:6.2,6.21,6.22

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

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.