KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q239514: MEM Command Reports Only 64 MB Extended Memory in MS-DOS Window

Article: Q239514
Product(s): Microsoft Windows 95.x Retail Product
Version(s): WINDOWS:95
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbtool diskmem win95 win98 win98se kbDiskMemory
Last Modified: 28-JUL-2001

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

- Microsoft Windows 95 
- Microsoft Windows 98 
- Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

When you run the MEM command in an MS-DOS session within Windows, the value
displayed for Extended (XMS) memory may be under 64 megabytes (MB), even though
the computer may have more than 64 MB of physical memory installed. Also, the
values for Extended memory and Total memory may be displayed as question marks
(?).

CAUSE
=====

This behavior occurs because programs running in an MS-DOS session in Windows
can gain access to a maximum of 64 MB of extended memory.

RESOLUTION
==========

The actual amount of physical memory detected by Windows is displayed in the
System tool in Control Panel. The amount of free memory available is displayed
in the System Monitor tool.

For information about using the System Monitor tool to determine free memory
availability, please click the article number below to view the article in the
Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q142770 How to View Free-Memory Statistics in Windows 95

STATUS
======

This behavior is by design.

Additional query words: ram virtual machine

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbtool diskmem win95 win98 win98se kbDiskMemory 
Technology        : kbWin95search kbWin98search kbWin98SEsearch kbZNotKeyword3 kbWin98 kbWin98SE
Version           : WINDOWS:95
Issue type        : kbprb

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

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.