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EEMRAM 2.00 Purpose ------- EEMRAM is a small utility that can expand your DOS memory from 640K to a maximum of 736K using Enhanced or LIM 4.0 expanded memory. To use EEMRAM, you must have a memory board that provides EEM or LIM4 memory. A companion program (DERAM) can be used to restore the "normal" 640K if necessary. EEMRAM will NOT work with Intel EMS products if you have an EGA or VGA video system. Before you run EEMRAM --------------------- In order for EEMRAM to work, several conditions must be met. There's more about this elsewhere in this document, but for now run these two checks. 1. Run MS (just type "MS") and verify that the total free memory is 655,360 bytes (640K). If it is anything else, EEMRAM cannot be used. 2. Run EMSINFO (just type "EMSINFO") and note the results. If they scroll beyond one screenful, you can print the results by typing: EMSINFO > PRN EMSINFO must indicate that the EMM type is either "EEMS" or "LIM 4.x". Also, the list of memory segments to which EMS memory can be mapped must include the segment "A000". If EMSINFO does not indicate that segment A000 is available, you probably have an EGA or VGA installed in your system. See the section titled "If you have an EGA or VGA". If EMSINFO indicates that EEMRAM cannot be used, and you aren't clear on exactly why, just run EEMRAM. No harm will be done, and EEMRAM will display an error message indicating why it won't work. Then look in "EEMRAM error messages" below for possible causes and solutions. Running EEMRAM -------------- Here is EEMRAM's syntax: eemram [/#] [/S] When run, EEMRAM will increase DOS-usable memory DOS from 640K to a maximum of 736K. The exact amount depends on your hardware configuration, particularly on what type of display adapter you have installed. You may want to run EEMRAM via your AUTOEXEC startup batch, ideally as the first external program run by the batch: echo off cd c:\util eemram ... The optional /S parameter is required if you have EEMS memory and want to be able to use DERAM (about which, more later). It is not necessary if you have LIM 4.0-compatible memory or don't need DERAM. The optional /# parameter limits EEMRAM's use of EEMS memory to some amount less than the maximum possible. See the next section. To see the effects of EEMRAM, just run MS (Memory Size) before and after running EEMRAM. Limiting Memory Size: /# parameter ---------------------------------- The optional EEMRAM /# parameter can be used to explicitly reduce the number of 16K pages of EEMS memory it assigns to DOS (see "Memory Allocation Information" for more information about memory use). "#" is a decimal digit from 1 to 6 that specifies how many pages you want assigned. EEMRAM will normally assign all contiguous pages available from A000 to B400 (6 pages maximum, or 96K). However, there may be cases in which you don't want all of this used, and that's what /# does. An example of /# use: C> eemram /2 The /2 means "use only two 16K pages of EEMS memory." If you specify more pages than are available, EEMRAM will only use the number available, in effect ignoring your parameter. Here is a map showing the effects of all possible /#: Page /1 /2 /3 /4 /5 /6 ---- -- -- -- -- -- -- A000 XX XX XX XX XX XX A400 XX XX XX XX XX A800 XX XX XX XX AC00 XX XX XX B000 XX XX <---MDA memory begins B400 XX B800 <---CGA memory begins -- -- -- -- -- -- KB added 16 32 48 64 80 96 Total KB 656 672 688 704 720 736 DERAM ----- EEMRAM works by mapping EEMS memory to DOS addresses beginning at memory segment A000; EGA/VGA systems also use this area of memory, so you will have a conflict using EGA/VGA hi-res graphics modes in an EEMRAM environment. You may also find that you have only a few programs that can really use the extra EEMRAM memory and that you prefer to leave the EMS memory free most of the time. The DERAM program reverses the effects of EEMRAM: it restores the original 640K of DOS memory and releases the EMS memory EEMRAM was using back to the free memory pool. This may allow you to use EGA/VGA hi-res modes. To restore the original 640K system, just run DERAM: C> deram [NOTE: to use DERAM with EEMS memory, you must have run EEMRAM with the /S option: C> eemram /s This saves certain information the DERAM needs. The /S switch is not necessary if you have LIM 4.0-compatible memory. When you use /S, EEMRAM places in memory a small amount (four bytes) of information that DERAM needs. The information is stored in the little used Interapplications Communication Area (IACA). If EEMRAM cannot find four consecutive unused bytes in this area, it cannot store the information and DERAM won't work.] As an example of using EEMRAM and DERAM, suppose that you only want to have the extra memory available for one program, your word processor BESTWP. The following command sequence will do the trick: C> eemram /s [/S needed only for EEMS] C> bestwp C> deram You can enter these commands manually or make a small batch file or PCED synonym. The opposite situation holds where you want to run with extra memory most of the time, but release it before running the EGA graphics program GREATGFX. The following commands may help: C> deram C> greatgfx C> eemram /s [/S needed only for EEMS] IMPORTANT NOTE: it is not possible to guarantee that the system will operate correctly after DERAM. Some programs, especially system software, TSRs, and device drivers, assume that the amount of memory in your system is fixed--that it will not change during a session. However, that is exactly the effect of DERAM. If you find that something doesn't run after DERAM, you'll just have to reboot without EEMRAM. Memory Allocation Information ----------------------------- When a typical EEMS or LIM 4.0 memory board is installed, it "backfills" DOS memory to 640K; that is, some of the memory on the EEMS board is permanently assigned to DOS in such a way that the system will appear to DOS to have 640K of main memory. This 640K occupies RAM addresses 00000 to 9FFFFF, or, in the more traditional segment notation, memory segments 0000 to 9FFF. Segments beginning at A000 (the next segment above 9FFF) are not assigned to DOS by the EMS manager. However, 64K to 96K of addresses beginning at A000 are often unused on PC's. On a machine equipped with a monochrome display adapter (MDA), display memory begins at segment B000, leaving 64K open from A000-AFFF; on a machine equipped with a color graphics adapter (CGA), display memory begins at segment B800, leaving 96K open from A000-B7FF. It is possible to force the EMS manager to assign memory for these addresses and to convince DOS that the EMS memory so assigned is usable by the system, resulting in as much as 736K of DOS-usable memory. That is what EEMRAM does. [Contrary to popular opinion, DOS is not limited to 640K; it can use whatever memory is available, up to a limit of 1 megabyte. The limiting factor is your hardware. In particular, some hardware such as video display adapters and fixed disk controllers may use some areas of memory above the 640K mark. Also, the DIP switches on many machines are limited to a maximum of 640K switch-settable; to go beyond this, it's necessary for software such as EEMRAM to override the switch settings.] If you have an EGA or VGA ------------------------- As described above, EEMRAM works by assigning pages of EMS memory to DOS addresses beginning at A000h (just above 640K). EGA and VGA systems use the same area of memory, so there is a potential for conflicts. However, most EGA/VGA systems use the 64K of memory between A000 and B000 only in high resolution graphics modes, and briefly during mode changes; if you do not use high resolution graphics modes frequently, you may still be able to use EEMRAM. You will have to do some work with your system configuration file, CONFIG.SYS. We STRONGLY recommend that you check the following steps on a bootable diskette, not with your hard disk CONFIG.SYS. If you are successful, you can then make the apprpriate changes in your hard disk CONFIG.SYS. First, check the statement in CONFIG.SYS file that loads your EMS driver software. If you have a parameter that excludes the range of memory beginning at A000, you must remove the exclusion. For example, AST's REMM.SYS might be loaded like this: DEVICE=C:\SYS\REMM.SYS /X=A000-AFFF The /X parameter tells REMM.SYS not to permit mapping of EMS memory to segment A000, and it must be removed. Next, add the statement: DEVICE=[d:path]EEMEGA.SYS to the file IMMEDIATELY BEFORE the DEVICE statement that loads your EMS software. For example: DEVICE=C:\SYS\EEMEGA.SYS DEVICE=C:\SYS\REMM.SYS Now reboot your system. It should appear to run normally. Run EMSINFO again and check to be sure that the A000 segment now appears in the list of mappable segments. If it does not, you will have to check with your dealer or hardware manufacture to see if it's possible to correct the situation. If you have EEMS memory, EEMEGA uses 16K of EMS. It does not use any EMS memory if you have a LIM 4.0 EMS driver. When EEMRAM is active, EEMEGA.SYS will not allow any EGA/VGA BIOS calls to be used. Thus, your system will not be permitted to go into high-resolution graphics modes. If you have software that must be "installed" for a specific video system, you might want to install it for CGA or MDA rather than EGA or VGA. EEMRAM error messages and solutions ----------------------------------- EEMRAM will not be able to do its job under a number of possible conditions. If EEMRAM reports that it has failed, it will display one of the following messages: EMS MANAGER IS NEITHER LIM 4.0 NOR EEMS In order to use EEMRAM, your Expanded Memory Manager (EMM) must conform to either the EEMS 3.2 or LIM 4.0 specifications. Check with your dealer to see if a newer EMM is available for your EMS board. EXPECTED 640K OF DOS MEMORY Run MS; in order to use EEMRAM, MS must report exactly 655,360 bytes of total memory (640K). If MS reports less and you know that you do have a 640K system, it's likely that some other TSR or device has taken some memory from just below 640K. Try to locate which TSR or device is doing this and check with your dealer to see if there's any way to eliminate it. If MS reports more that 640K, perhaps you've already run EEMRAM. UNABLE TO RESIZE MEMORY EEMRAM must be the owner of the last block of DOS memory when it's run. Always run EEMRAM directly from the DOS prompt or from AUTOEXEC.BAT. UNABLE TO LOCATE EMS MANAGER EEMRAM wasn't able to find the Expanded Memory Manager (EMM). Either you don't have expanded memory, you haven't loaded the EMM, or another program is interfering. NO PAGES AVAILABLE AT A000 In order for EEMRAM to work, it must be able to assigne chunks of EMS memory to DOS addresses beginning at segment A000. If EEMRAM reports that it can't do this, it's usually for one of these reasons: 1. Your EMS hardware is not capabable of mapping EMS memory to arbitrary memory addresses. This is true of many older EMS boards such as the Intel AboveBoard. There's no solution for this other than to purchase new hardware. 2. Your Expanded Memory Manager (EMM) doesn't support this function. Your EMM must conform to either the EEMS 3.2 or the LIM 4.0 specification. Run EMSINFO; it will tell you which type of EMM you have. Check with your dealer to see if you can obtain an EEMS or LIM 4.0 EMM for your hardware. 3. Your EMM has detected that you have an EGA or VGA and has in effect "prohibited" mapping memory to A000, even though both your EMS board and the EMM are capable of such mapping. See the EGA/VGA section for a possible solution. NO EMS MEMORY AVAILABLE Your EMM has reported that there is no free EMS memory. You'll have to reduce the amount of memory used by other software. EEMRAM must have at least 16K free EMS memory and can use up to 96K on some systems. PROGRAM HAS ALREADY BEEN RUN This message will appear only under LIM 4.0 and indicates that EEMRAM has already been run since the last reboot. ERROR xx ACCESSING EMS MANAGER (AX=yyyy) Generic message indicating that there's a problem with the EMM or the hardware: the EMM is corrupted, there's a hardware failure, your EMM doesn't support a needed function, etc. The number (xx) indicates the specific error code returned that the EMM returned to EEMRAM. The message also indicates the EMS function that failed (register AX contents were yyyy at time of EMM function call). WARNING: UNABLE TO SAVE /S INFORMATION FOR DERAM There is insufficient memory unused in the area that EEMRAM/DERAM use to pass needed information back and forth. This is a warning message: EEMRAM itself has run successfully, but DERAM won't work. DERAM error messages -------------------- SYSTEM ALREADY SET TO 640K DERAM has found that the system already shows 640K of DOS memory, so it hasn't done anything. EEMRAM NOT RUN WITH /S OPTION, UNABLE TO RESIZE MEMORY In order to use DERAM with EEMS memory, you must run EEMRAM with the /S switch. If you did run EEMRAM with /S and you see this message, some other program is using the same area of memory that EEMRAM/DERAM use to pass information back and forth. You will not be able to use DERAM in this case (fortunately, it's unlikely). ERROR xx ACCESSING EMS MANAGER (AX=yyyy) Generic message indicating that there's a problem with the EMM or the hardware: the EMM is corrupted, there's a hardware failure, your EMM doesn't support a needed function, etc. The number (xx) indicates the specific error code returned that the EMM returned to EEMRAM. The message also indicates the EMS function that failed (register AX contents were yyyy at time of EMM function call). UNABLE TO RESIZE MEMORY DERAM can't modify DOS's memory allocation blocks, so nothing has been done. Always run DERAM directly at the DOS prompt or via AUTOEXEC; don't run it as a "child" of some other program. Notes ----- 1. We can't promise that EEMRAM will work with any specific hardware configuration. If your hardware conflicts with what EEMRAM does (EEMRAM won't run properly, system locks up, etc.), there's nothing we can do about it. 2. EEMRAM is not a TSR (i.e., it is not resident). It runs and terminates, restoring the full amount of memory to the system. Because EEMRAM is not a TSR, don't try to use MARK/RELEASE, REFEREE, POPDROP, or similar TSR managers to "remove" EEMRAM. EEMRAM cannot be removed by these managers. EEMEGA.SYS is a device driver and also cannot be removed; however, it uses very little memory. 3. EEMRAM and DERAM both return an errorlevel of 255 if they encounter any errors. 4. If EEMRAM needs more EMS memory than is available, it will use all that is available. If no EMS memory at all is available, it is an error. Versions -------- 2.00 03/30/89 Added support for LIM 4.0 memory. Added EEMEGA.SYS 1.01 08/20/87 Changed test for enhanced memory, may be a little more tolerant of older versions of REMM.SYS et al. Copyright/License/Warranty -------------------------- This document and the program files EEMRAM.COM, DERAM.COM EEMEGA.SYS, MS.COM, and EMSINFO.EXE ("the software") are copyrighted by the author. The copyright owner hereby licenses you to: use the software; make as many copies of the program and documentation as you wish; give such copies to anyone; and distribute the software and documentation via electronic means. There is no charge for any of the above. You are specifically prohibited from charging, or requesting donations, for any such copies, however made; and from distributing the software and/or documentation with commercial products without prior permission. An exception is granted to recognized user's groups, which are authorized to charge a small fee (not to exceed $7) for materials, handling, postage, and general overhead. NO FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION IS AUTHORIZED TO CHARGE ANY AMOUNT FOR DISTRIBUTION OF COPIES OF THE SOFTWARE OR DOCUMENTATION, OR TO INCLUDE COPIES OF THE SOFTWARE OR DOCUMENTATION WITH SALES OF THEIR OWN PRODUCTS. THIS INCLUDES A SPECIFIC PROHIBITION AGAINST FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS DISTRIBUTING THE SOFTWARE, EITHER ALONE OR WITH OTHER SOFTWARE, AND CHARGING A "HANDLING" OR "MATERIALS" FEE OR ANY OTHER SUCH FEE FOR THE DISTRIBUTION. NO FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION IS AUTHORIZED TO INCLUDE THE SOFTWARE ON ANY MEDIA FOR WHICH MONEY IS CHARGED WITHOUT PRIOR PERMISSION FROM THE COPTRIGHT OWNER. No copy of the software may be distributed or given away without this document; and this notice must not be removed. There is no warranty of any kind, and the copyright owner is not liable for damages of any kind. By using this free software, you agree to this. The software and documentation are: Copyright (C) 1987,1989 by Christopher J. Dunford The Cove Software Group Post Office Box 1072 Columbia, Maryland 21044 (301) 992-9371 CompuServe 76703,2002 [IBMNET]