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HIMEM.SYS

HIMEM.SYS is an installable device driver which conforms to the XMS
(eXxtended Memory Specification) Version 2.0. It allows MS-DOS
programs on 80286 and 80386 systems with extended memory to access
the extended memory using a standard, machine independent manner. It
also allows MS-DOS programs to utilize a 64KB region of memory located
just above the 1MB boundary for code and data. Microsoft Windows
currently makes use of this area.

If you have an expanded memory (EMS, not XMS) board, you can usually
configure the board so that some part of the memory is allocated to
extended memory (64K would be optimal), leaving the rest as expanded.

If other extended memory programs are also being loaded which do not
use the XMS interface to manage the extended memory, they should be
configured to leave at least 64KB of extended memory free.

To obtain the latest version of HIMEM.SYS, or receive a copy of the
XMS specification, contact Microsoft at (800) 426-9400.


USING HIMEM.SYS:
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To use HIMEM.SYS, with your computer, you need the following:

o An IBM PC/AT or PS/2 or compatible computer.
o An extended memory board.


INSTALLING HIMEM.SYS:
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To install HIMEM.SYS, include a command line of the following form in
your CONFIG.SYS file:

DEVICE=[d:][path]HIMEM.SYS [/HMAMIN=h] [/NUMHANDLES=n]

During installation, a message similar to the following will be
displayed:

HIMEM: DOS XMS Driver, Version 2.02 - 7/19/88
Copyright 1988, Microsoft Corp.

HIMEM.SYS must be installed before any other device drivers that make
calls to it. Thus, any device driver which uses XMS calls should be
loaded after HIMEM.SYS.


THE HIMEM.SYS OPTIONS:
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Option Function
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/HMAMIN=h This sets the minimum amount of space (in kilobytes) in
the High Memory Area (HMA) that a program can use.
Programs which use less space than this number will not
be placed in the HMA. This number becomes important
when two TSRs which use the HMA are installed. Setting
this number to the request size of the largest
HMA-using TSR ensures maximum benefit of this area of
memory. The minimum value is 0 and the maximum is 63,
with a default of 0. The 0 default allows "First come,
first served" access to the HMA. When this option is
used, this message will be displayed:

Minimum HMA size set to h

/NUMHANDLES=n For advanced users only: this sets the maximum number
of Extended Memory Block (EMB) handles that can be used
at any given time. The minimum is 1 and the maximum is
128, with a default is 32. Each additional handle
requires an additional 6 bytes of resident memory. When
this option is used, this message will be displayed:

n extended memory handles available.

EXAMPLES:
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The following command line shows the normal configuration of HIMEM.SYS:

DEVICE=HIMEM.SYS

The following command line shows a configuration of HIMEM.SYS which
ensures that any program using the High Memory Area must use at least
40KB of this memory:

DEVICE=HIMEM.SYS /HMAMIN=40

The following command line shows a configuration of HIMEM.SYS which
uses the maximum number of Extended Memory Block handles:

DEVICE=HIMEM.SYS /NUMHANDLES=128


ERRORS AND WARNINGS:
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The following are error messages which are displayed when HIMEM
cannot properly install itself.

64K High Memory Area is available.

HIMEM has properly installed itself in the system (no errors).


ERROR: HIMEM.SYS requires DOS 3.00 or higher.
XMS Driver not installed.


HIMEM can only be used on systems with MS-DOS Version 3.00 or
higher.


ERROR: HIMEM.SYS requires an 80x86-based machine.
XMS Driver not installed.

HIMEM can only be installed on a computer system which has an 80286
or 80386 microprocessor.


ERROR: An Extended Memory Manager is already installed.
XMS Driver not installed.

HIMEM can only be installed once. Installing it more than one time
will result in an error for the second and subsequent installations.


ERROR: No available extended memory was found.

HIMEM can only be installed on a computer with extended memory.


ERROR: Unrecognized A20 hardware.

HIMEM cannot recognize the A20 hardware of your system. If this
occurs, it is probably because the system is not one supported by
this release of HIMEM. Contact your OEM to see if an XMS driver
exists for your machine.


WARNING: The High Memory Area is unavailable.

HIMEM cannot find enough memory to use the High Memory Area. HIMEM
will not be able to process any requests for the High Memory Area.
However, HIMEM will remain installed to process any requests for the
Extended Memory Data Blocks.

WARNING: The A20 Line was already enabled.

HIMEM detected the A20 hardware already enabled when it was
installing, which is an abnormal condition. It is most commonly
caused by another program which is controlling the A20 line in an
ill-behaved manner. HIMEM will remain installed and attempt to work
properly, however it will never disable the A20 line.

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