DOCUMENT:Q96028 19-NOV-1999 [msdos] TITLE :Using /S Switch with LOADHIGH PRODUCT :Microsoft Disk Operating System PROD/VER:MS-DOS:6.0,6.2,6.21,6.22 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS: ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft MS-DOS operating system versions 6.0, 6.2, 6.21, 6.22 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY ======= You can use the LOADHIGH switches /S and /L together to control where programs are loaded in upper memory blocks (UMBs) and how much space they allocate. Both switches affect the way programs interpret UMBs. MORE INFORMATION ================ If you load a program with the /L switch, the program only recognizes the memory regions you specify in the /L parameters. If you load a program with the /S switch, the program only recognizes the regions you specify and the amount of memory you specify--these switches are useful if you are optimizing conventional memory because you can restrict the way a program uses a particular memory region. For example, the SMARTDrive utility has the ability to load itself into UMBs: it is first loaded and initialized in conventional memory and then is relocated to the largest available UMB it finds. By default, SMARTDrive attempts to load as much of itself as it can into UMBs; other programs will not be able to use free UMBs because SMARTDrive has used too much space. Since SMARTDrive does not have to reside in one memory area, you can use your UMBs more efficiently by forcing SMARTDrive to use only a certain amount of UMB space. You can accomplish this by using the /L and /S switches together. The following command line (from AUTOEXEC.BAT) tells SMARTDrive that only region 0 (conventional memory) and 3 are free: loadhigh /l:0;3,42416 /s =c:\dos\smartdrv.exe SMARTDrive is first loaded and initialized in conventional memory (region 0) and then relocates itself to region 3. Since the /L switch specifies a minimum size of 42416 bytes and the /S switch changes this minimum to the absolute value free in region 3, SMARTDrive only recognizes region 0 and 3 as free and only recognizes 42416 bytes available in region 3. Therefore, SMARTDrive loads 42416 bytes of itself into region 3 and the rest in region 0.This loading process results in more free memory in region 3 because SMARTDrive is not able to relocate all of itself in that region. The next program you load with the LOADHIGH command has enough space to load completely and your available conventional memory is increased. For more information on the LOADHIGH command and its switches, use MS-DOS Help by typing "HELP LOADHIGH" (without the quotation marks) at any MS-DOS command prompt. Additional query words: 6.22 6.00 6.20 ====================================================================== Keywords : Technology : kbMSDOSSearch kbMSDOS621 kbMSDOS622 kbMSDOS620 kbMSDOS600 Version : MS-DOS:6.0,6.2,6.21,6.22 ============================================================================= 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. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1999.