Detailed Explanation of EMM386.EXE Switches |
The information in this article applies to:
-
Microsoft MS-DOS operating system versions 5.0, 5.0a, 6.0, 6.2, 6.21, 6.22
SUMMARY
This article explains the following EMM386.EXE switches for MS-DOS 5.0
or later:
W=on/off
Mx
FRAME=
/Pmmmm
Pn=address
X=
I=
This article explains these switches in-depth, and describes some of
the differences and limitations associated with the switches. There is
also a separate note regarding the use of X= and I= to maximize
available UMB space.
W=on/off
This switch enables or disables support for the Weitek 3167 math
coprocessor. If W=on, MS-DOS 5.0 must be loaded low because the HMA
will be used by the coprocessor.
The Weitek coprocessor and the Intel coprocessor use different methods
of passing instructions and results back and forth to the 80386/80486
chip controlling the system. The Intel chips do not reside in the
memory space of the CPU. The Weitek chip is memory-mapped; it appears
to take up a certain amount of space in extended memory, but the area
of memory it uses is the HMA. Because the HMA is also the location
used to load the MS-DOS 5.0 kernel high, the Weitek processor cannot
be used while MS-DOS 5.0 is loaded high. Therefore, if the W=on switch
is used, the DOS=HIGH command will be unusable and MS-DOS must be
loaded low.
Mx/FRAME=/Paddress versus Pn=address
The Mx, FRAME=address, and /Pmmmm parameters are all essentially
equivalent. They create a 64K LIM 3.2 compatible page frame at the
address specified. The syntax for specifying the address for each of
these is on page 606 of the version 5.0 "Microsoft MS-DOS User's Guide
and Reference."
The Pn=address parameter allows you to create LIM 4.0 compatible 16K
pages. This allows you to create 16K pages at any available address in
the allowable memory ranges (8000-9C00, which is in conventional
memory space, or C000-EC00 which is part of the upper memory area).
Note that multiple uses of this parameter with a different value for n
will create additional 16K pages (up to a maximum of four). These
additional pages do not necessarily need to reside in contiguous areas
of memory with respect to the other pages.
To use LIM expanded memory emulation, a page frame must be
created somewhere in memory to provide a location for the visible
pages of expanded memory to appear as they get bank-switched in and
out by the applications using EMS.
LIM versions 3.2 and earlier require a 64K contiguous block for use as
the page frame. LIM 4.0 allows for disjoint page frames of 16K each,
and it is not necessary to create four frames for a total of 64K. An
application written for LIM 4.0 can function with a single page of
16K. However, because most expanded memory boards in use conform to
LIM 3.2 or earlier, very few applications can take advantage of the
reduced "footprint" capability of LIM 4.0. For these applications, it
is still necessary to create a 64K LIM 3.2 compatible page frame.
X=address and I=address
These switches force EMM386 to include (I=) or exclude (X=) specific
areas of memory between A000-FFFF when EMM386 is determining where to
place upper memory blocks (UMBs) or finding a location for the EMS
page frame.
Using I=address can often increase available UMB space by including
areas that EMM386 was not able to automatically detect. Be careful
when using this switch to not include memory areas in use by system
adapters or ROMs. If these areas are included, it may cause the system
to hang when booting, or to display other unpredictable behavior. You
can determine which memory areas are free by using memory scanning
utilities from several third party vendors, or MSD from Microsoft.
The X=address statement is sometimes required to prevent EMM386 from
using areas that it might otherwise attempt to use, such as RAM on
certain network adapters, which is otherwise undetectable.
Additional query words:
6.22 5.00 5.00a 6.00 6.20
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