Microsoft KB Archive/31913

Running Word on a RAM Drive

PSS ID Number: Q31913 Article last modified on 11-02-1994

2.x 3.00 3.10 3.11 4.00 5.00 5.50 6.00

MS-DOS

= SUMMARY =

If you use extended memory (above 640K) with a RAM drive, you can receive enhanced performance and speed from many applications. Make sure the RAM drive or electronic disk is correctly installed as described in its manual. It is not practical, and with Word versions 4.00 and 5.00 it is impossible, to run Word on a RAM drive that exists in conventional memory (up to 640K).

To use Word version 4.00 or earlier with a RAM drive, copy the following files to the RAM drive from the Word Program disk or from the Word directory on the hard drive:


 * MW.PGM
 * WORD.COM
 * The printer driver file for the printer being used
 * MW.HLP (optional)
 * MW.INI

For Word 5.00, instead of copying the first two files listed above, copy WORD.EXE, WORD.OVL, and SPELL.OVL to the RAM drive. If the Word program files are combined by the Setup program, copy the large (about 620K) WORD.EXE file to the RAM drive. Also copy the proper SCREEN.VID file created by the Setup program to the RAM drive.

For Word 5.50, copy the following files to the RAM drive from the program directory created on the hard disk or program disks created during Setup:


 * *.OVL (all files with the extension .OVL)
 * MW.INI
 * WORD.EXE
 * HYPH.DAT
 * MW.HLP (optional)
 * SCREEN.VID
 * The PRD file for the printer being used

If using the autosave feature, the MSWNET55 environment variable should be set to a fixed disk location. If not specified, autosave files will not be saved if the computer loses power.

If you want to maintain any options you set with the Options, Printer Options, Transfer Options, and Window Options commands after exiting Word, copy the MW.INI file from the RAM drive to the Word disk or directory before turning off the computer.

Reference(s):

“Getting Started.” Version 5.50. Page 74.

KBCategory: kbsetup KBSubcategory: Additional reference words: wdmemory ============================================================================= Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1994.