Microsoft KB Archive/82607

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Standard Mode Fails to Boot with XMS Handles of 2 or 3

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Q82607

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Windows versions 3.1, 3.11

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SUMMARY
If Qualitas' 386MAX program is loaded with the XMSHNDL (extend memory handles) parameter set to 2 or 3, Microsoft Windows operating system version 3.1 will not load. Other extended memory managers have similar parameters that can prevent Windows from loading.

Windows generates a message saying that it cannot start in standard mode. There is no mention of extended memory.

MORE INFORMATION
386MAX is a high memory manager that replaces Microsoft's HIMEM.SYS. By specifying a low number of extended memory handles, 386MAX is limited to the number of requests it can make for extended memory. Windows will not run if it cannot allocate enough blocks of extended memory.

To correct the number of extended memory handles, increase the number of available handles, or remove the parameter and accept the default. According to the 386MAX documentation, each XMS handle only occupies 6 bytes of memory, so decreasing the handle count does not save enough memory to matter.

NOTE: You can run into the same problem with Microsoft's HIMEM.SYS if you limit the number of handles using the NUMHANDLES switch on the HIMEM.SYS command line in the CONFIG.SYS file.

The products included here are manufactured by vendors independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding these products' performance or reliability.

Additional query words: 3.10 3.11 XMS crash lock 3.1

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Technology : kbWin3xSearch kbWin310 kbWin311