Unable to allocate EMS

I am currently having a problem trying to allocate EMS on a Dell Latitude LS hardware platform. I have a PIF file running command prompt which then calls a batch file, the batch file executes a DOS based program which requires EMS. I have tried OSplatforms ranging from Ms-DOS 6.22 to Win2k. All my testing points to a hardware issue. Has anyone else come accross this or similar problem before, any recommendations ?