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Trouble running old DOS program

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16 replies

by guy west

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I have an old DOS program (EED3) that uses expanded memory page frames. I tried unsuccessfully to make it run on Dell machines and then found out while searching MS's KB that a Dell machine can't run EMM386 because of EMS page frames. I then tried loading my program on an HP Pavilion a couple of years old that I have at home. It worked well so I bought a HP Vectra420 at work and now it installs but I get an "emm386 has detected error #1 in an application at memory address C000:1208" when I try to start the program. I've adjusted my config.sys file many diferent ways but have had no luck in getting the program to run. Any ideas anyone?

16 replies

by dklippert

Is this your config.sys
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\himem.sys
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\emm386.exe NOEMS
DOS=HIGH,UMB

by guy west

Dklippert, yes, thats it except I'm using the RAM switch instead of NOEMS as this program (it's called EED3) requires expanded memory(although I've tried that along with a lot of other variations). Thanks for participating, I'll distribute points when I close the question.

by maxwell edison

For some device drivers the order of execution is important. You don't indicate all that you have, but perhaps switching them may help. In addition, you may need some additional lines in the config.sys. Try something like this:

stacks=8,512
device=c:\dos\himem.sys
device=c:\dos\emm386.exe ram
buffers=20
files=20
dos=umb
dos=high

In addition, I ran across this Web page (way too much information to cut and paste). About half way down the page, "IV. Troubleshooting MS-DOS 6.xx/7.xxand EMM386.EXE 4.49/4.95"

"If you encounter unexpected behavior (for example the system or a program hangs) when using EMM386.EXE, use these troubleshooting steps"

http://www.kisser.net.au/tontodan/Emm386.html

(REMOVE SPACES from the pastedURL)

Maxwell

by gigelul

Make a shortcut for your DOS application startup file and go to the properties of this shortcut.
In memory tab you will find options for:
-Conventional memory
-EMS
-XMS
In program tab:
-enable
In advance program settings:
-enable
-you can use and define here a new and only for this application
-also in you have additional options like
I think that from here you can have more chances to resolve your problem.

by qballrail

It is likely the new HP won't run the DOS program at all, especially if it's running Me. If you are on an NT system, forget it. Your best bet may be to just run it on your Pavillion.

by guy west

The OS is 98SE. Maxwell, thanks for all your comments and links. I'm not loading the debugger. I'm adjusting the config.sys in many diferent ways. At the moment I think something is conflicting and I'm trying diferent "X=????-????" after device=c:\emm386.exe ram=2048. Any more ideas greatly appreciated.

by otl

From your information, you are trying to run a DOS program from inside win 98. Tried booting to the command prompt and running the program ? Noticed within Win ME that if the DOS window is fully expanded then it takes control of the drive it is accessing and is very happy and runs @ CPU/Ram speed, Win 2000 PRO ran like a dog with minimal DOS window (200 MGHZ ran faster).

BTW My system does not mention memory

SET windir=C:\WINDOWS
SET winbootdir=C:\WINDOWS
SET COMSPEC=C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND.COM
SET PATH=C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND
SET PROMPT=$p$g
SET TEMP=C:\WINDOWS\TEMP
SET TMP=C:\WINDOWS\TEMP

by guy west

The video cards memory address was conlicting with the program. I put in a different video card and now the program works. Thanks for everyones help.

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