CompuServe Messages

#OS/2 issues

    05-Jul-93 03:35:44
Sb: #48647-#OS/2 issues
Fm: Lydell Anderson 71332,2724
To: Yost Group 76702,413
Dear Yost Group Entity: PMJI,I'm out of my league discussing this Phar Lap extender business, ADI interfaces, etc, but since you're on the topic, maybe you could help clear something for me. Basically, I am trying to figure out what kind of memory 3D Studio _really_ likes. Most people outside this forum get glassy eyed when I start talking VCPI compliance and Phar Lap. The only types of memory I think I have a fairly clear idea of are Conventional, High Memory, High Memory Area, and Extended Memory. Expanded EMS (LIM and LIM 4) is kind of in between for me. Basically, I get the idea it is an old way of doing the same thing as extended memory. 1. If I read the Installation and Performance guide properly, it sounds like the ideal is a pure system with lots of RAM and no memory manager (i.e. No emm386, 386Max, or Qemm). How does Himem.sys fit in here? (seems to work OK on my system, but there's always room for more speed). I also use Smartdrv. 2. If a memory manager must be used, it must be 1. VCPI compliant (all three mentioned above are) and, 2. Maximal memory must be allocated to Expanded memory. Since several closely related graphics programs (CorelDraw, PhotoStyler) are Windows based, AND Windows _cannot_ use Expanded memory, this led either to great compromises or Multiple boot configurations (a real pain–I'm presently trying to configure Coned.Exe to do multiple boots). For a while I had 386Max configured for 30M expanded memory, but that made Windows crawl and sometimes not even run. Is there something that I am missing here? I.e., is there a better solution? I have presently resigned myself to at least two, and maybe three boot configurations. Meanwhile, I have kept as TSR's etc, to a minimum, and omitted any memory aids except as noted above, but really, it would be nice to have the conventional memory that a memory manager can provide for some of my DOS programs, even though 3D Studio doesn't need it. If it compromises 3D Studio, I'll pass however. I assume that OS/2 and Release 3 will make all this a moot point, but I am not looking forward to learning a new operating system (OS/2), even if it is the one that will be leading the world if marketing doesn't prove its undoing. Windows is horrible enough! <g> Lydell