Ok, here are some tips:
A. Increasing available conventional memory without altering your EMM386 statement:
1. Remove Smartdrv.
- It dramatically improves system speed which is quite apparent. But it's not required to run games, unless the game frequently accesses the hard disk or cd-rom.
- It is useful while working with file managers.
- Otherwise it's not needed. Even more so on a PII system, where the absence of Smartdrv is not missed.
- This will free up 30k of memory if loaded low.
2. Change the CDROM driver to QCDROM.SYS
- Takes up only 2k. (Compare this with the OAKCDROM driver - 35k!!)
- It does have some limitations will work with majority of drives out there. I've never faced any problems using it with my 4X drives upto the latest DVD writers.
(Even if the former drivers do not occupy conventional memory when loaded into the UMB, using more efficient drivers will leave the UMB with more space to load even more drivers into the UMB.)
3. Change the cdrom redirector MSCDEX with SHCDX33E.
- Takes up only about 6k. (Compare this with MSCDEX - 25k!)
- I've not seen any cd read errors when using this instead of using the MSCDEX.
B. Use newer extended memory managers like QHIMEM.SYS:
- QHIMEM removes some limitations with memory management, like breaking through the 64MB barrier, added some minoor enhancements, and is basically, more friendly with faster and newer systems.
- For instance, in one of my systems, which has 512MB, I've created a RAM drive of 384MB - which is not possible with HIMEM. (This is a Win2K/Win98SE/Dos/Wiin3 combo system.)
C. Manually identify memory regions:
- If you have DOS6+, you can use the MSD.EXE (MicroSoft Diagnostics) to identify free memory regions. On boot-up, bypass the startup files and load MSD directly and see.
- Or any other similar utilities will help.
- Most of the time, I end up manually doing this instead of relying on MEMMAKER - I can squeeze out even more conventional memory by doing this way.
- But don't underestimate MEMMAKER. It's very helpful, and usually I use this first. Only when I'm not happy, I go manual.
D. Other options :
1. There are many third party utilities like the JEMM as DosFreak said.
2. Get FreeDOS if you want automated installation processes. The OS will leave you with about 615kb at the end of install. It has a list of bootable options created for you.
E. Not many programs require very high Free Conventional Memory requirements
- There are few notorious games which will cry if there's less than 600k of free conventional memory. In my experience, Falcon 3.0 comes to mind.
- I remember Wing Commander II came with a big readme file with information to help free up space. It requires 580kb or 588kb free.
- Most games should run fine at your current 574kb free conv. mem.
F. Resources:
SHCDX33E
QCDROM.SYS
UMBPCI.SYS - Alternate UMB provider.
JEMM
DOSMAX - moves BUFFERS, FILES, FCBS, STACKS, LASTDRIVE + COMMAND.COM environment to upper memory, freeing up to 100 KB of conventional memory.
QHIMEM.SYS