I don't think it has anything to do with OS/2.

If you can see only 638 KB of conventional memory, the reason is usually the BIOS - or a BIOS extension on some controller card - using the 2 KB as its data area.

Sometimes it may be possible to reclaim that area:
- if there's "Scratch RAM Option" in BIOS, try setting it to "0:300", rather than "DOS 1 KB"
- try to disable BIOS extensions if they aren't really necessary, or even completely remove cards like SCSI, RAID, etc.

Also, check everything with a good antivirus - it was pretty common for viruses to try to hide themselves by modifying the amount of conventional memory.

This is an actual 2k area included in the total for Conventional memory at the low end . I now there is 2k short I talked to Chapt and Gemini about it. There is an ebios on the HMA boundry at 2k, and is listed in msd and spotter. The bios option is run win98, or run Dos-OS/2, Win95. If I chose the Dos,OS/2 the plug and play for the box stops working. If I choose win95 the sound stops working. I don't see a scratch option.

Ooooh, this is likely the ESCD data.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extended_System … figuration_Data
(It just so happens to be between 2 and 4kb in size!)

It may, or may not, be relocatable.

EMM386 and Jemmex have options to try to move this (XBDA, same thing. Extended Bios Data Area) into UMB, if possible, but it is not always relocatable.

Wow! , Ok... I see thankyou... my prayers are answered but... Now At (722k) is this going to make programs go nuts? Should I load up more conventional programs to downgrade it to the 640 limit, or throw everything in upper back to conventional , or would that matter ? Do I have to cloak or fake the amount of conventional memory to Dos so that it shows 640 ?