[comp.sys.ibm.pc] Why is DOS limited to 640K? / extra RAM

U5533129@ucsvc.ucs.unimelb.edu.au (CARDIOLOGY, R.M.H.) (11/02/89)

There was a rumour some months back that a program could be written which
fiddled the NEAT chip set registers to enable the block of RAM between 640k
and 704k (for those without EGA).  Does anyone know if this has been done, or
alternatively how it could be done?

Peter S.

ray@ole.UUCP (Ray Berry) (11/10/89)

>There was a rumour some months back that a program could be written which
>fiddled the NEAT chip set registers to enable the block of RAM between 640k
>and 704k (for those without EGA).  Does anyone know if this has been done, or
>alternatively how it could be done?

	I don't know how it's done, but it is available if you use the 
Phoenix NEAT bios.  In their setup routine, you set base memory to 1024K.
When the machine boots, it will assign all the memory below whatever video
adapter to DOS.  I ran a herc board and booted with 704K this way.  Nice.
The AMI NEAT does not support this feature.  Don't know about AWARD.
-- 
Ray Berry  kb7ht  uucp: ...ole!ray CIS: 73407,3152 /* "inquire within" */
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