[comp.sys.ibm.pc] bypasssing POST memory check

jdmce@ecsvax.UUCP (Duncan McEwen) (10/30/87)

I posted the following item a few weeks ago at a time when our system
was having some trouble with news.  I'm not sure it got more than a local
distribution and since I haven't had any replies, here it is again.



In PC magazine, April, 1984, a computer wizard by the name of
David McManigal published a brief article documenting a method
for inserting a 55 byte memory checking program in the boot 
record of DOS 1,2 and 2.1.  This little program allows users
with archaic 8088 machines to have the full complement of 640 k. in
memory but set the system memory switches to 64k. thus bypassing the 
lengthy power-on memory diagnostics.

I've enjoyed the method under DOS 2.1, but since upgrading my DOS, I
haven't had any success playing with 3.2's boot record. 

Is there anyone out there who can help me?

For those interested in the technique with DOS 2.1, please refer to
McManigal's article.  I have never had any program incompatibilities
using his method of four years of computing.

--Duncan McEwen, Raleigh.
usenet: ...!decvax!mcnc!ecsvax!jdmce
bitnet: jdmce@ecsvax

farber@udel.UUCP (10/31/87)

I know in the Phoenix Bios for the 386, if you hit a key during 
memory testing it aborts it
=============================================================
David J. Farber
University of Delaware
Dept of EE Newark De 19716

Office: 302-451-1163;
Arpanet/CSNet: farber@udel.edu