[comp.windows.ms] Excel, Windows/386, Smartdrv.sys, memory allocation problem

howell@bashful.cs.unc.edu (William Howell) (11/20/88)

I have a PS/2 model 80 with 6 mb of memory.  I am running Windows/386
version 2.1, and Excel version 2.1.  I have allowed MEMSET which comes
with both of those programs to figure out the memory allocation plan
for SMARTDRV.SYS (1120) and have included SMARTDRV.SYS in my CONFIG.SYS
file in order to use it.  If I read the documentation correctly it sounds
like this is what I want to do; it will allow applications to run faster
under Windows/386 while also allowing Excel to take advanatage of the
extended memory, etc.  Mom, Apple Pie, and Smartdrv...

Well, what actually happens is that I can't run Excel under Windows/386
when I do the above.  Windows/386 says not enough memory when I have just
a few of the desktop accessories running.  If I shut them all off and 
just try Excel it can come up but it consumes *all* of the conventional
memory on the machine!  Now if I don't use SMARTDRV I can start Excel
and it uses just a tiny bit of conventional memory.

Doesn't sound to me like it is working the way it is suppose to.  It 
looks as if Smartdrv is doing something to force Excel all down into
conventional memory which should be a big NO-NO!  Has anyone else run
into something like this, or does anyone have an explanation for what
the problem is?  Thanks.

----------
William Howell  <howell@cs.unc.edu>		 University of North Carolina
Director Computer Services			 Chapel Hill, NC  27599-3175
Computer Science Department			 919-962-1759