[comp.os.msdos.programmer] System Information

roger@wrq.com (Roger Fulton) (01/02/91)

How do programs like Manifest report the TOTAL amount of extended
memory in a PC?  I tried int 15h with ah=88h, but that only
reports the amount of FREE extended memory (i.e., that which
isn't being used by a program like QEMM).  I've perused all the
DOS references I have (Norton, Brady, etc.) and they all point to
int 15h, ah=88h.

Also, I need some tips on how to know if XMS is installed, and if
so, what version it is and how much memory it's using.

Lastly, is there a reliable way to programatically distinguish a
80386 from a 80486?  PC Mag had some code for this, but it
crashed my machine if I had QEMM installed (with exception #13, I
think).

Thanks in advance.

Roger Fulton
roger@wrq.com

system@infopls.chi.il.us (SYSOP) (01/03/91)

roger@wrq.com (Roger Fulton) writes:

> How do programs like Manifest report the TOTAL amount of extended
> memory in a PC?  I tried int 15h with ah=88h, but that only
> reports the amount of FREE extended memory (i.e., that which
> isn't being used by a program like QEMM).  I've perused all the
> DOS references I have (Norton, Brady, etc.) and they all point to
> int 15h, ah=88h.

  They probably get the total extended RAM by looking at the CMOS.
>
> Also, I need some tips on how to know if XMS is installed, and if
> so, what version it is and how much memory it's using.
  See below...
>
> Lastly, is there a reliable way to programatically distinguish a
> 80386 from a 80486?  PC Mag had some code for this, but it
> crashed my machine if I had QEMM installed (with exception #13, I
> think).
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Roger Fulton
> roger@wrq.com

  You may want to check out a copy of Infoplus. The latest version is
INFOP141.ZIP. It's available on Simtel20 in the MSDOS.INFO directory.
(PD1:<MSDOS.INFO>INFOP141.ZIP
  It's also available on my board. The number is in the .sig.
  The program is in Turbo Pascal, with some Assembly routines (such as the
CPU detection.) BTW, someone tried Infoplus on a PS/2 Model 70 with the 486
board. The 486 was detected!! (But the CMOS has problems :-( )

---------------
Andrew Rossmann               | Sysop of Infoplus BBS, +1 708 537 0247
 andyross@infopls.chi.il.us   | Infoplus Support, latest version available
 ..!uunet!ddsw1!infopls!system| by logging in as infoplus.