The MEM utility displays memory information.

MEMMAKER is used to optimize DOS memory in a DOS system.

Normally we need to optimize DOS memory if a DOS program refuses to run and reports insufficient memory.

Since we have working computers with DOS 6.2 installed, we can try to optimize the use of memory.

Logical memory is the way physical memory is seen by the operating system. The MS-DOS memory map shows the first 640KB of RAM as the user (conventional) area and the rest of the first megabyte of RAM as reserved for the computer's needs. The user area is the problem area for DOS users because DOS uses some of the conventional memory as you load applications or add new hardware drivers. As conventional memory is used, programs that have been running may report insufficient memory when they are next executed. The usual solution to this problem is to optimize memory.

You can optimize DOS memory usage manually by modifying the AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files or using the MEMMAKER utility. DOS experts can do a better job of optimizing memory than the MEMMAKER utility, but the number of DOS experts is in decline. For most situations, running MEMMAKER yields satisfactory results.

Upon completion of this lab, you will be able to:

• Determine memory usage in a DOS system
  
  
• Optimize memory in a DOS system

Steps:

1. Boot the computer to drive C:.
   
   
2. Run the MEM utility to display the current memory utilization:

       C:\>MEM
   

3. Manually Record the memory information as follows:

      Conventional _______KB _______KB ___________KB
    
             Upper _______KB _______KB ___________KB
    
          Reserved _______KB _______KB ___________KB
    
    Extended (XMS) _______KB _______KB ___________KB
    
      Total memory _______KB _______KB ___________KB
    
   Total under 1MB _______KB _______KB ___________KB
    
   Largest executable-program size _______KB
        
   Largest free upper-memory block _______KB
   
   

4. Enter the following command to optimize the DOS memory with the MEMMAKER utility:

       C:\>MEMMAKER
   

5. Accept the default conditions as the program runs.
   
   NOTE: If the computer fails during the MEMMAKER utility, warm-boot the computer, run MEMMAKER again, and choose Try Again with Conservative Settings. If the computer is unable to boot after MEMMAKER runs, boot to a DOS utility disk and enter the following command to undo the optimization:

       C:\>MEMMAKER /UNDO
   

6. After MEMMAKER has finished optimizing the system's memory and reboots the computer, run the MEM utility again:

       C:\>MEM
   

7. Compare the memory information - conventional memory usage listed If after running MEMMAKER the Free amounts in became greater, the optimization was successful.