Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!sdd.hp.com!ucsd!ucbvax!agate!linus!linus!mwunix.mitre.org!jcmorris From: jcmorris@mwunix.mitre.org (Joe Morris) Newsgroups: comp.windows.ms Subject: Re: 386 enhanced mode Message-ID: <125794@linus.mitre.org> Date: 8 Nov 90 16:18:24 GMT References: <1990Nov7.204622.11812@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu> Sender: usenet@linus.mitre.org Reply-To: jcmorris@mwunix.mitre.org (Joe Morris) Distribution: comp.windows.ms Organization: The Mitre Corporation Lines: 40 In a recent article jpl5@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (Jay P Lessler) writes: >In article jcmorris@mwunix.mitre.org (Joe Morris) writes: >>In article <7017@hub.ucsb.edu> 6600bori@ucsbuxa.ucsb.edu (Boris Burtin) writes: >>>I'm running Windows 3.0 on my 25mhz 386 with 2 megs, and I had some >>>questions about this so-called enhanced mode. When I type just "win" >>>at the command prompt, Windows throws me into STANDARD mode with 907k >>>RAM. The manual says that with my configuration, it should default to >>>enhanced.... >>>Is it normal for Windows not to default to enhanced mode? >>Last time I looked the spec it said Win3 defaults to enhanced mode only >>if you have a '386 (obviously) *and* you have 2M of memory *available to >>DOS*. If DOS can't see at least 2M you get standard mode. >Are you sure about that? I am running Windows on a '386 with **1.6M** of >memory. Windows seems to be using disk space as extra (slow) ram, because >it boots up in '386 mode and shows about 4.5M free ram. Strange. The Windows manual, p. 428, is slightly inconsistent. Hear the Word: Windows uses the following criteria when deciding what mode to use: * Windows runs in 386 enhanced mode if your system is an 80386 computer (or higher) with at least 2MB of memory (640K of conventional memory and 1024K of extended memory). * Windows runs in standard mode if your system is an 80286 computer (or higher) with at least 1MB of memory (640K of conventional memory and 256K of extended memory). * Windows runs in real mode if [none of the above]. Note the conflict in the first bullet between "2MB" and "640K conventional memory plus 1024K extended memory". One of my machines is a NEC PowerMate 386 with 640+1024K; it defaults to standard mode, although I can force it to 386 mode with the /3 switch. Joe Morris