Free Up Conventional Memory - CONFIG.SYS


Tutorial Home >Hardware >Components >Memory (RAM) >Troubleshoot RAM and Memory - 2 >Free Up Conventional Memory - CONFIG.SYS

  Step 1:  About the CONFIG.SYS File

Open a Report
The CONFIG.SYS is one of the files created for MS-DOS and Windows® 3.x as an easy solution of loading the files required for the operating system and various devices to run properly. This file and the AUTOEXEC.BAT are required for later revisions of MS-DOS and Windows 3.x to load but are not required for Windows 95 and later.
  Step 2:  Check For Existing CONFIG.SYS

Open a Report
Before creating a CONFIG.SYS, first check to see if you have an existing CONFIG.SYS. To do so, click on the Start button, select Search, and then For Files or Folders. Enter "config*.*" into the "Named" field and then click on the "Find Now" button.
  Step 3:  Load Windows Notepad

Open a Report
Launch Windows Notepad, located in the Accessories folder available from Start/Programs.
  Step 4:  Add Basic Commands

Open a Report
You can create a basic CONFIG.SYS file by typing in these lines: DEVICE=C:\ WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS, DEVICE=C: \WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE NOEMS, DOS=HIGH,UMB. This loads DOS memory management, and prepares the system to move hardware device drivers into upper memory, giving you more conventional memory for games and other DOS programs. The first hardware driver would be typed in on the fourth line. For example, the line for a CD-ROM drive might look something like this: DEVICE=C:CDPROVIDE-CDD.SYS /D:MSCD001.
  Step 5:  Save Your Changes

Open a Report
From the File menu in Notepad, save this file as CONFIG.SYS to your C:\ or root directory (anywhere else, and the system won't see it when you boot). Exit Notepad.
  Step 6:  Restart Your Computer

Open a Report
Restart your PC by choosing Shutdown/Restart from the Start menu. This step is necessary because your revised CONFIG.SYS won't be effective in DOS until the PC is rebooted and the CONFIG.SYS runs.