Why does Ms DOS only use 640k ram?

[Extrememan321]

It will not run programs because it doesn't have enough memory, PLEASE HELP!!!!!

[BC_Programmer]

What Programs are you trying to run?

[Extrememan321]

Falcon3

[Extrememan321]

Is that the max ram you can use? Or can I use more of what I have installed on the machine?

[BC_Programmer]

Is that the max ram you can use? Or can I use more of what I have installed on the machine?

How are you running it? How are you booting DOS? Do you have any memory managers installed (himem.sys, emm386.exe)?

[foxidrive]

Do you have any memory managers installed (himem.sys, emm386.exe)?

As mentioned you need to create high memory, XMS, EMS etc.

[Geek-9pm]

MS-DOS was created to run on the 8088 CPU in the original IBM PC. The CPU only can address one mega byte. of memory. The upper area of memory was reserved for BIOS and memory mapped video. The design allowed a maximum of 640K of RAM for DOS.

Now those limits have little meaning. With the introduction of the Intel 386 chip much larger memory was available. And by the way, the introduction of the 386 was vital to the birth of the Linux system.

[Squashman]

And by the way, the introduction of the 386 was vital to the birth of the Linux system.

Well considering that was the most prominent chip in use at the time I guess you could say it was vital.

[Geek-9pm]

Well considering that was the most prominent chip in use at the time I guess you could say it was vital.

The 286 was a dud.  It piratically destroyed Digital Research.
 Intel changed  the design in mid-stream. But The 386 was developed to be areal 32 bit CPU and backward compatible with the original 8086 instruction set.
The History of the i386 CPU.

[Extrememan321]

It is working now thanks

[patio]

How ?

[Squashman]

It is working now thanks

How ?

As my Mother likes to say, "The Little Green Men inside fixed it!"

[foxidrive]

It is working now thanks

As the guys comment - it would be nice to see your solution as a forum like this is dedicated to provide an answer for a problem, and then others in the future can get help to similar issues merely by searching.

By providing your solution you will repay the forum and the helpers.