How can I get more low memory with the following setup:

Solution 1:

Try replacing any DEVICE= lines in your CONFIG.SYS with DEVICEHIGH=.

I think the DOS=HIGH,UMB helps somehow, but I've forgotten what it does exactly. I think it moves DOS itself into the upper area if possible.

There's also the LOADHIGH command you can use for MSCDEX and other TSR's IIRC.

The above may be wrong. It's been at least 10 years since I've seriously messed with DOS but I hope it helps.

Also if you don't have a program that needs SETVER you can get rid of it. Also consider getting rid of DOSKEY if you don't need its command line enhancements.

Last, if you free up too much conventional memory and get some type of corruption error message on starting programs, use LOADFIX.

Solution 2:

Unless you need to stay with Microsoft's drivers, I suggest replacing them with FreeDOS alternatives which are more flexible and have a smaller memory footprint.

• ctmouse replaces mouse
• uide replaces oakcdrom and smartdrv
• shsucdx replaces mscdex

If there is no specific requirement for MS DOS, simply using FreeDOS as already suggested by Ignacio Vazquez-Abrams would be the easiest solution.