Q25024: Difference Between Minimum Load Size and Minimum Allocation

Article: Q25024
Product(s): See article
Version(s): 3.00 4.00 5.00 5.10 6.00 6.00a
Operating System(s): MS-DOS
Keyword(s): ENDUSER | s_quickc s_link s_exehdr s_exemod | mspl13_c
Last Modified: 6-FEB-1991

The following is a summation of the differences between the minimum
load size and the minimum allocation size in a DOS executable (.EXE)
file header:

The minimum load size is the amount of memory needed for the load
module, plus the minimum allocation value. This reflects the amount of
memory necessary to load and run the program, assuming no dynamic
allocation is necessary.

The minimum allocation is the amount of memory needed above the actual
load module. These values determine the highest memory location into
which the program can be loaded. For example, if the minimum load size
is 0, the program will be loaded at the highest possible location in
memory.