Article: Q89699
Product(s): Microsoft Windows 95.x Retail Product
Version(s): WINDOWS:3.0,3.0a,3.1,3.11
Operating System(s):
Keyword(s):
Last Modified: 24-SEP-1999
3.00 3.00a 3.10 3.11
WINDOWS
kbother kberrmsg
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The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Windows versions 3.0, 3.0a, 3.1, 3.11
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SYMPTOMS
========
You may see one of the following error messages when youstart your system:
ERROR: Can't enable A20!
-or-
WARNING: The A20 Line Was Already Enabled.
CAUSE
=====
These error messages indicate that HIMEM.SYS is unable to control the A20 gate
and affect the extended-memory handling system in your computer.
The following can cause these errors to occur:
- You are loading another memory manager or device driver before loading
HIMEM.SYS, and it is not allowing HIMEM.SYS access to the A20. Try making a
bootable system floppy, and in the CONFIG.SYS file make sure that HIMEM.SYS
is the first device loaded.
- HIMEM.SYS has incorrectly identified the extended-memory handling mechanism
on your computer. Try specifying an alternate A20 handler by using the /M:
command line parameter from a bootable system floppy.
- Windows 3.0 HIMEM.SYS Version 2.60
Refer to the README.TXT file that is located in your Windows directory.
- Windows 3.0 with MS-DOS 5.0 HIMEM.SYS Version 2.77
Refer to the README.TXT file that is located in your DOS directory and to
page 610-613 of the "Microsoft MS-DOS User's Guide and Reference" for
version 5.0.
- Windows 3.1 HIMEM.SYS Version 3.07
Refer to pages 543-547 of the "Microsoft Windows User's Guide."
- MS-DOS 6.0 and 6.2 Systems
Refer to pages 217-220 of the Microsoft MS-DOS User's Guide for version 6.0
and 6.2.
- The machine's BIOS uses an extended-memory handling method that is unknown to
HIMEM.SYS.
- If the BIOS is shadowing ROM, then contact your hardware vendor and see if
this option can be disabled to allow HIMEM.SYS to load.
- If the BIOS is doing any special handling of the A20, then contact your
hardware vendor and see if this option can be disabled to allow HIMEM.SYS
to load.
- In some cases, a BIOS upgrade from the manufacturer may solve the problem.
Additional query words: err msg winboot 3.10 3.00a 6.00 6.20 3.00 3.11 himemver extended memory
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Keywords :
Technology : kbWin3xSearch kbZNotKeyword3 kbWin300 kbWin300a kbWin310 kbWin311
Version : WINDOWS:3.0,3.0a,3.1,3.11
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