     In  your CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT there are commands  and
device drivers that load when you boot your computer, If you  get
unpredictable  results, or out of memory messages (etc) then  you
can  re-configure  your  computer. To test if  a  device  or  TSR
(resident)  program is causing this, you can put REM in front  of
the  line in either of the above files. You use an  ASCII  (plain
text) editor or your wordprocessor in plain text mode.

an example......

REM DEVICE=C:\DOS\ANSI.SYS

This is only an example, because ANSI.SYS is always OK to have in
there. >>>Another  IMPORTANT thing to check is that  BUFFERS=  and
FILES=  are 35 or higher.<<<

                             MEMORY

Memory is not a straightforward computer feature. Normaal memory,
where computer programs run, where the OS (operating system)  and
(many) device drivers reside, is limited to 640K. The extra  2meg
or  4  meg  is used BY certain programs,  which  are  running  in
conventional (640K) memory. They have special features which  can
load  large  blocks  of data  into  that  HI  (extended/expanded)
memory.  Then  as  the program works on  the  data,  it  switches
'pages'  of memory (16K blocks) from HI memory into  conventional
memory while it works on that section of data. When that  section
isn't  needed it swaps that back into HI, and gets another  peice
to  work  on. This lets you have HUGE spreadsheets  or  databases
running  yet  only  have 640K to run  the  program(s).  The  more
programs  (&  TSRs and device drivers) you load,  the  less  room
there  is in conventional memory to operate. Somewhere along  the
line  the system will lock or crash if you keep  adding  programs
into 640K.
                         >> PORTS <<

     If  you have an internal modem, it must be set for COM4  90%
of  the  time. Most computers have serial-port 1  and  2  already
built-into  the  computer.  A  serial port  is  just  a  built-in
comport.  So you cannot set a modem to be the same comport (1  or
2). Try com4 then com3, see your manual for jumper settings.

     There seem to be some video cards using the COM4 address. In
that  case  try  COM3 with IRQ 5 or 2 (see  your  manual).  Don't
forget the software must also be told when you change IRQs.

     Sometimes one internal modem/or model of modem will work  in
spite  of a conflict, when set for COM1 or COM2 when there  is  a
serial  port. Always try COM3 and COM4 (and IRQ settings)  before
deciding the modem is bad.

                                   Don Hinds - Zoom Tech
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