Loads a program into the upper memory area. Loading a program into the upper memory area leaves more room in conventional memory for other programs. (For more information about optimizing memory, see the chapter "Making More Memory Available" in the DOS User's Guide.)
LOADHIGH [drive:][path]filename [parameters]
OR
LH [drive:][path]filename [parameters]
To specify the region(s) of memory into which to load the program:
LOADHIGH [/L:region1[,minsize1][;region2[,minsize2]...] [/S]] [drive:][path]filename [parameters]
OR
LH [/L:region1[,minsize1][;region2[,minsize2]...] [/S]] [drive:][path]filename [parameters]
For information about loading device drivers into upper memory,
see the DEVICEHIGH configuration command.
For information about using the
MEMMAKER
program to move programs to the upper memory area, see the
MEMMAKER command.
To use the LOADHIGH command, you must include the DOS=UMB command in your CONFIG.SYS file. For more information about the DOS=UMB command, see the DOS configuration command.
The MEMMAKER program, included with the operating system, automatically optimizes your system's memory. MEMMAKER surveys the upper memory area, analyzes the memory use of your drivers and programs, and determines which drivers and programs fit best into the available UMBs. MEMMAKER then adds the LOADHIGH command to selected lines in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file and adds /L and /S switches as necessary. For more information about using MEMMAKER to optimize your computer's memory, see the chapter "Making More Memory Available" in the DOS User's Guide.
Before you can load a program into the upper memory area, you must install an upper-memory-area manager. The operating system provides EMM386.EXE, which manages the upper memory area for computers with an 80386 or higher processor. To install EMM386.EXE, you add a DEVICE command to your CONFIG.SYS file. (The DEVICE command for the HIMEM.SYS extended-memory manager must precede the DEVICE command for EMM386.EXE.)
When you use the LOADHIGH command to load a program, the operating system attempts to load it into the upper memory area. If there is insufficient space in the upper memory area, the operating system loads the program into conventional memory. To determine which UMB(s) the program is using, use the MEM /M command and specify the program name as an argument.
The most convenient way to use the LOADHIGH command is to include it in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. (If you use the MEMMAKER program, it automatically adds any necessary LOADHIGH commands to the AUTOEXEC.BAT file.)
This command loads the DOSKEY program into the upper memory area and specifies that the operating system should load the driver into region 1:
LOADHIGH /L:1 C:\DOS\DOSKEY
This command loads the MYPROG.EXE program into region 1, and also gives it access to upper memory regions 3 and 4:
LH /L:1;3;4 C:\PROGRAMS\MYPROG.EXE
This command loads the MYPROG program into conventional memory (region 0) and also gives it access to upper memory region 1:
LOADHIGH /L:0;1 C:\PROGRAMS\MYPROG.EXE
none.