Err Msg: Invalid Parameter Specified After Configuring EMM386

• Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5 and 3.51

SYMPTOMS

When you configure memory for a Windows remoteboot workstation using EMM386.EXE as stated in page 136 of the Windows NT Server Installation Guide for both Windows NT 3.5 and 3.51, the following error message appears:

   Invalid parameter specified.

RESOLUTION

To correct this problem, manually determine and reconfigure the lowest acceptable memory range for the remoteboot workstation.

For example, if the MS-DOS MEM.EXE reports that you have 512,000 bytes of available conventional memory, the hexadecimal value is 7D00. However, when you exclude the range from 7D00 to 9FFF, the above error message appears. After further testing, you determine that the lowest acceptable value is 516,096 bytes of available conventional memory. The hexadecimal equivalent value is 7E00. The memory range that you must use is different for each network interface card.

MORE INFORMATION

Page 136 of the Windows NT Server Installation Guide for Windows NT Server 3.5 and 3.51 states the following:

   1. Find out how much conventional memory the workstation has (in
      decimal terms) by typing mem at the MS-DOS prompt.

   2. Convert this number to hexadecimal format and drop the rightmost
      digit. To convert, you can use the dectohex command in the
      \systemroot\RPL\RPLFILES\BINFILES\BINR directory.

   3. Edit the device=EMM386.EXE line in the CONFIG.SYS file.

      * Remove the REM designation at the beginning of the line. Check
        that the path specified for the file is the root (C:\) directory,
        not the C:\DOS directory.

      * Use the remaining four digits of the hexadecimal value for the
        first x= value. (The second x= value is 9FFF and should not be
        changed.)

      For example, if conventional memory is 598016, the hexadecimal
      value is 92000. In this case, use x=9200-9FFF.