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All About RAM
ROM ("Read-Only Memory") doesn't lose its data when power is removed; RAM
("Random-Access Memory") does. Your HP 95LX offers some of each:
* ROM: permanent, unerasable, unchangeable ("Read-Only") Memory—where
all the "built-in" files and applications come from.
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Thesystem RAM: The "working space" used by the machine for all processes—
is erased during a system reset or a hard reset (see below).
®
The built-in RAM disk: An internal storage disk, which you can change—
erased during hard resets (cold starts) but not during soft resets (warm starts).
* Plug-in RAM card—external RAM storage which you can change—not vulner-
able to erasure under either system resets or a hard resets (see below).
You never need to worry about ROM; if it doesn't work,it's not your fault—send
your machine in for service. RAM is what you need to be aware of. First, the good
news: Unlike standard desktop PCs, when you turn offthe HP 95LX, its batteries
keep power supplied to the RAM—only the display gets shut down. Aslong as you
have batteries, your Palmtop's RAM will not be lost for lack of power. However,
you do need to understand when and how to adjust the amount of RAM you use.
Restarts (Resets)
You'll need a warm restart—also called a system resetor soft reset—each time you
reconfigure system RAM or whenever it becomes "corrupted." You trigger a warm
restart manually by pressing CTRU-{ALT}HDEL). The restart is warm because the
power to the RAM disk remains uninterrupted and so all the information stored
on it is unaffected. However, the system RAM is initialized (i.e. erased) and DOS
isre-booted and it selects either the System Manager ($5YSMGR) or the standard
DOS COMMAND .COM as the control program. Also,itis during this process that
you can reapportion the relative sizes of system RAM and the RAM disk.
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7. MEMORY MANAGEMENT
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