Knowledge Base |

# WINSOCK API Init. Error: Not Enough DOS memory

Article ID: 110943

Article Last Modified on 10/31/2006

This article was previously published under Q110943

## SYMPTOMS

When starting WinSock applications after other applications have started you get the following error:
WINSOCK API Initialization Error: Not enough DOS memory to allocate DOS buffers for all sockets.

## CAUSE

Windows uses a bottom-up memory allocation algorithm. If applications started before WinSock applications exhaust all lower memory, WINSOCK.DLL cannot initialize communication buffers in lower memory to talk to the TCP/IP protocol stack, resulting in the above error message.

## WORKAROUND

Starting at least one WinSock application before any other applications allows WINSOCK.DLL to reserve the lower memory buffers needed for communication with the TCP/IP protocol stack and to retain them during subsequent memory allocations.

Additional query words: 2.20 2.2 tcpip sockets

Keywords: KB110943