Allocate Static Memory?

I want to know how much static memory is limited before execution 
program starts.  I would write a large array.  The large array has 65,536 
elements.  The data size is double word.  The static memory would allocate

256K.  The 256K is a fixed memory size.  After the compiler has completed 
compiling header and source code, the execution program might fail to run
or 
crash.  The operating system might do not display error message saying, 
"Insufficient memory."
    The dynamic memory may be the option.  The malloc() function can test
to 
determine if allocated memory is available at run-time.  Then, use I/O
like 
fopen() and fclose() functions to read data from the hard drive and store
it 
into RAM.  The error message can display at run-time if malloc() tests to 
tell insufficient memory.
    Please give me your advice.  How much static memory can be limited 
before execution program starts?

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Yours Truly,
Bryan Parkoff