too much memory?

To improve the sluggishness of WinXP I bought an AMD Athlon dual core
machine with 2 Gb RAM and 512 Mb video and wanted to install a 98SE/XP dual
boot system.
1th disappointment: swapping drives C and D isn't offered by the Award BIOS
anymore, so I'll need a boot manager (I thought). But soon a new obstacle
appeared: with 2048 Mb of RAM, the 98SE installer pertains there isn't
enough memory to properly setup the O/S and suggests that I first remove the
resident software to free some space!
Is there a workaround for this?

Cornelis Koger

Brian
Sun May 11 02:21:09 PDT 2008

"C.D. Koger" <cdk@noonehome.org> wrote in message
news:g068q4$c27$1@localhost.localdomain...
> To improve the sluggishness of WinXP I bought an AMD Athlon dual core
> machine with 2 Gb RAM and 512 Mb video and wanted to install a 98SE/XP dual
> boot system.
> 1th disappointment: swapping drives C and D isn't offered by the Award BIOS
> anymore, so I'll need a boot manager (I thought). But soon a new obstacle
> appeared: with 2048 Mb of RAM, the 98SE installer pertains there isn't
> enough memory to properly setup the O/S and suggests that I first remove the
> resident software to free some space!
> Is there a workaround for this?
>
> Cornelis Koger
>
>

You can use XP to select which OS to boot by adding a line for your 98 install
to the boot.ini.
For info on editing the boot.ini:
http://thpc.info/how/editbootini.html

As for the RAM w/98:

If the system has 700MB's of RAM or more installed following line MUST be
added to the [vcache] section of windows\system.ini file but never more.
MaxFileCache=512000

If you go over 1GB of RAM and still receive errors add the following line
to the [386enh] section of the System.ini file: MaxPhysPage=40000
This limits the amount of physical RAM that Windows can access
to 1GB. If the errors go away with this setting remove the memory over
1GB as it will not be used with this setting.
Also, see these MS articles for more reference:
Windows 95 Can Access Up to Two GB of RAM:
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q181/5/94.asp

Memory Limits for Windows Releases
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-gb/library/aa366778.aspx

Error Message: Insufficient Memory to Initialize Windows:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;184447

"Out of Memory" Error Messages with Large Amounts of RAM Installed:
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q253/9/12.ASP

Computer May Reboot Continuously with More Than 1.5 GB of RAM:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;304943

Windows Protection Error in NDIS with a CPU That Is Faster Than 2.1 GHz
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=312108



Error Message: VMM32.VXD Is Required to Run Windows...
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=194679

--


Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Windows Desktop User Experience }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://dts-l.com/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

Jeff
Sun May 11 02:37:04 PDT 2008

Instead of dual booting, install XP and run W98 in a virtual machine.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/downloads/virtualpc/default.mspx
--
Jeff Richards
MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)

"C.D. Koger" <cdk@noonehome.org> wrote in message
news:g068q4$c27$1@localhost.localdomain...
> To improve the sluggishness of WinXP I bought an AMD Athlon dual core
> machine with 2 Gb RAM and 512 Mb video and wanted to install a 98SE/XP
> dual
> boot system.
> 1th disappointment: swapping drives C and D isn't offered by the Award
> BIOS
> anymore, so I'll need a boot manager (I thought). But soon a new obstacle
> appeared: with 2048 Mb of RAM, the 98SE installer pertains there isn't
> enough memory to properly setup the O/S and suggests that I first remove
> the
> resident software to free some space!
> Is there a workaround for this?
>
> Cornelis Koger
>
>

Rick
Sun May 11 04:07:33 PDT 2008

Even though there are many links and procedures that speak to being able to
run 2 GB of RAM on W98SE in a standard installation, myself having tried
every single one of them at one time, I have never ever found a way to be
able to 'physically' even have the second stick of 1 GB RAM plugged in on
boot up without getting one or another kind of fatal error.. Even 1.5 GB
was squirrelly. I imagine it was some older or specific hardware setup
that allowed that combination of settings to limit the seen RAM to 1 GB or
they wouldn't of came up with that info in the first place, but again I've
never seen anyone actually accomplish it... and believe me, I tried
everything! ...1 GB was the most I was ever able to run 'stable' on W98SE,
which really was plenty for it anyway.. and yes I know in a dual boot 98/XP
situation where XP uses 2 GB just fine you wold want to keep the 2 GB
installed... but....

Now with the advent of running Virtual PC's to do it, then that's another
story I hear, of which I haven't tried myself yet.

Rick

"C.D. Koger" <cdk@noonehome.org> wrote in message
news:g068q4$c27$1@localhost.localdomain
> To improve the sluggishness of WinXP I bought an AMD Athlon dual core
> machine with 2 Gb RAM and 512 Mb video and wanted to install a 98SE/XP
> dual boot system.
> 1th disappointment: swapping drives C and D isn't offered by the Award
> BIOS anymore, so I'll need a boot manager (I thought). But soon a new
> obstacle appeared: with 2048 Mb of RAM, the 98SE installer pertains
> there isn't enough memory to properly setup the O/S and suggests that I
> first remove the resident software to free some space!
> Is there a workaround for this?
>
> Cornelis Koger

Rick
Sun May 11 04:11:39 PDT 2008



"Jeff Richards" <JRichards@msn.com.au> wrote in message
news:eN9JCp0sIHA.3564@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl
> Instead of dual booting, install XP and run W98 in a virtual machine.
> http://www.microsoft.com/windows/downloads/virtualpc/default.mspx
> --
> Jeff Richards
> MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)


Jeff, would one have to install W98SE from scratch into a XP Virtual PC
environment, or..could one restore a backup partition saved from rather it
be BING, TrueImage, etc, of W98SE.. into it? Wishful thinking I'd imagine.

Rick

Brian
Sun May 11 04:36:28 PDT 2008

"Rick Chauvin" <justask@nospamz.com> wrote in message
news:%23BDnu90sIHA.4260@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>
>
> "Jeff Richards" <JRichards@msn.com.au> wrote in message
> news:eN9JCp0sIHA.3564@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl
>> Instead of dual booting, install XP and run W98 in a virtual machine.
>> http://www.microsoft.com/windows/downloads/virtualpc/default.mspx
>> --
>> Jeff Richards
>> MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)
>
>
> Jeff, would one have to install W98SE from scratch into a XP Virtual PC
> environment, or..could one restore a backup partition saved from rather it
> be BING, TrueImage, etc, of W98SE.. into it? Wishful thinking I'd imagine.
>
> Rick
>
>
>
>

VPC uses all virtual drivers and AFAIK any OS has to be installed fresh.
However, I have never attempted setting up a .vmc on a .vhd via any type of
backup/imaging application, my guess is the app won't see the .vhd.

--


Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Windows Desktop User Experience }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://dts-l.com/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

philo
Sun May 11 04:40:00 PDT 2008


"C.D. Koger" <cdk@noonehome.org> wrote in message
news:g068q4$c27$1@localhost.localdomain...
> To improve the sluggishness of WinXP I bought an AMD Athlon dual core
> machine with 2 Gb RAM and 512 Mb video and wanted to install a 98SE/XP
dual
> boot system.
> 1th disappointment: swapping drives C and D isn't offered by the Award
BIOS
> anymore, so I'll need a boot manager (I thought). But soon a new obstacle
> appeared: with 2048 Mb of RAM, the 98SE installer pertains there isn't
> enough memory to properly setup the O/S and suggests that I first remove
the
> resident software to free some space!
> Is there a workaround for this?
>
> Cornelis Koger
>
>


To install Win98 ...remove some memory...
and try your setup with 512 megs of RAM or less.

Before adding the rest of the RAM...
do the vcache setting "tweak" as mentioned by another respondent.


Of course...my advice would be not to bother with Win98 with such new
hardware...
it's not likely you'd be able to find any win98 drivers for your chipset and
other hardware.
(Such as video card, etc.)
If you are simply trying to get older apps to work in XP...
... try the compatibility mode option.


BTW: The use of a virtual machine was also mentioned ...
since devices are emulated...it *might* be your best option.
(If for no other reason, you can manually assign the amount of RAM you want
assigned to your guest OS.)
I'd give it a try at any rate.

Mike
Sun May 11 07:03:21 PDT 2008


"Jeff Richards" <JRichards@msn.com.au> wrote in message
news:eN9JCp0sIHA.3564@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> Instead of dual booting, install XP and run W98 in a virtual machine.
> http://www.microsoft.com/windows/downloads/virtualpc/default.mspx
> --
> Jeff Richards
> MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)
>

I don't see Vista Home Premium listed. Anyone know if it will run on that?

Brian
Sun May 11 07:29:25 PDT 2008

"Mike Y" <joe@user.com> wrote in message news:J0DVj.5$jf4.1@newsfe07.lga...
>
> "Jeff Richards" <JRichards@msn.com.au> wrote in message
> news:eN9JCp0sIHA.3564@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>> Instead of dual booting, install XP and run W98 in a virtual machine.
>> http://www.microsoft.com/windows/downloads/virtualpc/default.mspx
>> --
>> Jeff Richards
>> MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)
>>
>
> I don't see Vista Home Premium listed. Anyone know if it will run on that?
>
>
>
>
>

Yes it will, but if you have any problems it's not supported by MS. You'll
have to find answers to resolve any issue in a Vista and/or VPC newsgroup.

--


Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Windows Desktop User Experience }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://dts-l.com/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

someone
Sun May 11 15:26:00 PDT 2008

Rick, philo had it right when he said:

To install Win98 ...remove some memory...
and try your setup with 512 megs of RAM or less.

Before adding the rest of the RAM...
do the vcache setting "tweak" as mentioned by another respondent.

Would also add this; be SURE to use the MaxPhysPage parameter under
SYSTEM.INI [386enh] but with one caveat, try a number lower that 40000,
e.g. MaxPhysPage=39999. 40000 limits seen memory to 1GB but I've
encountered a system which would NOT boot until that number was lowered
by one!

BTW, have also installed 98se on numerous PC's using this method and it
ALWAYS worked. And here is yet another item; there is a fellow who makes
a patch for SE which allows USE of that extra memory. I use his patch on
two IBM T41 laptops with 1.5GB RAM, a tower with 1GB RAM and it works
like a charm. ALL RAM is recognized (though never needed). Here's a
link: http://members.aol.com/rloew1/
___
"Rick Chauvin" <justask@nospamz.com> wrote in message
news:ew8Wu90sIHA.4260@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> Even though there are many links and procedures that speak to being
> able to
> run 2 GB of RAM on W98SE in a standard installation, myself having
> tried
> every single one of them at one time, I have never ever found a way to
> be
> able to 'physically' even have the second stick of 1 GB RAM plugged in
> on
> boot up without getting one or another kind of fatal error.. Even 1.5
> GB was squirrelly. I imagine it was some older or specific hardware
> setup that allowed that combination of settings to limit the seen RAM
> to 1 GB or they wouldn't of came up with that info in the first place,
> but again I've never seen anyone actually accomplish it... and believe
> me, I tried everything! ...1 GB was the most I was ever able to run
> 'stable' on W98SE, which really was plenty for it anyway.. and yes I
> know in a dual boot 98/XP situation where XP uses 2 GB just fine you
> wold want to keep the 2 GB installed... but....
>
> Now with the advent of running Virtual PC's to do it, then that's
> another
> story I hear, of which I haven't tried myself yet.
>
> Rick
>
> "C.D. Koger" <cdk@noonehome.org> wrote in message
> news:g068q4$c27$1@localhost.localdomain
>> To improve the sluggishness of WinXP I bought an AMD Athlon dual core
>> machine with 2 Gb RAM and 512 Mb video and wanted to install a
>> 98SE/XP
>> dual boot system.
>> 1th disappointment: swapping drives C and D isn't offered by the
>> Award
>> BIOS anymore, so I'll need a boot manager (I thought). But soon a new
>> obstacle appeared: with 2048 Mb of RAM, the 98SE installer pertains
>> there isn't enough memory to properly setup the O/S and suggests that
>> I
>> first remove the resident software to free some space!
>> Is there a workaround for this?
>>
>> Cornelis Koger
>
>
>

CDK
Mon May 12 12:45:16 PDT 2008


"philo" <philo@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:kLydnUrTecqPRrvVnZ2dnUVZ_t_inZ2d@ntd.net...
>
> "C.D. Koger" <cdk@noonehome.org> wrote in message
> news:g068q4$c27$1@localhost.localdomain...
> > To improve the sluggishness of WinXP I bought an AMD Athlon dual core
> > machine with 2 Gb RAM and 512 Mb video and wanted to install a 98SE/XP
> dual
> > boot system.
> > 1th disappointment: swapping drives C and D isn't offered by the Award
> BIOS
> > anymore, so I'll need a boot manager (I thought). But soon a new
obstacle
> > appeared: with 2048 Mb of RAM, the 98SE installer pertains there isn't
> > enough memory to properly setup the O/S and suggests that I first remove
> the
> > resident software to free some space!
> > Is there a workaround for this?
> >
> > Cornelis Koger
> >
> >
>
>
> To install Win98 ...remove some memory...
> and try your setup with 512 megs of RAM or less.
>
> Before adding the rest of the RAM...
> do the vcache setting "tweak" as mentioned by another respondent.
>
>
> Of course...my advice would be not to bother with Win98 with such new
> hardware...
> it's not likely you'd be able to find any win98 drivers for your chipset
and
> other hardware.
> (Such as video card, etc.)
> If you are simply trying to get older apps to work in XP...
> ... try the compatibility mode option.
>
>
> BTW: The use of a virtual machine was also mentioned ...
> since devices are emulated...it *might* be your best option.
> (If for no other reason, you can manually assign the amount of RAM you
want
> assigned to your guest OS.)
> I'd give it a try at any rate.
>
>
Reasons to keep win98 alive are some installed programs that I cannot
reinstall on the XP partitions because I lost the original disks or they
simply refuse the new environment, like a flatbed scanner from Storm Inc and
an ISDN card from Asuscom.
Physically reduce memory to 512Mb is no option on this board since 1 simm is
already 1024 Mb.
This new board also caused problems when installing XP, when finalizing the
install the machine went in hibernation: I did the install on an older
machine and transplanted the drive. But that is no topic for this forum...

philo
Mon May 12 04:34:13 PDT 2008


"CDK" <cdk@noonehome.org> wrote in message
news:g098bk$p0t$1@localhost.localdomain...
>
> "philo" <philo@privacy.net> wrote in message
> news:kLydnUrTecqPRrvVnZ2dnUVZ_t_inZ2d@ntd.net...
> >
> > "C.D. Koger" <cdk@noonehome.org> wrote in message
> > news:g068q4$c27$1@localhost.localdomain...
> > > To improve the sluggishness of WinXP I bought an AMD Athlon dual core
> > > machine with 2 Gb RAM and 512 Mb video and wanted to install a 98SE/XP
> > dual
> > > boot system.
> > > 1th disappointment: swapping drives C and D isn't offered by the Award
> > BIOS
> > > anymore, so I'll need a boot manager (I thought). But soon a new
> obstacle
> > > appeared: with 2048 Mb of RAM, the 98SE installer pertains there isn't
> > > enough memory to properly setup the O/S and suggests that I first
remove
> > the
> > > resident software to free some space!
> > > Is there a workaround for this?
> > >
> > > Cornelis Koger
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> > To install Win98 ...remove some memory...
> > and try your setup with 512 megs of RAM or less.
> >
> > Before adding the rest of the RAM...
> > do the vcache setting "tweak" as mentioned by another respondent.
> >
> >
> > Of course...my advice would be not to bother with Win98 with such new
> > hardware...
> > it's not likely you'd be able to find any win98 drivers for your chipset
> and
> > other hardware.
> > (Such as video card, etc.)
> > If you are simply trying to get older apps to work in XP...
> > ... try the compatibility mode option.
> >
> >
> > BTW: The use of a virtual machine was also mentioned ...
> > since devices are emulated...it *might* be your best option.
> > (If for no other reason, you can manually assign the amount of RAM you
> want
> > assigned to your guest OS.)
> > I'd give it a try at any rate.
> >
> >
> Reasons to keep win98 alive are some installed programs that I cannot
> reinstall on the XP partitions because I lost the original disks or they
> simply refuse the new environment, like a flatbed scanner from Storm Inc
and
> an ISDN card from Asuscom.
> Physically reduce memory to 512Mb is no option on this board since 1 simm
is
> already 1024 Mb.
> This new board also caused problems when installing XP, when finalizing
the
> install the machine went in hibernation: I did the install on an older
> machine and transplanted the drive. But that is no topic for this forum...
>
>

Thanks for keeping us informed.

Think your solution to use an older machine is the best choice...
even if you cloned your drive into a virtual machine
and reconfigured it...there is a good chance your peripheral hardware would
not be correctly virtualized
anyway. Old machines are usually no problem to find <G>

Imemine
Tue May 13 06:57:02 PDT 2008


> As for the RAM w/98:
>
> If the system has 700MB's of RAM or more installed following line MUST be
> added to the [vcache] section of windows\system.ini file but never more.
> MaxFileCache=512000

brian, i find myself replying again to one of your posts, but i have good reason, hopefully we all
benefit, new and old.

i am sort of building a comp,, it has an Asus mobo (a7nx8 v2.o deluxe). today i managed to wipe
the hdd of which had xp pro on it. i then fdisked it,, then installed 98se. i
was looking out for problems because i had expected them due to the fact that the computer has 1gig
of ddrsdram installed,, i was fired up and ready to edit the system.ini file to 512000;; (under
vcache).

but, as it turns out, nothing untoward has shown its head.... no errors, no problems, no nothing;;
is running as smooth as.

am only typing this to let others know what is happening directly after a 98se instal with a gig of
ddr ram,,,, hope this helps someone;; personally, i am at the ready to edit the sys.ini.

(also, the mobo drivers havent been installed yet, in fact, nothing has,, just thought i'd mention
that too.)
98se was intalled via copying cab files from 98se disk to a folder on c:\. ,, dont know if that
makes a difference either.

btw, what would one do if one only has a 1gig stick of ram, and then installs 98......
like, would win98 be stable enough to go edit the sys file after the instal was complete? or
would it need to be done via a boot dos situation and edited prior to booting into 98?

lastly,,,, (and i doubt this is an issue) does the fact that it is ddr ram make a difference,,,
as most comments about ram over 512 were/are relating to sdram;; i'm not sure, but i know the
one i did today is chooffing along just fine.

ch3eers.

Gary
Tue May 13 07:12:53 PDT 2008

Win98 will likely to run on up to 1GB of RAM (matters not what kind), but I
wouldn't call it stable, not without the tweaks. Now, go take your meds,
Dan.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
www.grystmill.com

"Imemine" <all@mine.com> wrote in message
news:exYzEGQtIHA.4848@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>
>> As for the RAM w/98:
>>
>> If the system has 700MB's of RAM or more installed following line MUST be
>> added to the [vcache] section of windows\system.ini file but never more.
>> MaxFileCache=512000
>
> brian, i find myself replying again to one of your posts, but i have good
> reason, hopefully we all
> benefit, new and old.
>
> i am sort of building a comp,, it has an Asus mobo (a7nx8 v2.o deluxe).
> today i managed to wipe
> the hdd of which had xp pro on it. i then fdisked it,, then installed
> 98se. i
> was looking out for problems because i had expected them due to the fact
> that the computer has 1gig
> of ddrsdram installed,, i was fired up and ready to edit the system.ini
> file to 512000;; (under
> vcache).
>
> but, as it turns out, nothing untoward has shown its head.... no errors,
> no problems, no nothing;;
> is running as smooth as.
>
> am only typing this to let others know what is happening directly after a
> 98se instal with a gig of
> ddr ram,,,, hope this helps someone;; personally, i am at the
> ready to edit the sys.ini.
>
> (also, the mobo drivers havent been installed yet, in fact, nothing
> has,, just thought i'd mention
> that too.)
> 98se was intalled via copying cab files from 98se disk to a folder on c:\.
> ,, dont know if that
> makes a difference either.
>
> btw, what would one do if one only has a 1gig stick of ram, and then
> installs 98......
> like, would win98 be stable enough to go edit the sys file after the
> instal was complete? or
> would it need to be done via a boot dos situation and edited prior to
> booting into 98?
>
> lastly,,,, (and i doubt this is an issue) does the fact that it is ddr
> ram make a difference,,,
> as most comments about ram over 512 were/are relating to sdram;; i'm
> not sure, but i know the
> one i did today is chooffing along just fine.
>
> ch3eers.
>
>