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Is there a RAM limit for WIN98SE?

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Name: Zbriegnew
Date: June 8, 2002 at 20:12:09 Pacific
Comment:

I am currently running win98se and very frequently, it 'kind of' freezes and shows the error message 'Memory not enough for running this program. Close one or more softwares and try again but:

1 - I have 512 MB of RAM
2 - I have tried Win XP for a while and this never happenned (in fact I went back to 98 because I heard 98 was faster and I wanted to speed uo my system)

I have heard that WIN98SE has a RAM limit of 256MB. Is this true or is somentthing else going on with my PC?

It does get a bit better when I close some open softwares but this is weird if you consider 512 MB of RAM.

The problem seems to happen more often when I'm conneted to the internet - dilaed connection.

P3 1GHz; 512MB RAM, 40GB HD.

Thanks




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Response Number 1
Name: DW
Date: June 8, 2002 at 20:25:15 Pacific
Reply:
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Response Number 2
Name: evonok
Date: June 9, 2002 at 01:13:15 Pacific
Reply:

Best to keep it under 512.....

W98 uses/stores into vcache in a particular way ... and any RAM near/over this amount can cause problems!

'evonok'


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Response Number 3
Name: Frenchie
Date: June 9, 2002 at 02:09:25 Pacific
Reply:

Hi Zbriegnew, hi all,

There were many and long threads on the subject on this board... I'm collecting them and will post in some hours!

Gérard from Paris, France


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Response Number 4
Name: Frenchie
Date: June 9, 2002 at 06:38:55 Pacific
Reply:

Hello,

Below are some thread numbers on the subject (from this Message board):

95692
95257
94823
94630
83382
83331
79521

HTH

Gérard from Paris, France


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Response Number 5
Name: Zbriegnew
Date: June 9, 2002 at 06:55:48 Pacific
Reply:

NICE, GREAT, WONDERFUL!!!

I have changed the maximum amount of RAM in Advanced options from the msconfig Genral tab, but it looks I've just found the answer I've been dying for and have spent tons of money to solve. Guess that I've been a bit stupid but this forum is just great!!

Thank you all, pals!!



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Response Number 6
Name: WhitPhil
Date: June 9, 2002 at 07:31:11 Pacific
Reply:

If you changed the limit under MSCONFIG, you have effectively disabled the use of the memory between the number you set and 512.

If you really need the use of the 512, try placing an upper limit on the file cache.

Edit system.ini, [vcache] section and add a line
MaxFileCache=300000

Save, exit, reboot (and remove the MSCONFIG limit)

This solution (keeps the cache under 300MBs) has worked for some people that were getting out of memory messages with 512 installed.


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Response Number 7
Name: Zbriegnew
Date: June 9, 2002 at 07:49:24 Pacific
Reply:

I just got the $%$### message again:

"There is not enough memory available...Quit one or more programs, and then try again."

Having set the maximum as 512MB in MSCONFIG.

I'll try the suggestion

"Edit system.ini, [vcache] section and add a line MaxFileCache=300000..."


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Response Number 8
Name: Zbriegnew
Date: June 9, 2002 at 07:54:21 Pacific
Reply:

My system.in has a line:

ChunkSize=512

What in the world is this?


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Response Number 9
Name: rac
Date: June 9, 2002 at 13:52:07 Pacific
Reply:

That's the size of the vcache memory block. Leave it be.


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Response Number 10
Name: Zbriegnew
Date: June 9, 2002 at 14:45:23 Pacific
Reply:

Now, this is really bugging me...

I've tried WhitPhil's suggestion but still go the same message...

I set the system.ini as:
[vcache]
ChunkSize=512
MaxFileCache=300000

Is there still something for me to try??



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Response Number 11
Name: ghugj
Date: June 9, 2002 at 17:53:52 Pacific
Reply:

Yea Windows 2000 it's sorta like XP and has the NTFS format and all that.


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Response Number 12
Name: ghugj
Date: June 9, 2002 at 17:55:01 Pacific
Reply:

And I assume it will be much faster then XP.


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Response Number 13
Name: WhitPhil
Date: June 10, 2002 at 05:56:14 Pacific
Reply:

Zbriegnew:
Another cause of Low Memory Errors is Low System Resources.
After a cold boot, check My Computer > Properties > Performance tab

If the percentage is less than 80-85%, you are most likely starting too many programs at boot time.

http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_content.htm


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Response Number 14
Name: Zbriegnew
Date: June 10, 2002 at 11:28:53 Pacific
Reply:

Guess I'll try win 2000. I'll let you know!


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Response Number 15
Name: Zbriegnew
Date: June 10, 2002 at 13:10:31 Pacific
Reply:

Hey, I've just noticed that when I reboot my system the changes to system.ini simply dsiappear... Why?

I am trying to change my system.ini file from
[vcache]
ChunkSize=512
adding a line:
MaxFileCache=300000

I add the line, save the file and restart the PC but when I look in system.ini again, the new line is not there. What should be done?



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