Can't Get 98 to Boot With New Motherboard

[Guest jim evans]

I have a multi-boot system and use Win98 for software testing. I

installed a new motherboard and now 98 won't boot. I get this error

message: http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/3423/win98p1040147mu2.jpg

 

I have 4gig of memory so it can't be insufficient memory. There is

no Autoexe.bat file, and the Config.sys file is blank/empty. I did an

install over but nothing changed.

 

Anybody know what's wrong and how I get it to boot?

 

jim

[Guest glee]

Re: Can't Get 98 to Boot With New Motherboard

 

Error Message: Insufficient Memory to Initialize Windows

http://support.microsoft.com?kbid=184447

 

 

SYMPTOMS

 

If your computer has 1 gigabyte (GB) or more of random-access memory (RAM)

installed, Windows may not start. Also, when you try to start your computer, you may

receive the following error message:

 

Insufficient memory to initialize Windows.

 

Quit one or more memory-resident programs or remove unnecessary utilities from your

CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files, and restart your computer.

 

This behavior may also occur during Windows Setup, or when you try to start Windows

for the first time.

 

RESOLUTION

 

To work around this issue, add the following line to the [386enh] section of the

System.ini file:

MaxPhysPage=30000

 

This limits the amount of physical RAM that Windows can access to 768 MB.

 

To do so, use the following steps:

1. Use any text editor (such as Notepad) to edit the System.ini file.

2. Add the following line in the [386Enh] section of the file

 

MaxPhysPage=30000

 

3. Save the file, and then restart your computer.

 

 

If this problem occurs during Windows Setup, use the following steps to resolve the

issue:

 

1. Restart your computer. When you see the "Starting Windows 95" message, press the

F8 key, and then choose Command Prompt Only from the Startup menu.

 

For Windows 98, restart your computer, press and hold down the CTRL key until the

Startup menu appears, and then choose Command Prompt Only.

 

2. Change to the folder into which you are attempting to install Windows.

3. Edit the System.ini file. To do so, type edit system.ini, and then press ENTER.

4. Add the following line in the [386Enh] section of the file

 

MaxPhysPage=30000

 

5. Save the file, and then restart your computer. Windows Setup should continue.

 

--

Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+

http://dts-l.net/

http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm

 

 

"jim evans" <jimsTAKEOUTnews2@houston.rr.com> wrote in message

news:s6q3g450pmq96i4a8dknhoigftpmpoeo09@4ax.com...

>I have a multi-boot system and use Win98 for software testing. I

> installed a new motherboard and now 98 won't boot. I get this error

> message: http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/3423/win98p1040147mu2.jpg

>

> I have 4gig of memory so it can't be insufficient memory. There is

> no Autoexe.bat file, and the Config.sys file is blank/empty. I did an

> install over but nothing changed.

>

> Anybody know what's wrong and how I get it to boot?

>

> jim

[Guest MEB]

Re: Can't Get 98 to Boot With New Motherboard

 

 

"jim evans" <jimsTAKEOUTnews2@houston.rr.com> wrote in message

news:s6q3g450pmq96i4a8dknhoigftpmpoeo09@4ax.com...

| I have a multi-boot system and use Win98 for software testing. I

| installed a new motherboard and now 98 won't boot. I get this error

| message: http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/3423/win98p1040147mu2.jpg

|

| I have 4gig of memory so it can't be insufficient memory. There is

| no Autoexe.bat file, and the Config.sys file is blank/empty. I did an

| install over but nothing changed.

|

| Anybody know what's wrong and how I get it to boot?

|

| jim

 

That initially comes from memory beyond what 9X can support.

You would need to limit the memory in the system.ini file, HOWEVER, you are

*way* beyond those limits with 4 gig.

 

The best multi-boot option may be to use a virtual machine in XP, VISTA, or

Linux.. if you want 9X on the new system, removing 9X from the boot process.

 

THE BEST option would be to just use the old system for 9X and remove 9X

from the new because you may need to remove memory, devices may not be

compatible, and Windows 9X will need to be *completely re-configured* for

the new motherboard as the chipset, devices, ports, and other system

resources have drastically changed..

 

--

MEB

http://peoplescounsel.org

a Peoples' counsel

_ _

~~

[Guest Eric P.]

Re: Can't Get 98 to Boot With New Motherboard

 

jim evans wrote:

> I have a multi-boot system and use Win98 for software testing. I

> installed a new motherboard and now 98 won't boot. I get this error

> message: http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/3423/win98p1040147mu2.jpg

>

> I have 4gig of memory so it can't be insufficient memory. There is

> no Autoexe.bat file, and the Config.sys file is blank/empty. I did an

> install over but nothing changed.

>

> Anybody know what's wrong and how I get it to boot?

>

> jim

Probably you have far too much memory for Windows 98(SE)

Even on my computer with 1GB Ram I have to restrict memory usage for

Windows 98SE.

 

Have a look at:

Windows 98 & WinME Memory Management

http://aumha.org/win4/a/memmgmt.htm

 

Also not all new chipsets can handle an O/S below Windows XP.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

;

[Guest philo]

Re: Can't Get 98 to Boot With New Motherboard

 

 

"jim evans" <jimsTAKEOUTnews2@houston.rr.com> wrote in message

news:s6q3g450pmq96i4a8dknhoigftpmpoeo09@4ax.com...

> I have a multi-boot system and use Win98 for software testing. I

> installed a new motherboard and now 98 won't boot. I get this error

> message: http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/3423/win98p1040147mu2.jpg

>

> I have 4gig of memory so it can't be insufficient memory. There is

> no Autoexe.bat file, and the Config.sys file is blank/empty. I did an

> install over but nothing changed.

>

> Anybody know what's wrong and how I get it to boot?

>

> jim

 

 

If you can boot the machine to safe mode

 

or temporarily lower the RAM to 512 megs

 

try this

 

http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview/id/333688.html

[Guest jim evans]

Re: Can't Get 98 to Boot With New Motherboard

 

Thanks much for all the comments and help. The bad news is, none of

the fixes worked. I used the MaxPhysPage=30000 entry and the

MaxFileCache=524,288 entry (actually I reduced it to 324,288). My 98

setup needs very little memory. But, no luck. One of the articles

said some modern motherboards do not support W98 but they didn't say

what the symptoms/error messages would be for this.

 

I guess my next step is to try to use a virtual machine as someone

suggested. What I have to learn is if I can move my existing

installation into a virtual machine. I've had limited experience with

them. I ran Vista in one for a while for testing but that was over a

year ago and only lasted a couple of months.

 

Thanks again to all.

 

jim

[Guest philo]

Re: Can't Get 98 to Boot With New Motherboard

 

 

"jim evans" <jimsTAKEOUTnews2@houston.rr.com> wrote in message

news:mql4g45c4rbfatgtdllh6mjgnj9n1tbesi@4ax.com...

> Thanks much for all the comments and help. The bad news is, none of

> the fixes worked. I used the MaxPhysPage=30000 entry and the

> MaxFileCache=524,288 entry (actually I reduced it to 324,288). My 98

> setup needs very little memory. But, no luck. One of the articles

> said some modern motherboards do not support W98 but they didn't say

> what the symptoms/error messages would be for this.

>

> I guess my next step is to try to use a virtual machine as someone

> suggested. What I have to learn is if I can move my existing

> installation into a virtual machine. I've had limited experience with

> them. I ran Vista in one for a while for testing but that was over a

> year ago and only lasted a couple of months.

>

> Thanks again to all.

>

> jim

 

The virtual machine method should

work...

but I recommend just installing win98 within it

rather than trying to transfer your existing installation

[Guest thanatoid]

Re: Can't Get 98 to Boot With New Motherboard

 

jim evans <jimsTAKEOUTnews2@houston.rr.com> wrote in

news:mql4g45c4rbfatgtdllh6mjgnj9n1tbesi@4ax.com:

> Thanks much for all the comments and help. The bad news

> is, none of the fixes worked. I used the

> MaxPhysPage=30000 entry and the MaxFileCache=524,288 entry

> (actually I reduced it to 324,288). My 98 setup needs very

> little memory. But, no luck. One of the articles said

> some modern motherboards do not support W98 but they didn't

> say what the symptoms/error messages would be for this.

 

Do some more research, net and foot.

 

I am pretty sure a motherboard MUST have 98/SE drivers for 98 to

work on it 'sans' virtual machine approach - which I've read

about a lot but somehow am not totally convinced. No current

MB's found in an average store or on the net support 98. I

believe the Intel 845 series, /possibly/ 945 were among the

last. (Just checked the list - the 8xx series were the last.

Like 815, 845, etc.)

 

There may be some lesser player in the MB field whose /new/ 98-

supporting MB you may be able to find, but you may well have to

settle for a used one or just bite the bullet and live with XP.

 

I have never used eBay but there is a good chance you may find

something there.

 

Most computers people throw out or donate are in working

conditions, and MB's are usually fine as well. I am sure there

are several dozen MB';s which would be just fine for your

purposes languishing in Salvation Army stores and corner

computer stores backrooms in your city right now.

 

Of course, if you want something like 8GB of RAM with your 98,

it /may/ be quite difficult (i.e. impossible) to find a MB which

will support both. Etc.

 

I'm just hoping my 5 yr. old Compaq EVO lasts for a while before

I have to descend to the hellish depths of eXPerience. Or Linux.

 

<SNIP>

 

t.

--

Those who cast the votes decide nothing. Those who count the

votes decide everything.

- Josef Stalin

 

NB: Not only is my KF over 4 KB and growing, I am also filtering

everything from discussions.microsoft and google groups, so no

offense if you don't get a reply/comment unless I see you quoted

in another post.

[Guest Jeff Richards]

Re: Can't Get 98 to Boot With New Motherboard

 

You could try copying the existing W98 install into a virtual machine

space - it might work. However the virtual hardware provided will probably

be quite different than the existing hardware, and there will be the usual

issues with loading replacement drivers. I haven't done it, but I believe

the process would involve installing W98 into the virtual machine, copying

the existing install onto the virtual drive (as in image of some form), then

rebooting the virtual machine to DOS to copy the image over the installed

OS. Or, perhaps you could create an ISO image of the existing W98 install

somewhere on the host machine, set that image as the W98 CD drive, and

restore (from DOS) from that virtual CD drive.

 

The advantages of a virtual machine over dual booting make the process well

worthwhile, even if you have to build the W98 system from scratch.

--

Jeff Richards

MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)

"jim evans" <jimsTAKEOUTnews2@houston.rr.com> wrote in message

news:mql4g45c4rbfatgtdllh6mjgnj9n1tbesi@4ax.com...

> Thanks much for all the comments and help. The bad news is, none of

> the fixes worked. I used the MaxPhysPage=30000 entry and the

> MaxFileCache=524,288 entry (actually I reduced it to 324,288). My 98

> setup needs very little memory. But, no luck. One of the articles

> said some modern motherboards do not support W98 but they didn't say

> what the symptoms/error messages would be for this.

>

> I guess my next step is to try to use a virtual machine as someone

> suggested. What I have to learn is if I can move my existing

> installation into a virtual machine. I've had limited experience with

> them. I ran Vista in one for a while for testing but that was over a

> year ago and only lasted a couple of months.

>

> Thanks again to all.

>

> jim

[Guest philo]

Re: Can't Get 98 to Boot With New Motherboard

 

 

"Jeff Richards" <JRichards@msn.com.au> wrote in message

news:%23aMAI2mNJHA.4088@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

> You could try copying the existing W98 install into a virtual machine

> space - it might work. However the virtual hardware provided will

probably

> be quite different than the existing hardware, and there will be the usual

> issues with loading replacement drivers. I haven't done it, but I believe

> the process would involve installing W98 into the virtual machine, copying

> the existing install onto the virtual drive (as in image of some form),

then

> rebooting the virtual machine to DOS to copy the image over the installed

> OS. Or, perhaps you could create an ISO image of the existing W98 install

> somewhere on the host machine, set that image as the W98 CD drive, and

> restore (from DOS) from that virtual CD drive.

>

> The advantages of a virtual machine over dual booting make the process

well

> worthwhile, even if you have to build the W98 system from scratch.

 

 

 

FWIW: I have used virtual machines quite a bit

and there is nothing special pre se, that one would have to do...

but it would be a slight PITA to transfer an existing OS into one.

Not that it isn't possible, but then you'd still have to go through

reconfiguring Windows to the new H/W.

 

It would save a lot of time to just perform

a fresh install of Win98 into the virtual machine.

 

 

> Jeff Richards

> MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)

> "jim evans" <jimsTAKEOUTnews2@houston.rr.com> wrote in message

> news:mql4g45c4rbfatgtdllh6mjgnj9n1tbesi@4ax.com...

> > Thanks much for all the comments and help. The bad news is, none of

> > the fixes worked. I used the MaxPhysPage=30000 entry and the

> > MaxFileCache=524,288 entry (actually I reduced it to 324,288). My 98

> > setup needs very little memory. But, no luck. One of the articles

> > said some modern motherboards do not support W98 but they didn't say

> > what the symptoms/error messages would be for this.

> >

> > I guess my next step is to try to use a virtual machine as someone

> > suggested. What I have to learn is if I can move my existing

> > installation into a virtual machine. I've had limited experience with

> > them. I ran Vista in one for a while for testing but that was over a

> > year ago and only lasted a couple of months.

> >

> > Thanks again to all.

> >

> > jim

>

>

[Guest Lil' Dave]

Re: Can't Get 98 to Boot With New Motherboard

 

"jim evans" <jimsTAKEOUTnews2@houston.rr.com> wrote in message

news:s6q3g450pmq96i4a8dknhoigftpmpoeo09@4ax.com...

>I have a multi-boot system and use Win98 for software testing. I

> installed a new motherboard and now 98 won't boot. I get this error

> message: http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/3423/win98p1040147mu2.jpg

>

> I have 4gig of memory so it can't be insufficient memory. There is

> no Autoexe.bat file, and the Config.sys file is blank/empty. I did an

> install over but nothing changed.

>

> Anybody know what's wrong and how I get it to boot?

>

> jim

 

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/253912

 

I use the 2nd workaround myself at 512MB setting. It works with all the

9X/ME operating systems as noted in the article. The PC has to have a

working amount of RAM or less to begin with in order to get into windows to

use this method. At that point, one can add more RAM. This is probably not

workable for you as you're starting with 4GB of RAM, and probably don't have

a smaller RAM module to implement the change in that manner.

 

Oddly, even XP cannot use all 4GB of RAM either. XP will, however, boot and

operate normally though.

--

Dave

 

If it looks like fish, smells like fish, its not

a cantaloupe.

[Guest philo]

Re: Can't Get 98 to Boot With New Motherboard

 

 

"Lil' Dave" <spamyourself@virus.net> wrote in message

news:%23lzjzboNJHA.584@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

> "jim evans" <jimsTAKEOUTnews2@houston.rr.com> wrote in message

> news:s6q3g450pmq96i4a8dknhoigftpmpoeo09@4ax.com...

> >I have a multi-boot system and use Win98 for software testing. I

> > installed a new motherboard and now 98 won't boot. I get this error

> > message: http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/3423/win98p1040147mu2.jpg

> >

> > I have 4gig of memory so it can't be insufficient memory. There is

> > no Autoexe.bat file, and the Config.sys file is blank/empty. I did an

> > install over but nothing changed.

> >

> > Anybody know what's wrong and how I get it to boot?

> >

> > jim

>

> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/253912

>

> I use the 2nd workaround myself at 512MB setting. It works with all the

> 9X/ME operating systems as noted in the article. The PC has to have a

> working amount of RAM or less to begin with in order to get into windows

to

> use this method. At that point, one can add more RAM. This is probably

not

> workable for you as you're starting with 4GB of RAM, and probably don't

have

> a smaller RAM module to implement the change in that manner.

>

 

It looks like the OP tried that

> Oddly, even XP cannot use all 4GB of RAM either. XP will, however, boot

and

> operate normally though.

 

 

It's not so odd really and not actually a problem with XP...

It's really due to the addressing limitations of the 32bit cpu.

 

There are some hacks such as:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_Address_Extension

 

But for most practical purposes...to use more than (approx) 3.25- 3.5 gigs

of RAM

you'll need a 64bit cpu and the appropriate OS...

which is not win98 btw <G>

[Guest J. P. Gilliver (John)]

Re: Can't Get 98 to Boot With New Motherboard

 

In message <mql4g45c4rbfatgtdllh6mjgnj9n1tbesi@4ax.com>, jim evans

<jimsTAKEOUTnews2@houston.rr.com> writes

>Thanks much for all the comments and help. The bad news is, none of

>the fixes worked. I used the MaxPhysPage=30000 entry and the

>MaxFileCache=524,288 entry (actually I reduced it to 324,288). My 98

>setup needs very little memory. But, no luck. One of the articles

>said some modern motherboards do not support W98 but they didn't say

>what the symptoms/error messages would be for this.

[]

Have you tried running this system with - physically - just 512M RAM, to

see if it will run '98 that way? (Or does it use memory modules of a

type that aren't available in less than 1G?)

--

J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G.5AL(+++)IS-P--Ch+(p)Ar+T[?]H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

Lada for sale - see http://www.autotrader.co.uk

 

"Don't worry about people stealing your ideas. If your ideas are any good,

you'll have to ram them down people's throats." - Howard Aiken

[Guest jim evans]

Re: Can't Get 98 to Boot With New Motherboard

 

On Sat, 25 Oct 2008 12:30:07 +0100, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"

<G6JPG@soft255.demon.co.uk> wrote:

>Have you tried running this system with - physically - just 512M RAM, to

>see if it will run '98 that way? (Or does it use memory modules of a

>type that aren't available in less than 1G?)

 

I haven't tried that, and I'd have to buy memory to try it. And, it

doesn't solve the problem because I have to have a larger amount of

memory to run the other OSs anyway.

 

jim

[Guest J. P. Gilliver (John)]

Re: Can't Get 98 to Boot With New Motherboard

 

In message <ctb6g4trbmlu3mlden2mm4vt335e0438if@4ax.com>, jim evans

<jimsTAKEOUTnews2@houston.rr.com> writes

>On Sat, 25 Oct 2008 12:30:07 +0100, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"

><G6JPG@soft255.demon.co.uk> wrote:

>

>>Have you tried running this system with - physically - just 512M RAM, to

>>see if it will run '98 that way? (Or does it use memory modules of a

>>type that aren't available in less than 1G?)

>

>I haven't tried that, and I'd have to buy memory to try it. And, it

>doesn't solve the problem because I have to have a larger amount of

>memory to run the other OSs anyway.

>

>jim

 

I wasn't suggesting it as a permanent solution, only as a way of seeing

whether the mobo would play ball at all even with a suitably small

amount of memory. However, if you'd have to buy some to try it, follow

other people's suggestions first!

--

J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G.5AL(+++)IS-P--Ch+(p)Ar+T[?]H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

Lada for sale - see http://www.autotrader.co.uk

 

This trip should be called "Driving Miss Crazy" - Emma Wilson, on crossing the

southern United States with her mother, Ann Robinson, 2003 or 2004