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Available memory after start-up


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Guest Graham C
Posted

Not really a problem, but an observation.

 

I run TClock which apart from the date and time in the system tray has

been configured to show 'available RAM'

 

For a couple of years I've noticed big variations in the amount of

free memory available immediately after boot-up.

 

Hence I've just disabled every thing except TClock via MSCONFIG

 

I have 448 Meg of physical RAM. If I clean boot the PC say ten times

in a row, then after start-up, approximately:

 

On about six occasions I have 304 Meg of free memory available

On about three occasions I have 264 Meg of free memory

On one occasion I have 230 Meg of free memory

 

This is 'repeatable', but it seems random as to which figure I get on

startup. I may get two 230s in a row, but will then probably get

plenty of 304s before the odd 264 kicks in.

 

Just curious as to where 40 or 70 Meg can occasionally disappear to ?

 

With all the usual stuff (virus checker, firewall, USB monitors etc)

loaded, each of these figures drops by some 25 Meg, hence losing 40 or

70 for apparently nothing is peculiar.

 

Running 98SE with 'all available updates'

 

I have noticed on past occasions that some legitimate things seem to

get loaded even though there's no call to the EXE anywhere in the

registry.

 

The wonders of Windoze!

 

Graham

Posted

Re: Available memory after start-up

 

Try a couple tools to see what's actually happening.

 

memload

http://web.archive.org/web/20010420234407/http://w1.132.telia.com/~u13200034/memload14.exe -

pops up can't find - open first old web page and file downloads ,, weird

FYI: All the "commontology.de/pub/adamant/" are now dead

 

autoruns

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx

 

--

 

MEB

http://peoplescounsel.orgfree.com

_________

 

 

"Graham C" <grahamcrisp@btopenworld.com> wrote in message

news:m901t31f6par988n06sqvfeom0hiqdlh91@4ax.com...

|

| Not really a problem, but an observation.

|

| I run TClock which apart from the date and time in the system tray has

| been configured to show 'available RAM'

|

| For a couple of years I've noticed big variations in the amount of

| free memory available immediately after boot-up.

|

| Hence I've just disabled every thing except TClock via MSCONFIG

|

| I have 448 Meg of physical RAM. If I clean boot the PC say ten times

| in a row, then after start-up, approximately:

|

| On about six occasions I have 304 Meg of free memory available

| On about three occasions I have 264 Meg of free memory

| On one occasion I have 230 Meg of free memory

|

| This is 'repeatable', but it seems random as to which figure I get on

| startup. I may get two 230s in a row, but will then probably get

| plenty of 304s before the odd 264 kicks in.

|

| Just curious as to where 40 or 70 Meg can occasionally disappear to ?

|

| With all the usual stuff (virus checker, firewall, USB monitors etc)

| loaded, each of these figures drops by some 25 Meg, hence losing 40 or

| 70 for apparently nothing is peculiar.

|

| Running 98SE with 'all available updates'

|

| I have noticed on past occasions that some legitimate things seem to

| get loaded even though there's no call to the EXE anywhere in the

| registry.

|

| The wonders of Windoze!

|

| Graham

Guest Franc Zabkar
Posted

Re: Available memory after start-up

 

On Thu, 06 Mar 2008 23:52:02 +0000, Graham C

<grahamcrisp@btopenworld.com> put finger to keyboard and composed:

>I run TClock which apart from the date and time in the system tray has

>been configured to show 'available RAM'

>

>For a couple of years I've noticed big variations in the amount of

>free memory available immediately after boot-up.

 

Is it possible that your system RAM is not being properly detected

during the POST? Do you always see the full 448MB in the General tab

of Device Manager?

 

- Franc Zabkar

--

Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.

Guest Graham C
Posted

Re: Available memory after start-up

 

On Thu, 6 Mar 2008 22:52:28 -0500, "MEB" <meb@not here@hotmail.com>

wrote:

> Try a couple tools to see what's actually happening.

>

>autoruns

>http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx

 

 

This was good - though the 'Compare' function didn't seem to work.

 

I booted the machine several times to get the three different start-up

levels

 

Created log files from each of these, then as the 'Compare' was

defunct, I did a separate binary compare on the three files.

 

They were identical.

 

So whatever is grabbing all that memory is no longer running after

start.

 

Also did a check to ensure all the hard RAM was being detected. It

was.

 

Hmm

 

Graham

Posted

Re: Available memory after start-up

 

So what was shown as being still in {using} memory by memload?

 

There was a 1.6 and 2.0 version but I couldn't find a working link for

them.

 

--

 

MEB

http://peoplescounsel.orgfree.com

_________

 

 

"Graham C" <grahamcrisp@btopenworld.com> wrote in message

news:40hbt359046gg2q40pe55nikbu60beq7ig@4ax.com...

| On Thu, 6 Mar 2008 22:52:28 -0500, "MEB" <meb@not here@hotmail.com>

| wrote:

|

| > Try a couple tools to see what's actually happening.

| >

| >autoruns

| >http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx

|

|

| This was good - though the 'Compare' function didn't seem to work.

|

| I booted the machine several times to get the three different start-up

| levels

|

| Created log files from each of these, then as the 'Compare' was

| defunct, I did a separate binary compare on the three files.

|

| They were identical.

|

| So whatever is grabbing all that memory is no longer running after

| start.

|

| Also did a check to ensure all the hard RAM was being detected. It

| was.

|

| Hmm

|

| Graham

Guest Graham C
Posted

Re: Available memory after start-up

 

On Mon, 10 Mar 2008 22:37:13 -0400, "MEB" <meb@not here@hotmail.com>

wrote:

> So what was shown as being still in {using} memory by memload?

>

Do you want the list - it came to 3 pages when dropped into Word ?

 

Mainly MS system DLLs for lots of apps I never use.

 

Graham

Posted

Re: Available memory after start-up

 

What apps?

What DLLS?

Which ones do you think are unimportant?

 

--

 

MEB

http://peoplescounsel.orgfree.com

_________

 

 

"Graham C" <grahamcrisp@btopenworld.com> wrote in message

news:4gogt3d6o4sga639i13lnphgqmum8eatv4@4ax.com...

| On Mon, 10 Mar 2008 22:37:13 -0400, "MEB" <meb@not here@hotmail.com>

| wrote:

|

| > So what was shown as being still in {using} memory by memload?

| >

| Do you want the list - it came to 3 pages when dropped into Word ?

|

| Mainly MS system DLLs for lots of apps I never use.

|

| Graham

Guest Mike Y
Posted

Re: Available memory after start-up

 

 

"Graham C" <grahamcrisp@btopenworld.com> wrote in message

news:m901t31f6par988n06sqvfeom0hiqdlh91@4ax.com...

>

> Not really a problem, but an observation.

>

> I run TClock which apart from the date and time in the system tray has

> been configured to show 'available RAM'

>

> For a couple of years I've noticed big variations in the amount of

> free memory available immediately after boot-up.

>

> Hence I've just disabled every thing except TClock via MSCONFIG

>

> I have 448 Meg of physical RAM. If I clean boot the PC say ten times

> in a row, then after start-up, approximately:

>

> On about six occasions I have 304 Meg of free memory available

> On about three occasions I have 264 Meg of free memory

> On one occasion I have 230 Meg of free memory

>

> This is 'repeatable', but it seems random as to which figure I get on

> startup. I may get two 230s in a row, but will then probably get

> plenty of 304s before the odd 264 kicks in.

>

> Just curious as to where 40 or 70 Meg can occasionally disappear to ?

>

> With all the usual stuff (virus checker, firewall, USB monitors etc)

> loaded, each of these figures drops by some 25 Meg, hence losing 40 or

> 70 for apparently nothing is peculiar.

>

> Running 98SE with 'all available updates'

>

> I have noticed on past occasions that some legitimate things seem to

> get loaded even though there's no call to the EXE anywhere in the

> registry.

>

> The wonders of Windoze!

>

> Graham

 

I'd verify the integrity of the RAM before I start looking elsewhere. Get

a copy of the MEMTST86 image and run the test from booting the CD.

 

I'd also see if physical activity changes things. That is, turn the machine

off, unplug it, then try to turn it on (that should drain all the caps).

Then

unplug and replug everything, and see if doing that influences what happens

when you try to boot.

Posted

Re: Available memory after start-up

 

 

 

 

"Mike Y" <joe@user.com> wrote in message

news:GQ_Bj.231$E42.54@newsfe02.lga...

|

| "Graham C" <grahamcrisp@btopenworld.com> wrote in message

| news:m901t31f6par988n06sqvfeom0hiqdlh91@4ax.com...

| >

| > Not really a problem, but an observation.

| >

| > I run TClock which apart from the date and time in the system tray has

| > been configured to show 'available RAM'

| >

| > For a couple of years I've noticed big variations in the amount of

| > free memory available immediately after boot-up.

| >

| > Hence I've just disabled every thing except TClock via MSCONFIG

| >

| > I have 448 Meg of physical RAM. If I clean boot the PC say ten times

| > in a row, then after start-up, approximately:

| >

| > On about six occasions I have 304 Meg of free memory available

| > On about three occasions I have 264 Meg of free memory

| > On one occasion I have 230 Meg of free memory

| >

| > This is 'repeatable', but it seems random as to which figure I get on

| > startup. I may get two 230s in a row, but will then probably get

| > plenty of 304s before the odd 264 kicks in.

| >

| > Just curious as to where 40 or 70 Meg can occasionally disappear to ?

| >

| > With all the usual stuff (virus checker, firewall, USB monitors etc)

| > loaded, each of these figures drops by some 25 Meg, hence losing 40 or

| > 70 for apparently nothing is peculiar.

| >

| > Running 98SE with 'all available updates'

| >

| > I have noticed on past occasions that some legitimate things seem to

| > get loaded even though there's no call to the EXE anywhere in the

| > registry.

| >

| > The wonders of Windoze!

| >

| > Graham

|

| I'd verify the integrity of the RAM before I start looking elsewhere. Get

| a copy of the MEMTST86 image and run the test from booting the CD.

|

| I'd also see if physical activity changes things. That is, turn the

machine

| off, unplug it, then try to turn it on (that should drain all the caps).

| Then

| unplug and replug everything, and see if doing that influences what

happens

| when you try to boot.

|

 

It would appear that the large discrepancy in start memory could be

associated with intermittent ram issues. Might be advisable to find out what

the chip configuration is as well. Strange chip configuration to come up

with 448 megs.

256+128+64 - 128+128+128+64 - 256+64+64+64, any of these would be a bad

combination, and the chips MAY not be fully compatible with each other.

Paging, CAS, you name it, may be {are} different .

448 Meg of physical RAM x 1024 = 458,752

304 Meg -144

264 Meg -184

230 Meg -218

 

--

 

MEB

http://peoplescounsel.orgfree.com

_________

Guest Graham C
Posted

Re: Available memory after start-up

 

On Wed, 12 Mar 2008 21:39:31 -0400, "MEB" <meb@not here@hotmail.com>

wrote:

> What apps?

> What DLLS?

> Which ones do you think are unimportant?

 

A small selection of the file.

I've abbreviated Windows System (File) to WSF

and Microsoft Corporation to MC

 

I notice many get loaded several times from LOCAL_MACHINE,

CURRENT_USER etc

 

+ Web Folders ADVPACK MC c:\w98\system\advpack.dll

+ WS- Color Schemes WSF MC c:\w98\system\setupx.dll

+ WS- Dial-Up Networking WSF MC c:\w98\system\setupx.dll

+ WS- Games WSF MC c:\w98\system\setupx.dll

+ WS- Links Bar c:\w98\command\sulfnbk.exe

+ WS- Messaging WSF MC c:\w98\system\setupx.dll

+ WS- Multimedia WSF MC c:\w98\system\setupx.dll

+ WS- Multimedia WSF MC c:\w98\system\setupx.dll

+ WS- Multimedia WSF MC c:\w98\system\setupx.dll

+ WS- Multimedia WSF MC c:\w98\system\setupx.dll

+ WS- Netwatch WSF MC c:\w98\system\setupx.dll

+ WS- Online Services WSF MC c:\w98\system\setupx.dll

+ WS- Phone Dialer WSF MC c:\w98\system\setupx.dll

+ WS- Sound Schemes WSF MC c:\w98\system\setupx.dll

+ WS- System Information WSF MC c:\w98\system\setupx.dll

+ WS- System Information WSF MC c:\w98\system\setupx.dll

+ WS- System Meter WSF MC c:\w98\system\setupx.dll

+ WS- System Monitor WSF MC c:\w98\system\setupx.dll

+ WS- Telephony Support WSF MC c:\w98\system\setupx.dll

+ WS- The Microsoft Network WSF MC c:\w98\system\setupx.dll

+ WS- Wordpad WSF MC c:\w98\system\setupx.dll

+ WinZip e:\98\utils\winzip\wzshlext.dll

+ WinZip e:\98\utils\winzip\wzshlext.dll

+ WinZip e:\98\utils\winzip\wzshlext.dll

+ Microsoft Access Custom Icon Handler MSAPP Export Support for

Microsoft Access MC e:\mso\office\soa800.dll

+ Microsoft Exchange Microsoft Shell Extension Library MC

c:\program files\windows messaging\mlshext.dll

HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar

+ &Radio Windows Media Player 2 ActiveX Control MC

c:\w98\system\msdxm.ocx

 

Graham

Posted

Re: Available memory after start-up

 

 

 

"Graham C" <grahamcrisp@btopenworld.com> wrote in message

news:02ant3ds6fjvo376vhcdf1jbbgff2ann7i@4ax.com...

| On Wed, 12 Mar 2008 21:39:31 -0400, "MEB" <meb@not here@hotmail.com>

| wrote:

|

| > What apps?

| > What DLLS?

| > Which ones do you think are unimportant?

|

| A small selection of the file.

| I've abbreviated Windows System (File) to WSF

| and Microsoft Corporation to MC

|

| I notice many get loaded several times from LOCAL_MACHINE,

| CURRENT_USER etc

|

| + Web Folders ADVPACK MC c:\w98\system\advpack.dll

| + WS- Color Schemes WSF MC c:\w98\system\setupx.dll

| + WS- Dial-Up Networking WSF MC c:\w98\system\setupx.dll

| + WS- Games WSF MC c:\w98\system\setupx.dll

| + WS- Links Bar c:\w98\command\sulfnbk.exe

| + WS- Messaging WSF MC c:\w98\system\setupx.dll

| + WS- Multimedia WSF MC c:\w98\system\setupx.dll

| + WS- Multimedia WSF MC c:\w98\system\setupx.dll

| + WS- Multimedia WSF MC c:\w98\system\setupx.dll

| + WS- Multimedia WSF MC c:\w98\system\setupx.dll

| + WS- Netwatch WSF MC c:\w98\system\setupx.dll

| + WS- Online Services WSF MC c:\w98\system\setupx.dll

| + WS- Phone Dialer WSF MC c:\w98\system\setupx.dll

| + WS- Sound Schemes WSF MC c:\w98\system\setupx.dll

| + WS- System Information WSF MC c:\w98\system\setupx.dll

| + WS- System Information WSF MC c:\w98\system\setupx.dll

| + WS- System Meter WSF MC c:\w98\system\setupx.dll

| + WS- System Monitor WSF MC c:\w98\system\setupx.dll

| + WS- Telephony Support WSF MC c:\w98\system\setupx.dll

| + WS- The Microsoft Network WSF MC c:\w98\system\setupx.dll

| + WS- Wordpad WSF MC c:\w98\system\setupx.dll

| + WinZip e:\98\utils\winzip\wzshlext.dll

| + WinZip e:\98\utils\winzip\wzshlext.dll

| + WinZip e:\98\utils\winzip\wzshlext.dll

| + Microsoft Access Custom Icon Handler MSAPP Export Support for

| Microsoft Access MC e:\mso\office\soa800.dll

| + Microsoft Exchange Microsoft Shell Extension Library MC

| c:\program files\windows messaging\mlshext.dll

| HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar

| + &Radio Windows Media Player 2 ActiveX Control MC

| c:\w98\system\msdxm.ocx

|

| Graham

 

Huh,, are you saying these are still RUNNING and LOADED and shown by

*MEMLOAD*, or did you just find them in the registry... or did you monitor

the startup, which loads a heck of a lot of stuff and uses the same DLLS for

much of the work, but most gets removed...

 

Or was this from autoruns {looks like it was}:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx - See what's

autoloaded and by what... note, many are *hooks*/stubs, so this ISN'T a good

indication of memory load, but an indication of what you could *possibly*

disable.. and not much or you may kill the system!!.

 

Or have you actually tested your memory chips yet to see if you might have

failing chips/bad ram? Did you miss that side discussion, your memory

variables seem to indicate the potential?

 

--

 

MEB

http://peoplescounsel.orgfree.com

_________

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