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WinME memory limit


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Posted

Hi everyone

 

I will be "destroying" 2 PCs to build a "new" one the final result will be:

 

Abit BP6 with 2 Celeron 500Mhz processors, 640 MB Ram, ATA66 integrated +

ATA133 Promise PCI card.

 

ATI All-in-Wonder 128 (Rage chipset) 32 MB AGP video card.

 

3 HD, 1 x 4.3 gb (C: WinME + progs), 1 x 80 gb (Data), 1 x 20 gb (E: Win

XPpro + progs)

 

I already have all the drivers that I'll need for both OS.

 

It will be dual boot and my question concerns the WinME part. I understand

that it will use only one processor but I've heard that Win 98 and ME have

problems with memory above 512 MB and there need to be some command(s)

added somewhere (.ini files?). It will be the first time I run ME above 384

MB RAM.

 

Anyone could guide me in the right direction?

 

TIA

 

Dominique

Guest Mike M
Posted

Re: WinME memory limit

 

Win Me, like all Win 9x operating systems, can support and use up to 2GB

of memory although there are a number of caveats and exceptions to that

details of which are contained in the following Microsoft Knowledge Base

articles with the first essential reading where more than 512MB of memory

is installed.

 

For more details see:

MS KB 253912 - ""Out of Memory" Error Messages with Large Amounts of RAM

Installed" (http://support.microsoft.com?kbid=253912). The reason is that

allocating more than 512MB of RAM to vcache will exhaust all available

upper memory addresses and thus prevent them being used for other

purposes. This problem is easily fixed as follows:

To limit vcache, open system.ini and add the lines

[VCache]

MaxFileCache=512000

Note that this will still mean that all memory is available to

applications but is simply limiting the amount used as virtual cache

memory.

 

MS KB 296773 - "Computer May Not Hibernate with More Than 192 MB of

Memory"

(http://support.microsoft.com?kbid=296773). This makes reference to an

updated file vmm.vxd. Unfortunately due to Win Me being out of support

this file can no longer be obtained from Microsoft.

 

MS KB 304943 - "Computer May Reboot Continuously with More Than 1.5 GB of

RAM" (http://support.microsoft.com?kbid=304943).

--

Mike Maltby

mike.maltby@gmail.com

 

 

DG <me@domain.net> wrote:

> Hi everyone

>

> I will be "destroying" 2 PCs to build a "new" one the final result

> will be:

>

> Abit BP6 with 2 Celeron 500Mhz processors, 640 MB Ram, ATA66

> integrated + ATA133 Promise PCI card.

>

> ATI All-in-Wonder 128 (Rage chipset) 32 MB AGP video card.

>

> 3 HD, 1 x 4.3 gb (C: WinME + progs), 1 x 80 gb (Data), 1 x 20 gb (E:

> Win XPpro + progs)

>

> I already have all the drivers that I'll need for both OS.

>

> It will be dual boot and my question concerns the WinME part. I

> understand that it will use only one processor but I've heard that

> Win 98 and ME have problems with memory above 512 MB and there need

> to be some command(s) added somewhere (.ini files?). It will be the

> first time I run ME above 384 MB RAM.

>

> Anyone could guide me in the right direction?

>

> TIA

>

> Dominique

Posted

Re: WinME memory limit

 

Thank you for your answer, since I don't use hibernate on this one (I

think) and most of the time, it will be running XPpro, I will probably

begin the "destruction" soon now.

 

Thanks again,

Dominique

 

 

"Mike M" <No_Spam@Corned_Beef.Only> écrivait

news:#sVFrwNnIHA.4664@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl:

> Win Me, like all Win 9x operating systems, can support and use up to

> 2GB of memory although there are a number of caveats and exceptions to

> that details of which are contained in the following Microsoft

> Knowledge Base articles with the first essential reading where more

> than 512MB of memory is installed.

>

> For more details see:

> MS KB 253912 - ""Out of Memory" Error Messages with Large Amounts of

> RAM Installed" (http://support.microsoft.com?kbid=253912). The reason

> is that allocating more than 512MB of RAM to vcache will exhaust all

> available upper memory addresses and thus prevent them being used for

> other purposes. This problem is easily fixed as follows:

> To limit vcache, open system.ini and add the lines

> [VCache]

> MaxFileCache=512000

> Note that this will still mean that all memory is available to

> applications but is simply limiting the amount used as virtual cache

> memory.

>

> MS KB 296773 - "Computer May Not Hibernate with More Than 192 MB of

> Memory"

> (http://support.microsoft.com?kbid=296773). This makes reference to

> an updated file vmm.vxd. Unfortunately due to Win Me being out of

> support this file can no longer be obtained from Microsoft.

>

> MS KB 304943 - "Computer May Reboot Continuously with More Than 1.5 GB

> of RAM" (http://support.microsoft.com?kbid=304943).

Guest ClueLess
Posted

Re: WinME memory limit

 

On Sat, 12 Apr 2008 13:08:57 -0700, DG <me@domain.net> wrote:

>It will be dual boot and my question concerns the WinME part. I understand

>that it will use only one processor but I've heard that Win 98 and ME have

>problems with memory above 512 MB and there need to be some command(s)

>added somewhere (.ini files?). It will be the first time I run ME above 384

>MB RAM.

 

I am running ME on my 3.4 gHz box with 768 mb memory without any

problem.

 

I have heard earlier that problems arise only if you have more than

this and needs vcache trick.

 

HTH

 

 

Thanks for your time and attention

 

ClueLess

Guest Mike M
Posted

Re: WinME memory limit

 

You're living on the edge if you have 764MB of RAM and haven't limited

vcache as explained in MS KB 253912 - ""Out of Memory" Error Messages with

Large Amounts of RAM Installed"

(http://support.microsoft.com?kbid=253912).

> HTH

 

Not really as IMO opinion it is bad practice to try and run with 768MB of

RAM and not limit vcache and this is likely to cause regular "out of

memory" errors. That you manage to have none is fortunate but others are

unlikely to be so lucky.

--

Mike Maltby

mike.maltby@gmail.com

 

 

ClueLess <clueless@wilderness.org.invalid> wrote:

> I am running ME on my 3.4 gHz box with 768 mb memory without any

> problem.

>

> I have heard earlier that problems arise only if you have more than

> this and needs vcache trick.

>

> HTH

>

>

> Thanks for your time and attention

>

> ClueLess

Guest Claudehl@aol.com
Posted

Re: WinME memory limit

 

I use Windows Me in a dual-boot system (actually quadruple-boot but

never mind) on a computer that has 2GB of RAM, with the following

lines added to system.ini

 

[386Enh]

ConservativeSwapfileUsage=1

MaxPhysPage=40000

 

[vcache]

MaxFileCache=524288

 

The [vcache] line is necessary, as explained by the other posters, I

don't quite remember why the ConservativeSwapfileUsage=1 and

MaxPhysPage=40000 limits the memory used by Windows Me to 1GB. I've

read that things can get unstable above that, I never tried but why

take the chance? Having more than 1 GB of RAM available to Windows Me

won't make it happier anyway.

 

 

On Apr 12, 1:08�pm, DG <m...@domain.net> wrote:

> Hi everyone

>

> I will be "destroying" 2 PCs to build a "new" one the final result will be:

>

> Abit BP6 with 2 Celeron 500Mhz processors, 640 MB Ram, ATA66 integrated +

> ATA133 Promise PCI card.

>

> ATI All-in-Wonder 128 (Rage chipset) 32 MB AGP video card.

>

> 3 HD, 1 x 4.3 gb (C: WinME + progs), 1 x 80 gb (Data), 1 x 20 gb (E: Win

> XPpro + progs)

>

> I already have all the drivers that I'll need for both OS.

>

> It will be dual boot and my question concerns the WinME part. I understand

> that it will use only one processor but I've heard that Win 98 and ME have

> problems with memory above 512 MB and there need to be some command(s)

> added somewhere (.ini files?). It will be the first time I run ME above 384

> MB RAM.

>

> Anyone could guide me in the right direction?

>

> TIA

>

> Dominique

Guest Mike M
Posted

Re: WinME memory limit

 

To be honest there's little or nothing to be gained and perhaps even a

negative impact, in having ConservativeSwapfileUsage set equal to 1 when

running Win Me as this reverts swap file usage to the model used in

Windows 95.

 

From KB223294 "Windows 98 added a new feature,

PageFile_Call_Async_Manager, that allows the Memory Manager to

asynchronously write out page file (swap file) buffers during periods of

time when VFAT file system activity is not busy."

 

With 2GB of RAM setting MaxPhysPage=40000 is most sensible.

--

Mike Maltby

mike.maltby@gmail.com

 

 

Claudehl@aol.com <Claudehl@aol.com> wrote:

> I use Windows Me in a dual-boot system (actually quadruple-boot but

> never mind) on a computer that has 2GB of RAM, with the following

> lines added to system.ini

>

> [386Enh]

> ConservativeSwapfileUsage=1

> MaxPhysPage=40000

>

> [vcache]

> MaxFileCache=524288

>

> The [vcache] line is necessary, as explained by the other posters, I

> don't quite remember why the ConservativeSwapfileUsage=1 and

> MaxPhysPage=40000 limits the memory used by Windows Me to 1GB. I've

> read that things can get unstable above that, I never tried but why

> take the chance? Having more than 1 GB of RAM available to Windows Me

> won't make it happier anyway.

Guest ClueLess
Posted

Re: WinME memory limit

 

On Tue, 15 Apr 2008 11:48:45 +0100, "Mike M"

<No_Spam@Corned_Beef.Only> wrote:

>Not really as IMO opinion it is bad practice to try and run with 768MB of

>RAM and not limit vcache and this is likely to cause regular "out of

>memory" errors. That you manage to have none is fortunate but others are

>unlikely to be so lucky.

 

In addition I have also ConservativeSwapFileUsage=1 in the system.ini

file.

 

I never ever had any out of memory problems, no BSOD etc

 

Thanks for your time and attention

 

ClueLess

Guest Mike M
Posted

Re: WinME memory limit

 

ClueLess <clueless@wilderness.org.invalid> wrote:

>> Not really as IMO opinion it is bad practice to try and run with

>> 768MB of RAM and not limit vcache and this is likely to cause

>> regular "out of memory" errors. That you manage to have none is

>> fortunate but others are unlikely to be so lucky.

>

> In addition I have also ConservativeSwapFileUsage=1 in the system.ini

> file.

 

Why don't you run Win 95 whilst your at it?

> I never ever had any out of memory problems, no BSOD etc

 

Not really surprising if you are using ConservativeSwapFileUsage=1 since

you are unnecessarily throttling your PC. I can only assume that you like

to live up to the name you have chosen for yourself.

--

Mike Maltby

mike.maltby@gmail.com

Guest Heather
Posted

Re: WinME memory limit

 

ROFL!! Just came on here and saw this "Sir Michael Gem".....you are

quite obviously more hilarious and wittier at 3 am than noon time.

LOL!! Love that British sense of humour......

 

Get to bed, young man!!

 

XX Figgs

 

"Mike M" <No_Spam@Corned_Beef.Only> wrote in message

news:OLvSPCDoIHA.5016@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

> ClueLess <clueless@wilderness.org.invalid> wrote:

>

>>> Not really as IMO opinion it is bad practice to try and run with

>>> 768MB of RAM and not limit vcache and this is likely to cause

>>> regular "out of memory" errors. That you manage to have none is

>>> fortunate but others are unlikely to be so lucky.

>>

>> In addition I have also ConservativeSwapFileUsage=1 in the system.ini

>> file.

>

> Why don't you run Win 95 whilst your at it?

>

>> I never ever had any out of memory problems, no BSOD etc

>

> Not really surprising if you are using ConservativeSwapFileUsage=1

> since you are unnecessarily throttling your PC. I can only assume

> that you like to live up to the name you have chosen for yourself.

> --

> Mike Maltby

> mike.maltby@gmail.com

>

>

Guest Mike M
Posted

Re: WinME memory limit

 

Heather <figgyd@nospam.invalid> wrote:

> ROFL!! Just came on here and saw this "Sir Michael Gem".....you are

> quite obviously more hilarious and wittier at 3 am than noon time.

> LOL!! Love that British sense of humour......

>

> Get to bed, young man!!

 

I hadn't realised how late it was my time. I was shutting down my systems

and doing some general housekeeping (computers of course <g>) before

heading for bed and popped in here to see if anyone had posted. Perhaps I

should confine my postings to the morning after I've had a couple of mugs

of caffeine. <g>--

Mike

Guest Joan Archer
Posted

Re: WinME memory limit

 

Perhaps he's trying to make up for all those missing at the Pow Wow this

week <g>

Joan

 

--

Joan Archer

http://www.freewebs.com/crossstitcher

http://lachsoft.com/photogallery

 

"Heather" <figgyd@nospam.invalid> wrote in message

news:ep9lycDoIHA.3804@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

> ROFL!! Just came on here and saw this "Sir Michael Gem".....you are quite

> obviously more hilarious and wittier at 3 am than noon time. LOL!! Love

> that British sense of humour......

>

> Get to bed, young man!!

>

> XX Figgs

>

> "Mike M" <No_Spam@Corned_Beef.Only> wrote in message

> news:OLvSPCDoIHA.5016@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

>> ClueLess <clueless@wilderness.org.invalid> wrote:

>>

>>>> Not really as IMO opinion it is bad practice to try and run with

>>>> 768MB of RAM and not limit vcache and this is likely to cause

>>>> regular "out of memory" errors. That you manage to have none is

>>>> fortunate but others are unlikely to be so lucky.

>>>

>>> In addition I have also ConservativeSwapFileUsage=1 in the system.ini

>>> file.

>>

>> Why don't you run Win 95 whilst your at it?

>>

>>> I never ever had any out of memory problems, no BSOD etc

>>

>> Not really surprising if you are using ConservativeSwapFileUsage=1 since

>> you are unnecessarily throttling your PC. I can only assume that you

>> like to live up to the name you have chosen for yourself.

>> --

>> Mike Maltby

>> mike.maltby@gmail.com

>>

>>

>

>

Guest ClueLess
Posted

Re: WinME memory limit

 

On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 03:12:57 +0100, "Mike M"

<No_Spam@Corned_Beef.Only> wrote:

>Not really surprising if you are using ConservativeSwapFileUsage=1 since

>you are unnecessarily throttling your PC. I can only assume that you like

>to live up to the name you have chosen for yourself.

 

I have only stated my experience. I also wish to add that I edit lots

of movies and audio files and have never experienced any problem

whatsoever.

 

I may be clueless as to what is happening but what I have stated is a

fact, my expereince. Nothing to do with my cluelessness.

 

ClueLess, rarely.

 

 

Thanks for your time and attention

 

ClueLess

Guest Claudehl@aol.com
Posted

Re: WinME memory limit

 

On Apr 16, 7:12�pm, "Mike M" <No_Spam@Corned_Beef.Only> wrote:

>

> Why don't you run Win 95 whilst your at it?

>

 

Now that you mention it :) Win 95 can live happily in a computer with

lots of memory too, as long as you only have 512Mb of RAM when you

install it and afterwards it's good to limit the amount of RAM Win 95

uses to 768Mb with

 

[386Enh)

MaxPhysPage=30000

 

Claude

Guest Greegor
Posted

Re: WinME memory limit

 

Was the reported 768MB instability chalked up to the vcache setting?

Was it real in WinME or a Win95 problem projected onto WinME?

Is it acknowledged at all for WinME?

 

What WERE the MS patches for memory size on WinME?

I seem to recall seeing at least one.

 

Thanks everybody.

 

Notes:

 

[386Enh]

ConservativeSwapfileUsage=1 [ Unlikely to help. any other

options? ]

MaxPhysPage=40000 [ 1 Gig memory limit ]

 

[vcache]

MaxFileCache=524288

 

 

On Apr 15, 7:20 pm, "Mike M" <No_Spam@Corned_Beef.Only> wrote:

> To be honest there's little or nothing to be gained and perhaps even a

> negative impact, in having ConservativeSwapfileUsage set equal to 1 when

> running Win Me as this reverts swap file usage to the model used in

> Windows 95.

>

> From KB223294 "Windows 98 added a new feature,

> PageFile_Call_Async_Manager, that allows the Memory Manager to

> asynchronously write out page file (swap file) buffers during periods of

> time when VFAT file system activity is not busy."

>

> With 2GB of RAM setting MaxPhysPage=40000 is most sensible.

> --

> Mike Maltby

> mike.mal...@gmail.com

>

>

>

> Claud...@aol.com <Claud...@aol.com> wrote:

> > I use Windows Me in a dual-boot system (actually quadruple-boot but

> > never mind) on a computer that has 2GB of RAM, with the following

> > lines added to system.ini

>

> > [386Enh]

> > ConservativeSwapfileUsage=1

> > MaxPhysPage=40000

>

> > [vcache]

> > MaxFileCache=524288

>

> > The [vcache] line is necessary, as explained by the other posters, I

> > don't quite remember why the ConservativeSwapfileUsage=1 and

> > MaxPhysPage=40000 limits the memory used by Windows Me to 1GB. I've

> > read that things can get unstable above that, I never tried but why

> > take the chance? Having more than 1 GB of RAM available to Windows Me

> > won't make it happier anyway.

Guest Mike M
Posted

Re: WinME memory limit

 

Yes acknowledged and I have already given the reference but since you

appear not to have read the thread from the start I will repeat it for

you.

 

MS KB 253912 - ""Out of Memory" Error Messages with Large Amounts of RAM

Installed" (http://support.microsoft.com?kbid=253912). If you bring up

this KB you will see it quite clearly stated that it applies to Win Me

which has the same architecture as Win 98/98SE.

> What WERE the MS patches for memory size on WinME?

 

Again reading the entire thread will help you here starting with DG's

initial post and my reply. The only patch was for hibernation problems -

see MS KB 296773 but the updated copy of vmm.vxd has not been available

from Microsoft for some years.

--

Mike Maltby

mike.maltby@gmail.com

 

 

Greegor <Greegor47@gmail.com> wrote:

> Was the reported 768MB instability chalked up to the vcache setting?

> Was it real in WinME or a Win95 problem projected onto WinME?

> Is it acknowledged at all for WinME?

>

> What WERE the MS patches for memory size on WinME?

> I seem to recall seeing at least one.

>

> Thanks everybody.

>

> Notes:

>

> [386Enh]

> ConservativeSwapfileUsage=1 [ Unlikely to help. any other

> options? ]

> MaxPhysPage=40000 [ 1 Gig memory limit ]

>

> [vcache]

> MaxFileCache=524288

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