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Max RAM for Windows 98 SE

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What is the maximum amount of RAM that WIndows 98 Second Edition can use/see?

Had heard that it was either 256 or 512.

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Max RAM for Windows 98 SE

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MSKB Q253912
If a computer contains more than 512 megabytes (for example, 768 megabytes) of physical memory (RAM), you may experience one or more of the following symptoms:

You may be unable to open an MS-DOS session (or command prompt) while Windows is running. Attempts to do so may generate the following error message:

There is not enough memory available to run this program.
Quit one or more programs, and then try again.

The computer may stop responding (hang) while Windows isstarting, or halt and display 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.

——————————–
Also See MSKB Q304943

To limit access to 1 GB of RAM on Win98:

To work around this issue, 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 1 GB. To add this line, use the following steps:
Use any text editor (such as Notepad) to open the System.ini file in the Windows folder.

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

MaxPhysPage=40000
Save the file, and then restart your computer.

Max RAM for Windows 98 SE

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Essentailly, it is implied that Win98 max is 1 GB, but you may have some problems with DOS type programs if you install more than 512 KB.

Max RAM for Windows 98 SE

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My comment was supposed to be 512 MegaBytes MB, not KB.

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Max RAM for Windows 98 SE

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Hi,

First there is no limit , it depends of how much RAM your computer can support.
However some people does experience problems when installing more than 512 MB, as the following ms kb will show you. Out of Memory” Error Messages with Large Amounts of RAM Installed (Q253912)

If a computer that is running any of the versions of Windows that are listed above contains more than 512 megabytes (for example, 768 megabytes) of physical memory (RAM), you may experience one or more of the following symptoms:

You may be unable to open an MS-DOS session (or command prompt) while Windows is running. Attempts to do so may generate the following error message:

There is not enough memory available to run this program.
Quit one or moreprograms, and then try again.
The computer may stop responding (hang) while Windows is starting, or halt and display 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.

CAUSE
The Windows 32-bit protected-mode cache driver (Vcache) determines the maximum cache size based on the amount of RAM that is present when Windows starts. Vcache then reserves enough memory addresses to permit it to access a cache of the maximum size so that it can increase the cache to that size if needed. These addresses are allocated in a range of virtual addresses from 0xC0000000 through 0xFFFFFFFF (3 to 4 gigabytes) known as the system arena.

On computers with large amounts of RAM, the maximum cache size can be large enough that Vcache consumes all of the addresses in the system arena, leaving no virtual memory addresses available for other functions such as opening an MS-DOS prompt (creating a new virtual machine).

end part 1.

Max RAM for Windows 98 SE

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part 2.

WORKAROUND
To work around this problem, use one of the following methods:

Use the MaxFileCache setting in the System.ini file to reduce the maximum amount of memory that Vcache uses to 512 megabytes (524,288 KB) or less.

For additional information about how to use the MaxFileCache setting, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q108079 32-Bit File Access Maximum Cache Size
Use the System Configuration utility to limit the amount of memory that Windows uses to 512 megabytes (MB) or less.

For additional information about how to use the System Configuration utility, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q181966 System Configuration Utility Advanced Troubleshooting Settings
Reduce the amount of memory that is installed in your computer to 512 MB or less.

See also
How to Increase the Memory Capability of Your Computer (Q259184)

regards,

Leopold

Max RAM for Windows 98 SE

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