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"Insufficient memory to initialize Windows 98SE" -- clean load on newly partitioned HD

G

ghoti

Member
I can't get WIN 98SE to start up the first time after running setup to the point of the first boot off the HD. I keep getting the error message "Insufficient memory to initialize Windows", together with the suggestion that I close some memory resident programs and/ or alter the autoexec.bat and config.sys to make more memory available.

I make the following observations: I have NO other programs running, and I cannot find any autoexec.bat file on my C: Drive. There is command.com (which I cannot "look into," and config.sys, which is only one line, a setver command.

I then tried deleting the partition and starting over, this time (after reformatting the HD w/ FAT 32) copying the entire setup directory off the CD and running setup off the HD. Same result . . .

Anyone got any suggestions? I sure could use the help! (I'm about terminally aggravated at this point.)

:disgust:
 
Whenyou deleted the partition, did you run fdisk /mbr. This will reset the MBR. You can do this anytime. You might try hard drive diagnostics to see if there is a problem. Are you overclocking?
 
First of all, how much memory do you have? While I highly doubt you don't have enough I just am making sure. Definitely could be a format option problem. Did you install a new memory module? Make sure all the hardware is showing up correctly in the bios. Also did you have multiple partitions? Maybe something is screwball with the hardrive.
 
First, thanks for the replies!

System: FX-53; SK8V; 2Gig ECC/ Registered memory; 2 74GB Raptors; no overclocking.

Everything shows up okay on the bios. Memory tests good with boot-up mem tester (I think it's Linux) on floppy (seven hour test -- NO errors).

I have WinXP Pro Sp1 loaded and up and running just fine on one HD -- I did that AFTER repeated failures as described above. In other words, I started with the attempt to load Win98SE (intending to use BIOS settings to switch HDs to use dual OS's). I tried first simply disabling the second HD in the BIOS -- both drives raw, unformatted/ unpartioned. Then I partitioned and formatted HD1 and tried to load Win98SE -- problem as noted ablove. Then I tried actually disconnecting the HD2 plug from the MB (still keeping the HD2 disabled in the BIOS -- again started with raw, unpartitioned/ unformatted HD1 -- same steps; same result.

Redbeard: While I have run FDisk, I have not used /MBR switch -- is that necessary?

All suggestions will be appreciated -- I'd really like to get Win 98SE up and running so as to be able to play some of my favorite old games (which are not runnable on XP).

Thanks again for your interest/ help.

😕
 
What old games are you looking to run? I've heard good things about DOSBox (freeware emulator) for running old DOS games under XP.
 
Thanks Chad.

I've heard good things about DOS Box as well. I wonder though, whether I'd be able to run all of these under DOS?: Master of Orion 2 (I doubt it); Betrayal @ Krondor; Alpha Centauri; Colonization. I recall having a heckuva time getting Krondor to run under DOS: the memory requirements were ridiculous -- it needed EMS PLUS every possible drop of conventional memory.

I recall seeing a site which included a major survey of old games' compatibility (or lack thereof) with XP -- don't recall where it was -- I'd like to find it again!

Here's to the old games! (One of my all time favorites was the original DOS Sid Meier's RR Tycoon -- what a great simulation! I also really like MOO2.)
 
Originally posted by: ghoti
Thanks Chad.

I've heard good things about DOS Box as well. I wonder though, whether I'd be able to run all of these under DOS?: Master of Orion 2 (I doubt it); Betrayal @ Krondor; Alpha Centauri; Colonization. I recall having a heckuva time getting Krondor to run under DOS: the memory requirements were ridiculous -- it needed EMS PLUS every possible drop of conventional memory.

I recall seeing a site which included a major survey of old games' compatibility (or lack thereof) with XP -- don't recall where it was -- I'd like to find it again!

Here's to the old games! (One of my all time favorites was the original DOS Sid Meier's RR Tycoon -- what a great simulation! I also really like MOO2.)
Click to expand...

www.ntcompatible.com

vdmsound is good for getting dos games to work.
 
you simply cannot run 2gb of ram under w9x.
the best it can do is run 1536mb, and you would still have to make a few tweaks in w9x in order for that to work.
http://www.bleedinedge.com/forum/showthread.php?t=140

the only way to run 2gb is to limit the amount shown to windows.
boot to safe mode - run msconfig - general/advanced - limit memory to 512mb and reboot.
performance will suck using this method, but at least it works.

if you want full performance you need to remove some ram and follow the instructions listed in the link above.

HTH 🙂
 
98se has been debatable for me with a gig of memory, when I first installed it I did the vcache tweaks AND limited memory to 512mb, ironically it popped up even more "out of memory errors" when I had the memory limited to 512 than when I unlimited it and windows detects 1022mb.
 
Thanks!

I had no clue about Win 98SE's limitations as to RAM.

Thugsrook, how am I gonna boot into safe mode to make the necessary adjustments? I can't get that far!

On the other track, guess I'll look into DOSBox.

Thanks again.
 
(looking at Thugsrook's links to himself) Hunh. Weird, I've had 640MB of PC100 ram in my P5A with Win98SE and never once had a memory problem. Rock stable. And zero adjustments. I would have gone to a gig, had I had the money.

Of course, now I have a new rig I'm putting together but still with 98SE, and I still can't afford more than 512 megs. Ah well. Maybe for the best. 🙂

Btw, your Comcast links on BleedinEdge show up as 404s, might want to look into that... Some of those applications I want!
 
Originally posted by: ghoti
Thanks!

I had no clue about Win 98SE's limitations as to RAM.

Thugsrook, how am I gonna boot into safe mode to make the necessary adjustments? I can't get that far!

On the other track, guess I'll look into DOSBox.

Thanks again.
Click to expand...
it should be able to make it to safe mode.
if not the moboard may not able to run that much memory and/or that many sticks.
can you add more dimm voltage?
 
Originally posted by: McMadman
98se has been debatable for me with a gig of memory, when I first installed it I did the vcache tweaks AND limited memory to 512mb, ironically it popped up even more "out of memory errors" when I had the memory limited to 512 than when I unlimited it and windows detects 1022mb.
Click to expand...
you are correct ~ some programs will show 1022mb and some will show 1024mb.
 
Originally posted by: niall
(looking at Thugsrook's links to himself) Hunh. Weird, I've had 640MB of PC100 ram in my P5A with Win98SE and never once had a memory problem. Rock stable. And zero adjustments. I would have gone to a gig, had I had the money.

Of course, now I have a new rig I'm putting together but still with 98SE, and I still can't afford more than 512 megs. Ah well. Maybe for the best. 🙂

Btw, your Comcast links on BleedinEdge show up as 404s, might want to look into that... Some of those applications I want!
Click to expand...
ill check and fix those links now....
 
Originally posted by: THUGSROOK
Originally posted by: ghoti
Thanks!

I had no clue about Win 98SE's limitations as to RAM.

Thugsrook, how am I gonna boot into safe mode to make the necessary adjustments? I can't get that far!

On the other track, guess I'll look into DOSBox.

Thanks again.
Click to expand...
it should be able to make it to safe mode.
if not the moboard may not able to run that much memory and/or that many sticks.
can you add more dimm voltage?
Click to expand...


I tried loading Win98SE onto my girlfriend's pc with 512mb of RAM and it wouldn't let me get that far either. It'd been so long since I used Win98 that I'd forgotten about the RAM limitation--until I tried this. I didn't care, I was just playing around. I ended up loading XP on it anyway. Until I read this thread, I didn't even know there were some workarounds for that RAM limitation.
 
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