RAM Issue.

[imported_Fluffy]

I recently reformatted and reinstalled Windows Me. (On a standard Compaq 5000 series, 96MB RAM).

Since that time my RAM has been acting "fragile." By that, I mean opening a very small program, such as AIM 4.8, causes a severe drop on my resource meter. Also, after closing that program, the resources do not return to their previous state, they stay depleted. I'm sure that my resource meter is functioning properly because opening another simple program such as IE 5.5 causes my system to freeze permanently, and must be rebooted. I also ran MemTest overnight, which resulted in no errors.

I'm clueless as to what the problem is, and any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Fern]

How did you do the reformat/reinstall? Many lappies need a reconfiguration disk, instead of a regular copy of windows. The reconfiguration disk has all the chipset drivers neccessary. Are those installed?

 

[imported_Fluffy]

To the best of my knowledge, no. I wasn't aware of a reconfiguration disk.

 

[imported_Fluffy]

Is there a way I can find these specific drivers on the internet for download?

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: Fluffy
I recently reformatted and reinstalled Windows Me. (On a standard Compaq 5000 series, 96MB RAM).

Since that time my RAM has been acting "fragile." By that, I mean opening a very small program, such as AIM 4.8, causes a severe drop on my resource meter. Also, after closing that program, the resources do not return to their previous state, they stay depleted. I'm sure that my resource meter is functioning properly because opening another simple program such as IE 5.5 causes my system to freeze permanently, and must be rebooted. I also ran MemTest overnight, which resulted in no errors.

I'm clueless as to what the problem is, and any help would be greatly appreciated.

That really has nothing to do with the amount of RAM that you have, it's a "feature" of the Win9x line of OSes. There are two areas of memory, each 64KB in size (IIRC), called the "system" and "GDI" heaps.

Some applications don't free up these "resources" properly when they exit, so eventually they all get allocated, and the OS can't really handle that, and it freezes or crashes or something. That's one reason why most Win9x OSes have to be rebooted multiple times per day. I suggest installing W2K or XP if you possibly can, they have much higher resource limits, it takes a lot to hit them. (I do, constantly, but that's because of a current bug in Firefox, a GDI handle leak.) Actually, with only 96MB of RAM, XP won't really run, and W2K might be slightly sluggish. You might also consider "downgrading" to Win98se, it seems to be a lot more stable than ME in many circumstances.

PS. Are you running Zone Alarm, by any chance? I noticed that it seems to eat resources pretty badly on Win9x OSes. I would suggest switching to an alternative, like Kerio 2.1.5 or something, if possible.

 

[imported_Fluffy]

Before I reinstalled Windows Me onto my system, I did downgrade to 98Se. (Forgot to mention that in my first post). The same problem occurred there.

Also, I don't use Zone Alarm, or any of it's alternatives.

 

[Ryoga]

Windows 9x System Resources Explained

I strongly suggest trying Cacheman with any Windows 9x system. Install it and run through the wizards. You should notice a significant improvement (IMX, anyhow).

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: Fluffy
Is there a way I can find these specific drivers on the internet for download?

I'd look to google, maybe forums on lappies.

Check here too
Link

If I had the time, I'd reformat and reinstall 98se on my lappie (with no chipset drivers) and bench it. Then put my reconfig disk in (winME) with drivers and bench it again to see the diff w/no drivers versus drivers.

Well, good luck with the hunt

 

[imported_Fluffy]

Thank you for the site referral Fern.

I have looked on Google, and on that site, but I don't think I have found what I am looking for.

Would anyone happen to know what specific drivers I should be looking for, for my desktop?

 

[PsharkJF]

Try shitpaq.. er Compaq []'s site. They should have the drivers.
I say shitpaq because I work in a pc repair shop and man are those things SOB's to service ;O

edit: 96 meg of RAM doesn't give you much of anything, and the fact that 9x/ME's kernel doesn't seem to know how to "page out" resources, means pretty much anything you do will need a restart to clear the machine. Welcome to 9x!

 

[imported_Fluffy]

Fully agreed, lol.