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General discussion

Maximum Memory

Mar 15, 2004 12:13AM PST

This is embarassing: Recently learned Windows 98 is capable handling 512MB of ram- period. Some time ago I bumped my ram to 768MB, and it is noted in the boot up sequence. Mother board can handle 1024MB. Have I just wasted money? Will an upgrade to Windows ME recognize the additional memory? (I have the disk.)

Terry McElree

Discussion is locked

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Re:Maximum Memory
Mar 15, 2004 12:32AM PST

Actually, it's debatable if there is any payback except in specific instances. Let me share MY ISSUE with Windows 98 and a machine with over 512M?

My issue is simple. Let's say Joe Xpert installs over 512M and follows the changes needed from http://support.microsoft.com/?id=q253912 for it to function smoothly.

A few months pass and the machine is now with Joe Xpert's offspring which is at college. Something happens and the OS needs to be reload. Joe didn't tell or think much about the tweak needed and the machine is crashing on install of the OS. A week passes and many hours lost.

That's my issue. Don't configure machines in such a way that others can't handle it.

Bob

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Re:Re:Maximum Memory
Mar 15, 2004 10:14AM PST

Thank you once again, Bob.

Actually I have done no tweaking to this system; I just dropped in the third ram card, and rebooted. "Viola", 768MB ram on start up.. So, is it just laying there dormant?

You did not answer my last question, "Will Windows ME utilize more than 512MB ram?"

The system is actually running very well; my only squak is I seem to be getting very little "print spooling" with all this "excess" ram.

Comments?

Terry McElree

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Re:Re:Re:Maximum Memory Q&A
Mar 15, 2004 10:30AM PST

You did not answer my last question, "Will Windows ME utilize more than 512MB ram?"

No. Your applications use that RAM. It would be very bad to see an OS utilize that much RAM.

You seem to be doing fine, but keep that article handy if the issue comes up.

Bob

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Re:Re:Re:Re:Maximum Memory Q&A
Mar 28, 2004 1:05PM PST

IIRC, ME will, but on some intel dual-memory-controller boards it gets touchy. XP will handle a gig or more from what I've been told. I run 98, so that's why I only put 512 megs in this Athlon XP 2200+ system when I put it together.

The question I have is whether the video card's AGP aperture will use memory that windows can't. Happy

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Maximum Memory
Mar 29, 2004 6:55PM PST

"The question I have is whether the video card's AGP apature will use memory that windows can't."

That's a good question. To further that, If you have shared RAM with onboard video can you use more than 512Mb? I honestly don't think it's been tested but theoretically, yes. My apature runs up to 128Mb which is the same as my video card. So, 640Mb should work cause it is set in the BIOS and not in Windows. Theoretically....So, with 768Mb, only 640Mb would be used.

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Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Maximum Memory Q&A
May 30, 2004 4:46AM PDT

Thats a good question. I am like the way win 98se works for me. I want to blow out my old processor and vid and ram. I currently have 512 but want to get more, and want to upgrade my old 64mb vid card. So should I just bite the bullet and go with xp?

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You Have Too Much RAM; Lucky Computer Still Works
Mar 29, 2004 8:50PM PST

My computer's manual states that it can handle 1.5GB of RAM and so that much was installed, and computer would not even boot.

One 512MB chip was removed and it would boot but not usable.

Another chip was removed and computer started working again.

With W98, 512MB is max. I do not know about WME but have read that W2000 can handle it.

If you reduced RAM back to 512MB, your computer would probably work better.

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Re:You Have Too Much RAM; Lucky Computer Still Works
Apr 1, 2004 11:38AM PST

Well, I run W98SE with 640 megs of ram and have never had a problem with this computer booting. Of course, you have to follow the instructions from MS as Bob stated above. Once set to except more ram, there should be no problems booting. Though the OS doesn't need more than 512, the extra ram can be used by other applications.