Windows 98Se -- More than 512 Mb Ram

[SteveLewis]

Is anyone successfully using more than 512 Mb of RAM in Windows 98 or 98Se? I am unable to get my PC to boot with 2 512Mb sticks of DDR333 SDRAM even though Microsoft has a workaround (doesn't work for me)...I used the Microsoft XP web page Upgrade survey to see if I could easily upgrade to XP and from the look of it a clean install would be much easier. Ugh.. ;( Any help would be appreciated.:-wave

[Guest kilo_sierra17]

You have to make some simple changes in 98, scroll down on this page and you will find your answer. Someone had the same question as you.

[SteveLewis]

I searched all the AVSIM forums as well as the forums on FlightSim.com and the internet sites. I've added the lines suggested by everyone including Microsoft to my system.ini file. Nothing seems to work. My PC just freezes during startup. The bios does show both SDRAM sticks present but Windows freezes with the A drive (3.5 floppy) green light stuck on..... I'm asking everyone if maybe there's something else to add to the system besides those lines in system.ini {vcache} and {386Enh}...

[Vulcan]

It may be your mo/bo that can't handle the extra RAM and not Win98SE, I had the same problem and even upgrading to Win2kPro didn't cure it :-(, but at least it indicated that the OS wasn't to blame.If you have 2 sticks of 512MB AND they are both the same speed, try the following after setting the RAM timings in the BIOS to the lowest value.Remove one stick, does the PC work correctly?If 'Yes' remove that stick and replace it with the other and test again.If 'Yes' again then both sticks are OK but still may not work together.From this point all you can do is try them in different slots.Some mo/bos want them in slot 1 & 2, some in slot 1 & 3, etc.Have a play around and if you can't get the PC to boot then I'm afraid the only solution is to forget one stick or replace both of them with better quality RAM.If you do get them to work you can then go back into the BIOS and try increasing the RAM timings.HTH and best of luck.

[SteveLewis]

Intel D845PESVL MoBo can handle up to 2 Gb of RAM in 2 slots..... Either DDR266 or DDR333.

[Vulcan]

>Intel D845PESVL MoBo can handle up to 2 Gb of RAM in 2>slots..... Either DDR266 or DDR333.Sorry Steve, that means diddly squat :-)My Abit board will handle 3GB (I think) according to the manual but it wouldn't take 2x512MB sticks I originally purchased as generic RAM. There was a name on the chips and they were a well known make but I still couldn't get Win98SE or Win2kPro to run correctly.I purchased 2 more sticks from Crucial, a bit dearer than the originals, and the PC ran a sweet as a nut, so it is more a question of the quality of the RAM.I think it is down to how tight the timing of the RAM chips are, or mo/bo design and timing to the RAM slots. Sort of if the manufacturing tolerances of the board and the RAM stack up wrong it ain't going to work, if the tolerances are in your favour it will work.One advantage of Crucial is that you can look on their web site for your mo/bo and they will suggest the best RAM, if that RAM does not work you can return the RAM, not always so easy with other suppliers, at least here in the UK.Usual disclaimer, I have no affiliation or interest in Crucial, just a happy customer who wished he'd used them first rather than spend

[SteveLewis]

Well, the original stick is a generic one. The second one is elixer brand that I picked up the other day. Are you saying that if I had two matched sticks the probability of them running would increase? Or would I be stuck returning two sticks?

[Vulcan]

>Are you saying that if I had two matched sticks the probability of them running would increase?