SYMPTOMS
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 ma=
y 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. |
| • |
The compu=
ter
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 addr=
esses
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) kno=
wn
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 addresse=
s in
the system arena, leaving no virtual memory addresses available for other f=
unctions
such as opening an MS-DOS prompt (creating a new virtual machine).
WORKAROUND
To work around this
problem, use one of the following methods:
| • |
Use the <=
span
class=3DSpellE>MaxFileCache setting in the System.ini file to redu=
ce the
maximum amount of memory that Vcache uses to =
512
megabytes (524,288 KB) or less. For additional information about how to u=
se
the MaxFileCache setting, click the article n=
umber
below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Add a lin=
e to
windows\system.ini Edit it w=
ith
Notepad, look for [vcache] and under it enter=
a
line MaxFileCache=3D512000 108079
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/108079/EN-US/) 32-Bit File
Access Maximum Cache Size |
| • |
Use the S=
ystem
Configuration utility to limit the amount of memory that Windows uses to =
512
megabytes (MB) or less.For additional informa=
tion
about how to use the System Configuration utility, click the article numb=
er
below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 181966
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/181966/EN-US/) System
Configuration Utility Advanced Troubleshooting Settings |
| • |
Reduce the
amount of memory that is installed in your computer to 512 MB or less. |
STATUS
Microsoft has conf=
irmed
that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the
beginning of this article.
MORE INFORMATION
Vcache is limited internally to a maximum cache siz=
e of
800 MB.
This problem may occur more readily with Advanced Graphics Port (AGP) video
adapters because the AGP aperture is also mapped to addresses in the system
arena. For example, if Vcache is using a maximum
cache size of 800 MB and an AGP video adapter has a 128-MB aperture mapped,
there is very little address space remaining for the other system code and =
data
that must occupy this range of virtual addresses.
A=
PPLIES
TO
|
• |
Mic=
rosoft
Windows Millennium Edition |
|
• |
Mic=
rosoft
Windows 98 Second Edition |
|
• |
Mic=
rosoft
Windows 98 Standard Edition |
|
• |
Mic=
rosoft
Windows 95 |