Low virtual memory

[Guest]

SYSTEM:
A laptop , 320 MB RAM, 18 GB hard disk (divided into C and D), XP
Professional.

TASK:
I try to install Dark Forces (1994) in DOS.

PROBLEM:
When I run install.exe from DOS, I get a warning about low Virtual Memory.

This game can run on a 8 MB RAM system, I got 320. And other, much bigger
games works OK. In the background I'm not running Norton Internet Security,
but disabling it does not help. Other than NIS, I'm not running anything of
significance in the background.

I checked my Virtual Memory in two ways, and got two results:
1: Control Panel - System - Advanced - Settings - Advanced. There I got 480
MB virtual memory.
2: Start menu - Programs - .... - System Information. There I got 1,07 GB
virtual memory.

WHAT I HAVE DONE:
I have scanned for viruses and spyware with Norton, Ad-Aware and Spybot S&D.
They are all updated and come up with a clean result.

Someone told me the page file could be corrupt, and adviced me to:
1. In the Virtual Memory settings, set to "No page file", then exit System
Properties.
2. Shut down the pc and reboot.
3. Delete PAGEFILE.SYS on each drive.
4. Set the page file up again.
5. Reboot.

I followed step 1 and 2, but I cannot find PAGEFILE.SYS. My Win XP is
Norwegian, could this file have a local (Norwegian) name? (Many folders and
files deep in the system is on English also in the Norwegian Windows.)


Help is greatly appreciated, thanks

 

[Guest]

EDIT:
I said "I'm *not* running Norton Internet Security", but please ignore "not".

I have installed this game on this computer before, but uninstalled it
because I did not get any sound. But it worked without any memory issues.
I now have a SoundBlaster (external), so I want to install the game again.
But this time I fail.

 

[Jimmy S.]

Hi Karl,

When a game is a DOS game, it could work using compatibility mode:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=292533 or by using the Multiboot
bootdisk from: http://members.ozemail.com.au/~lpcd/downloads.html
and always check at fileplanet.com to see if there's a patch available.

With DOSBOX you can emulate a DOS computer on your XP desktop:
http://dosbox.sourceforge.net/information.php Or try MS Virtual PC:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/virtualpc/downloads/trial.asp
which allows you to install DOS or to run any operating system inside XP.

If you prefer to explore other advanced methods, here are two excellent
tutorials I've found on the subject: http://www.dosgames.com/xphints.php
and http://home.earthlink.net/~angeldancer27/XpGameList.htm For sound
issues use: http://www.ece.mcgill.ca/~vromas/vdmsound Good Luck!

--
Cheers, Windows XP MVP Shell / User
Jimmy S. http://mvp.support.microsoft.com


Game FAQs: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=FH;[LN];gms
Visit my Zone.com / Gaming Helpsite: http://nibblesnbits.tk or Call / Contact
MS Support at: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=sz;en-us;top
My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty; nor do I confer any rights.
_________________________________________________________

 

[Guest]

Thank you for a very good response.

But I wonder how I managed to install the game on this system in the past.
Then I didn't face this problem. Since that time I've added an external
SoundBlaster and updated the video drivers. Nothing else is changed (if I
recall correctly).

Do you (or anyone) have an idea why I got 2 different values when I checked
the virtual memory in 2 ways? Is something wrong?

Karl

Hi Karl,

When a game is a DOS game, it could work using compatibility mode:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=292533 or by using the Multiboot
bootdisk from: http://members.ozemail.com.au/~lpcd/downloads.html
and always check at fileplanet.com to see if there's a patch available.

With DOSBOX you can emulate a DOS computer on your XP desktop:
http://dosbox.sourceforge.net/information.php Or try MS Virtual PC:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/virtualpc/downloads/trial.asp
which allows you to install DOS or to run any operating system inside XP.

If you prefer to explore other advanced methods, here are two excellent
tutorials I've found on the subject: http://www.dosgames.com/xphints.php
and http://home.earthlink.net/~angeldancer27/XpGameList.htm For sound
issues use: http://www.ece.mcgill.ca/~vromas/vdmsound Good Luck!

--
Cheers, Windows XP MVP Shell / User
Jimmy S. http://mvp.support.microsoft.com


Game FAQs: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=FH;[LN];gms
Visit my Zone.com / Gaming Helpsite: http://nibblesnbits.tk or Call / Contact
MS Support at: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=sz;en-us;top
My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty; nor do I confer any rights.
_________________________________________________________

SYSTEM:
A laptop , 320 MB RAM, 18 GB hard disk (divided into C and D), XP
Professional.

TASK:
I try to install Dark Forces (1994) in DOS.

PROBLEM:
When I run install.exe from DOS, I get a warning about low Virtual Memory.

This game can run on a 8 MB RAM system, I got 320. And other, much bigger
games works OK. In the background I'm not running Norton Internet Security,
but disabling it does not help. Other than NIS, I'm not running anything of
significance in the background.

I checked my Virtual Memory in two ways, and got two results:
1: Control Panel - System - Advanced - Settings - Advanced. There I got 480
MB virtual memory.
2: Start menu - Programs - .... - System Information. There I got 1,07 GB
virtual memory.

WHAT I HAVE DONE:
I have scanned for viruses and spyware with Norton, Ad-Aware and Spybot S&D.
They are all updated and come up with a clean result.

Someone told me the page file could be corrupt, and adviced me to:
1. In the Virtual Memory settings, set to "No page file", then exit System
Properties.
2. Shut down the pc and reboot.
3. Delete PAGEFILE.SYS on each drive.
4. Set the page file up again.
5. Reboot.

I followed step 1 and 2, but I cannot find PAGEFILE.SYS. My Win XP is
Norwegian, could this file have a local (Norwegian) name? (Many folders and
files deep in the system is on English also in the Norwegian Windows.)


Help is greatly appreciated, thanks

 

[Guest]

OK, I'm now able to install Dark Forces! I run it in Win95 mode and changed
some memory settings.

But alas, my USB SoundBlaster mp3+ give no sound at all. Not a blip! The
game detects the soundcard as a SoundBlaster of some kind, but not as a
SoundBlaster mp3+. (The built-in soundcard is not compatible either. That's
why I bought the SoundBlaster, for playing Dark Forces!!)

I'm not sure what to do, maybe some sleep will clear the head.
If somebody have a suggestion, please make a post.

Karl

Thank you for a very good response.

But I wonder how I managed to install the game on this system in the past.
Then I didn't face this problem. Since that time I've added an external
SoundBlaster and updated the video drivers. Nothing else is changed (if I
recall correctly).

Do you (or anyone) have an idea why I got 2 different values when I checked
the virtual memory in 2 ways? Is something wrong?

Karl

Hi Karl,

When a game is a DOS game, it could work using compatibility mode:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=292533 or by using the Multiboot
bootdisk from: http://members.ozemail.com.au/~lpcd/downloads.html
and always check at fileplanet.com to see if there's a patch available.

With DOSBOX you can emulate a DOS computer on your XP desktop:
http://dosbox.sourceforge.net/information.php Or try MS Virtual PC:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/virtualpc/downloads/trial.asp
which allows you to install DOS or to run any operating system inside XP.

If you prefer to explore other advanced methods, here are two excellent
tutorials I've found on the subject: http://www.dosgames.com/xphints.php
and http://home.earthlink.net/~angeldancer27/XpGameList.htm For sound
issues use: http://www.ece.mcgill.ca/~vromas/vdmsound Good Luck!

--
Cheers, Windows XP MVP Shell / User
Jimmy S. http://mvp.support.microsoft.com


Game FAQs: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=FH;[LN];gms
Visit my Zone.com / Gaming Helpsite: http://nibblesnbits.tk or Call / Contact
MS Support at: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=sz;en-us;top
My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty; nor do I confer any rights.
_________________________________________________________

SYSTEM:
A laptop , 320 MB RAM, 18 GB hard disk (divided into C and D), XP
Professional.

TASK:
I try to install Dark Forces (1994) in DOS.

PROBLEM:
When I run install.exe from DOS, I get a warning about low Virtual Memory.

This game can run on a 8 MB RAM system, I got 320. And other, much bigger
games works OK. In the background I'm not running Norton Internet Security,
but disabling it does not help. Other than NIS, I'm not running anything of
significance in the background.

I checked my Virtual Memory in two ways, and got two results:
1: Control Panel - System - Advanced - Settings - Advanced. There I got 480
MB virtual memory.
2: Start menu - Programs - .... - System Information. There I got 1,07 GB
virtual memory.

WHAT I HAVE DONE:
I have scanned for viruses and spyware with Norton, Ad-Aware and Spybot S&D.
They are all updated and come up with a clean result.

Someone told me the page file could be corrupt, and adviced me to:
1. In the Virtual Memory settings, set to "No page file", then exit System
Properties.
2. Shut down the pc and reboot.
3. Delete PAGEFILE.SYS on each drive.
4. Set the page file up again.
5. Reboot.

I followed step 1 and 2, but I cannot find PAGEFILE.SYS. My Win XP is
Norwegian, could this file have a local (Norwegian) name? (Many folders and
files deep in the system is on English also in the Norwegian Windows.)


Help is greatly appreciated, thanks