R
Richard Thomas
I've discovered that a false "Out of Memory" error generated in Windows XP,
can be "cured" by REDUCING the pagefile size, but I don't know why.
I am attempting to run an old program, Midisoft Studio 4.0, on a Windows XP
system.
Although my "Out of Memory" problem relates to a specific piece of
software, Midisoft Studio 4.0, other old software applications may also
experience this same problem.
The really surprising thing is that two separate new Dell systems, each
running an updated Windows XP Pro OS, respond differently for this old,
simple piece of Windows 95 software!
Software:
Midisoft Studio
Studio 4.0 for Windows 95 (with updated executable for Windows 98)
Orginally created in 1995 by the Midisoft Corporation
Machine No 1:
Dell Dimension 8300, with 1024 MB DDR RAM.
Intel Pentium 4 3.00 GHz
Memory: 1024 MB Memory (RAM)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Video: ATI 9800 Radeon Pro (128 MB)
Sound: Soundblaster Live! 5.1 Digital
Paging file:
Custom size:
Initial size (MB): 1536
Maximum size (MB): 3072
(The recommended size is 1533 MB)
I have used this program for many years. First under Windows 95, then under
Windows 98. (Midisoft issued an update of the Studio.exe file that was
required in order for it to run properly under Windows 98.) I have now
upgraded to a Dell Dimension 8300 with 1024 MBytes of RAM and the Windows XP
Operating System.
The files created by Midisoft Studio 4.0 are saved in Midisoft's own *.sng
format; however, standard *.mid files can also be opened. Files in *.sng
format retain the key, clef, and other notation, which is lost if the file
is re-saved in *.mid format. When the file is opened, Midisoft presents the
file in musical notation. It will also show the lyrics if any have been
added.
After I put the software on the new Dell Dimension 8300, the program could
be opened, and notes placed on the staff. I could also open small *.sng
files. However, if the *.sng file encoded more than a few measures of
musical notation, I would get "Out of Memory" errors, and the file could not
be opened.
I tried numerous "Compatibility Settings" and even used the "Compatibility
Wizard" (which doesn't seem to do much more than what one can do oneself),
but none of the "Compatibility settings" I tried would fix the "Out of
Memory" problem.
After searching Google Groups, I found a possible cause of this error.
There were some postings that claimed that some old Windows applications
can't cope with a Paging file that exceeds 512 MB in size.
My new system was originally set up by Dell to use the following
Paging file:
Drive: C Space available: 49469 MB
Custom size:
Initial size (MB): 1536
Maximum size (MB): 3072
(The recommended size is 1533 MB)
I reset the size of the paging file to:
Initial size (MB): 511
Maximum size (MB): 512
With the above settings Midisoft Studio 4 can open any of my *.sng files and
operate correctly! REDUCING the page size makes the "Out of Memory" error
go away!
From the above, I suspected that the Windows XP OS was at fault, but tests
on another new Dell system, indicates that the situation is more
complicated.
Machine No. 2:
Dell OptiPlex GX270
Intel Pentium 4 3.00 GHz running at 2.92 GHz
Memory: 512 MB Memory (RAM)
OS: Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Version 5.1.2600
Video: NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 440 with AGP8X
Sound: Analog Devices, Inc.
SoundMAX Integrated Digitial Audio
Paging file size:
Initial size: 768 MB
Maximum size: 1536 MB
Recommended size: 765 MB
Currently allocated: 768 MB
Since my "fix" of reducing the maximum page size to less than 512 MB worked
for the Dell Dimension 8300, I thought it was Windows XP that was the
culprit.
To test that assumption, I brought my program to work. I just got a new
computer there also.
It's a Dell Optiplex 3 GHz with 512 MB of RAM as contrasted to the 3GHz Dell
Dimension 8300 with 1024 MB of RAM that I have at home.
Another important difference is that the Dell 8300 has an ATI 9800 Radeon
Pro (128 MB) while the Optiplex has an NVidia video card. The sound
capabilities are also different. (The "Out of Memory" error occurs before I
attempt to play any sounds, so the Soundblaster Live 5.1 card drivers aren't
high on my list of suspects.)
The Optiplex has its page file set to:
Initial: 768 MB
Maximum: 1536 MB
(Currently 768 MB).
So my Midisoft Studio 4.0 application should fail right on my work machine
too, right?
Well, I "installed" the Midisoft Studio 4.0 program. (Here, installing means
copying the program onto the hard disk, adding the music font file to the
fonts, and copying "studio.ini" to the Windows directory.)
Then I opened the same *.sng file that wouldn't work at home when the
minimum page file was larger than 512 MB.
It opened just fine! No "Out of Memory" error.
So the problem isn't Windows XP, or, at least, it isn't Microsoft XP alone
that is causing the problem.
The problem must be due to something about the particular combination of
the XP Operating System, Midisoft Studio 4.0 software and the specific
hardware that I have at home that is "fixed" when the page file is REDUCED
in size. But there are enough things different about the system at work
that the same software can operate correctly with a Paging File that is
larger than 512 MB.
I suspect the video card drivers, since the first thing that happens when
you open the file is that a lot of notes get displayed. But who knows?
I set the exact same page file sizes on my home machine as were on my
machine at work, and I immediately get "Out of Memory" when I open the SAME
large *.sng file at home, (where I have MORE physical DDR RAM).
Same software application (Midisoft Studio 4.0), same operating system (XP),
opening the same file, on computers that have been set to use the same page
files sizes (768 / 1536); but different results.
But if reducing the Page File size to 512 MB max, fixes it for my home
computer, I guess I'll live with it.
I might be able to narrow it down by swapping the video cards and drivers
between the two machines, but I don't think my employer would approve of my
performing that test, especially if it "broke" the work machine.
Does anyone have any idea what it is about the Dell Dimension 8300 system
that causes it to fail? Is there some debug progam I could run to figure it
out.
Thank you.
Richard Thomas
can be "cured" by REDUCING the pagefile size, but I don't know why.
I am attempting to run an old program, Midisoft Studio 4.0, on a Windows XP
system.
Although my "Out of Memory" problem relates to a specific piece of
software, Midisoft Studio 4.0, other old software applications may also
experience this same problem.
The really surprising thing is that two separate new Dell systems, each
running an updated Windows XP Pro OS, respond differently for this old,
simple piece of Windows 95 software!
Software:
Midisoft Studio
Studio 4.0 for Windows 95 (with updated executable for Windows 98)
Orginally created in 1995 by the Midisoft Corporation
Machine No 1:
Dell Dimension 8300, with 1024 MB DDR RAM.
Intel Pentium 4 3.00 GHz
Memory: 1024 MB Memory (RAM)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Video: ATI 9800 Radeon Pro (128 MB)
Sound: Soundblaster Live! 5.1 Digital
Paging file:
Custom size:
Initial size (MB): 1536
Maximum size (MB): 3072
(The recommended size is 1533 MB)
I have used this program for many years. First under Windows 95, then under
Windows 98. (Midisoft issued an update of the Studio.exe file that was
required in order for it to run properly under Windows 98.) I have now
upgraded to a Dell Dimension 8300 with 1024 MBytes of RAM and the Windows XP
Operating System.
The files created by Midisoft Studio 4.0 are saved in Midisoft's own *.sng
format; however, standard *.mid files can also be opened. Files in *.sng
format retain the key, clef, and other notation, which is lost if the file
is re-saved in *.mid format. When the file is opened, Midisoft presents the
file in musical notation. It will also show the lyrics if any have been
added.
After I put the software on the new Dell Dimension 8300, the program could
be opened, and notes placed on the staff. I could also open small *.sng
files. However, if the *.sng file encoded more than a few measures of
musical notation, I would get "Out of Memory" errors, and the file could not
be opened.
I tried numerous "Compatibility Settings" and even used the "Compatibility
Wizard" (which doesn't seem to do much more than what one can do oneself),
but none of the "Compatibility settings" I tried would fix the "Out of
Memory" problem.
After searching Google Groups, I found a possible cause of this error.
There were some postings that claimed that some old Windows applications
can't cope with a Paging file that exceeds 512 MB in size.
My new system was originally set up by Dell to use the following
Paging file:
Drive: C Space available: 49469 MB
Custom size:
Initial size (MB): 1536
Maximum size (MB): 3072
(The recommended size is 1533 MB)
I reset the size of the paging file to:
Initial size (MB): 511
Maximum size (MB): 512
With the above settings Midisoft Studio 4 can open any of my *.sng files and
operate correctly! REDUCING the page size makes the "Out of Memory" error
go away!
From the above, I suspected that the Windows XP OS was at fault, but tests
on another new Dell system, indicates that the situation is more
complicated.
Machine No. 2:
Dell OptiPlex GX270
Intel Pentium 4 3.00 GHz running at 2.92 GHz
Memory: 512 MB Memory (RAM)
OS: Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Version 5.1.2600
Video: NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 440 with AGP8X
Sound: Analog Devices, Inc.
SoundMAX Integrated Digitial Audio
Paging file size:
Initial size: 768 MB
Maximum size: 1536 MB
Recommended size: 765 MB
Currently allocated: 768 MB
Since my "fix" of reducing the maximum page size to less than 512 MB worked
for the Dell Dimension 8300, I thought it was Windows XP that was the
culprit.
To test that assumption, I brought my program to work. I just got a new
computer there also.
It's a Dell Optiplex 3 GHz with 512 MB of RAM as contrasted to the 3GHz Dell
Dimension 8300 with 1024 MB of RAM that I have at home.
Another important difference is that the Dell 8300 has an ATI 9800 Radeon
Pro (128 MB) while the Optiplex has an NVidia video card. The sound
capabilities are also different. (The "Out of Memory" error occurs before I
attempt to play any sounds, so the Soundblaster Live 5.1 card drivers aren't
high on my list of suspects.)
The Optiplex has its page file set to:
Initial: 768 MB
Maximum: 1536 MB
(Currently 768 MB).
So my Midisoft Studio 4.0 application should fail right on my work machine
too, right?
Well, I "installed" the Midisoft Studio 4.0 program. (Here, installing means
copying the program onto the hard disk, adding the music font file to the
fonts, and copying "studio.ini" to the Windows directory.)
Then I opened the same *.sng file that wouldn't work at home when the
minimum page file was larger than 512 MB.
It opened just fine! No "Out of Memory" error.
So the problem isn't Windows XP, or, at least, it isn't Microsoft XP alone
that is causing the problem.
The problem must be due to something about the particular combination of
the XP Operating System, Midisoft Studio 4.0 software and the specific
hardware that I have at home that is "fixed" when the page file is REDUCED
in size. But there are enough things different about the system at work
that the same software can operate correctly with a Paging File that is
larger than 512 MB.
I suspect the video card drivers, since the first thing that happens when
you open the file is that a lot of notes get displayed. But who knows?
I set the exact same page file sizes on my home machine as were on my
machine at work, and I immediately get "Out of Memory" when I open the SAME
large *.sng file at home, (where I have MORE physical DDR RAM).
Same software application (Midisoft Studio 4.0), same operating system (XP),
opening the same file, on computers that have been set to use the same page
files sizes (768 / 1536); but different results.
But if reducing the Page File size to 512 MB max, fixes it for my home
computer, I guess I'll live with it.
I might be able to narrow it down by swapping the video cards and drivers
between the two machines, but I don't think my employer would approve of my
performing that test, especially if it "broke" the work machine.
Does anyone have any idea what it is about the Dell Dimension 8300 system
that causes it to fail? Is there some debug progam I could run to figure it
out.
Thank you.
Richard Thomas
