OLD hardware problem: "Line A20 error"?

[JB]

Help please!

Got an old Dell P3/1Ghz with Dell/Intel mobo. All running Win98SE in an old
PC fine before I got it given to me. Swapped it into my son's old Dell
complete with its original Dell PSU, original stick of 128MB PC133 RAM and
original gfx card. Used with son's existing fully working HDD, CD & CDRW.
Booted from Win98SE CD and ran setup. Formatted HDD ok and rebooted. Running
setup from the CD results in a "line A20 error" and some text about can't
load XMX....??
Boots fine from a DOS disk though. No POST bleeps or errors.
Any clues please?
Thanks.
JB

 

[Al Dykes]

Help please!

Got an old Dell P3/1Ghz with Dell/Intel mobo. All running Win98SE in an old
PC fine before I got it given to me. Swapped it into my son's old Dell
complete with its original Dell PSU, original stick of 128MB PC133 RAM and
original gfx card. Used with son's existing fully working HDD, CD & CDRW.
Booted from Win98SE CD and ran setup. Formatted HDD ok and rebooted. Running
setup from the CD results in a "line A20 error" and some text about can't
load XMX....??
Boots fine from a DOS disk though. No POST bleeps or errors.
Any clues please?
Thanks.
JB

It's keyboard-related. Google "A20 Line" for clues.

 

[beenthere]

Help please!

Got an old Dell P3/1Ghz with Dell/Intel mobo. All running Win98SE in an
old PC fine before I got it given to me. Swapped it into my son's old Dell
complete with its original Dell PSU, original stick of 128MB PC133 RAM and
original gfx card. Used with son's existing fully working HDD, CD & CDRW.
Booted from Win98SE CD and ran setup. Formatted HDD ok and rebooted.
Running setup from the CD results in a "line A20 error" and some text
about can't load XMX....??
Boots fine from a DOS disk though. No POST bleeps or errors.
Any clues please?
Thanks.
JB

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=73713
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q96711/
Couple of bits to read here. To do with himem.sys.
Make sure the CD is Clean, if not wash gently with washing up liquid,
dry gently with a soft cloth, and try again.
Honestly, it works. Old CDs develop a `bloom` sometimes.

 

[JB]

It's keyboard-related. Google "A20 Line" for clues.

I tried both of the known good USB and PS2 keyboards I have here as spares.
Still the same error :>)
Thanks for the quick response though.

JB

 

[JB]

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=73713
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q96711/
Couple of bits to read here. To do with himem.sys.
Make sure the CD is Clean, if not wash gently with washing up liquid,
dry gently with a soft cloth, and try again.
Honestly, it works. Old CDs develop a `bloom` sometimes.

I'll give that a try. Thanks.

JB

 

[JAD]

Help please!

Got an old Dell P3/1Ghz with Dell/Intel mobo. All running Win98SE in an old
PC fine before I got it given to me. Swapped it into my son's old Dell
complete with its original Dell PSU, original stick of 128MB PC133 RAM and
original gfx card. Used with son's existing fully working HDD, CD & CDRW.
Booted from Win98SE CD and ran setup. Formatted HDD ok and rebooted. Running
setup from the CD results in a "line A20 error" and some text about can't
load XMX....??
Boots fine from a DOS disk though. No POST bleeps or errors.
Any clues please?
Thanks.
JB

old autoexec.bat or config.sys file is causing a problem in memory
allotments. Problaby an old 'gaming' configuration.

 

[Dave]

Help please!

Got an old Dell P3/1Ghz with Dell/Intel mobo. All running Win98SE in an
old PC fine before I got it given to me. Swapped it into my son's old Dell
complete with its original Dell PSU, original stick of 128MB PC133 RAM and
original gfx card. Used with son's existing fully working HDD, CD & CDRW.
Booted from Win98SE CD and ran setup. Formatted HDD ok and rebooted.
Running setup from the CD results in a "line A20 error" and some text
about can't load XMX....??
Boots fine from a DOS disk though. No POST bleeps or errors.
Any clues please?
Thanks.
JB

Download the LAST Windows 98SE boot disk listed on this page:
http://bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm
Use the program to create a bootable floppy disk. Boot it, then try to run
setup from the CD-Rom manually. You'll have to change to the CD drive,
change the current directory to the install directory, then launch setup
manually. In DOS, it should look something like this:
A:\>D: (this might be E: or F:, wherever your CD drive is)
D:\>cd win98 (install directory is usually "win98")
D:\WIN98>setup

IF that does NOT work:

Remove and reinstall your RAM stick(s). If that doesn't work, clear CMOS
and load default settings. If clearing CMOS and loading default settings
works, replace CMOS battery, then clear CMOS settings and load default
settings again. -Dave

 

[philo]

Help please!

Got an old Dell P3/1Ghz with Dell/Intel mobo. All running Win98SE in an old
PC fine before I got it given to me. Swapped it into my son's old Dell
complete with its original Dell PSU, original stick of 128MB PC133 RAM and
original gfx card. Used with son's existing fully working HDD, CD & CDRW.
Booted from Win98SE CD and ran setup. Formatted HDD ok and rebooted. Running
setup from the CD results in a "line A20 error" and some text about can't
load XMX....??
Boots fine from a DOS disk though. No POST bleeps or errors.
Any clues please?
Thanks.
JB

RAM problem

replace the RAM and try again

 

[JB]

RAM problem

replace the RAM and try again

No difference even with a new tested stick of RAM. :>(

JB

 

[JB]

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=73713
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q96711/
Couple of bits to read here. To do with himem.sys.
Make sure the CD is Clean, if not wash gently with washing up liquid,
dry gently with a soft cloth, and try again.
Honestly, it works. Old CDs develop a `bloom` sometimes.

All it needed in the end was a modified boot CD with the himem.sys /M:xx
switch added.

Thanks again to all.

JB