Too Much Memory

[Guest]

I know that sounds amazing, but I have a legacy app that refuses to run on
some new XP systems. I finally deduced that the app WILL run when the system
has 512 mb RAM but NOT when the system has 1024 mb RAM. The error is
"Warning: Out of Memory" which is ridiculous (backwards), but I attribute the
error to some internal Mem Check routine that cannot handle the result of its
query to the system memory if the number is 1024 mb. Question: Is there
some way to fool the app into thinking the system only has 512 mb RAM?

 

[R. McCarty]

Try running the Executable in Compatibility mode. Right Click
the .Exe and take the Compatibility (Tab). Try one of the 9X
modes.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the reply R.M. I have already tried all the Compatibility modes
with no success...

As a short term solution we installed Virtual PC and put an NT4 Virtual
machine in it, and have successfully run the app (you can specify how much
ram to give the VM).

I know this is a memory problem because I pulled one 512 stick on the 1024
machine and the app runs fine...put it back and it won't.

Gavin

Try running the Executable in Compatibility mode. Right Click
the .Exe and take the Compatibility (Tab). Try one of the 9X
modes.

 

[Alex Nichol]

Thanks for the reply R.M. I have already tried all the Compatibility modes
with no success...

As a short term solution we installed Virtual PC and put an NT4 Virtual
machine in it, and have successfully run the app (you can specify how much
ram to give the VM).

If it is only occasional use, you can set windows to use a restricted
amount of memory. Run MSconfig.exe - Boot.ini page click Advanced,
select /MAXMEM and set the amount to be used. Exit and reboot to that
much

Probably the program is checking available memory and using a
restricted calculation that overflows above 512MB - complain to the
authors

 

[Guest]

Thanks Alex, but we use this everyday...it is a time keeping software. I did
complain, and they do have an upgrade (for many $$), but with this vendor the
upgrades always come with other issues, decreased functionality, etc., and
have a learning curve. We would like to replace their app someday so the
above reasons are enough to stay away from the upggrade.

Gavin

 

[Guest]

It seems Virtual PC brings some baggage of its own...REAL SLOW. Say Alex
(this reboot idea is a good after all 'cause XP boots so quickly), is there a
way to get XP Pro to boot up with an option screen similar to NT?

Gavin

 

[David Sanders]

It seems Virtual PC brings some baggage of its own...REAL SLOW. Say Alex
(this reboot idea is a good after all 'cause XP boots so quickly), is there a
way to get XP Pro to boot up with an option screen similar to NT?

Re: VPC
Have you installed the VM additions?

 

[Alex Nichol]

It seems Virtual PC brings some baggage of its own...REAL SLOW. Say Alex
(this reboot idea is a good after all 'cause XP boots so quickly), is there a
way to get XP Pro to boot up with an option screen similar to NT?

If you make a new line for the version in boot.ini, [Operating Systems],
copying the existing one for Pro and adding the /MAXMEM switch that will
bring up the boot menu to choose.

Easiest to have the maxmem setting in place, then at System - Advanced
click Settings in Startup and error, then click Edit. That will load
boot.ini in Notepad, where you can cut/paste the existing line, delete
the swicth from one and modify the name for the menu in the other.

After Save, use the setting for which is to be Default, and probably
lower the wait time from 30 to say 3 seconds

 

[Guest]

Thanks Alex, that did it...

David, I think the VPC is slow on one particular machine 'cause it didn't
recognize the NIC and we put the networking in "virtual mode". We have not
done the VM additions. Anyway, VPC is a cool way to have a legacy OS
nearby...

Gavin

It seems Virtual PC brings some baggage of its own...REAL SLOW. Say Alex
(this reboot idea is a good after all 'cause XP boots so quickly), is there a
way to get XP Pro to boot up with an option screen similar to NT?

If you make a new line for the version in boot.ini, [Operating Systems],
copying the existing one for Pro and adding the /MAXMEM switch that will
bring up the boot menu to choose.

Easiest to have the maxmem setting in place, then at System - Advanced
click Settings in Startup and error, then click Edit. That will load
boot.ini in Notepad, where you can cut/paste the existing line, delete
the swicth from one and modify the name for the menu in the other.

After Save, use the setting for which is to be Default, and probably
lower the wait time from 30 to say 3 seconds