[RESOLVED] XMS Memory Problem

[Medianox]

I had a problem with Windows ME.. It was a full install (fdisk , format etc..)After two or three weeks everything was going fine.. I had a cd-burner that was not being detected, I had to update my ALI IDE Controllers.. from their website.. I did so and it detected my cd-r fine.. at the same time I changed my RAM in my system.. I had a 64 PC100 DIMM and a 128 PC 100 DIMM I replaced the 128MB card with two 64 MB PC100 DIMMs.. I rebooted and it passed POST and detected all the RAM fine .. A week later I started getting blue screens of death and lock ups.. My system was really messed up.
I thought is was the O/S causing so I tried to FDISK and reformat.. I could not FDISK
I received an error about "Runtime Error. Cannot Divide Integer by Zero"
I could not FDISK at all even with a Windows ME boot up disk or Win98 disk
I used a third party utlity that uses MS DOS Fdisk.. I fdisked and formated fine
Re-installed windows 98 SE.. and to make a long story short.. I can run every thing fine on the system except for the following:
I can't run scandisk or defrag in safe mode or normal mode.. I can in DOS.
I try and test XMS memory and it says I don't have it installed.. therefore Windows 98 is saying I don't have enough memory to run scandisk or defrag...I know this has nothing to do with resources or RAM.. or BIOS.. I have the standard Config.sys settings with C:\windows\himem.sys and so one.. I just want to run MS scandisk and defrag in normal mode.. or do I have to try FDISKing again.. I read the MS KB article and it tells me nothing.. except end result is to fdisk.. Is there a workaround.. other than using 3rd party scandisk and defrag tools.. ?
Thanks.
Rob

[format c:]

It sounds like the problems started after you changed your ram, I would switch back and see if the problem goes away
And using the DOS version of fdisk is a no no in my books since it only allows fat 16 partitions, this would mess up Scan disk and defrag a bit
When you install an OS you must use that version's disk preparation software
I have a 95 boot disk for 95 and a 98 boot disk for 98
I plan on making a ME boot disk soon since I like to use that version of fdisk if I am installing ME
I would never us a DOS disk to install Windows
I think once you get your memory switched back you should be OK to fdisk and reinstall your OS using your 98 boot disk, Do not use dos cd rom drivers with you ALI controller drivers , I have an ALI chipset in my sare computer

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Format c I'm givin er all she's got cap'in !!! )

[techs]

I have had the exact same error twice. Once it was bad ram, the other a bad cpu.

[Medianox]

To determine wether it is bad RAM or cpu ...are there any diagnostics programs that can check this thoroughly.. I have an AMD K62 450 MHZ.. had it for almost two years now .. and I have some Kingston Ram DIMM.. Asus P5A-B motherboard.. I don't want to try FDISKing again.. before I know for sure the ram or cpu is flaky.
Thanks

[techs]

Originally posted by Medianox:
To determine wether it is bad RAM or cpu ...are there any diagnostics programs that can check this thoroughly.. I have an AMD K62 450 MHZ.. had it for almost two years now .. and I have some Kingston Ram DIMM.. Asus P5A-B motherboard.. I don't want to try FDISKing again.. before I know for sure the ram or cpu is flaky.
Thanks

Before you try a program, see if you can set the memory to 66mhz, and slow down whatever else you can relating to it in the bios. If it still doesn't work the only thing i can recommend is what i use, AMIDIAG and CheckIt98 but both cost money. maybe someone can recommend some shareware?

[DR]

Two things you might try.
Boot with your current OS boot disk. Use the FDISK /MBR command to overwrite the Master Boot Record and update it to current OS, this will also eliminate any virus' or corrupted files.
I believe there is a command to overwrite the system files and update those. I could not find it but I believe this will work.
Go to the C: prompt (still using boot disk) and type [del] [file name]This will erase the old system files. Next type [copy][A:file name] This will replace them with the files on the boot disk. The three files you want to replace are- IO.SYS - MSDOS.SYS - and COMMAND.COM For IBM it is IBMBIO.COM- IBMDOS.COM- and COMMAND.COM Use at your own risk and someone correct me if I'm wrong.
I know from the FORMAT command (this would erase the disk) you would use FORMAT C: /S to copy system commands after formatting.
Good Luck!

[This message has been edited by DR (edited October 04, 2000).]

[Medianox]

I used a new win 98 se boot disk to sys the drive and fdisk master boot record
I have the same problem still
Took a screen shot of my memory and xms is all screwed up
Memory Type Total Used Free
---------------- -------- -------- --------
Conventional 640K 60K 581K
Upper 0K 0K 0K
Reserved 0K 0K 0K
Extended (XMS) 65,472K ? 129,768K
---------------- -------- -------- --------
Total memory 66,112K ? 130,349K

Total under 1 MB 640K 60K 581K

Total Expanded (EMS) 64M (67,108,864 bytes)
Free Expanded (EMS) 16M (16,777,216 bytes)

Largest executable program size 580K (594,416 bytes)
Largest free upper memory block 0K (0 bytes)
MS-DOS is resident in the high memory area.

I don't know much on how to put back memory into UMB.. it reads 0 bytes.. I think that's where the problem is coming from

Without a config.sys or autoexec.bat.. i receive the same problem.. I added the standard config.sys and autoexec.bat lines ..for pcs
[config file]
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS /M:1
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE
DOS=HIGH,UMB
[autoexec file]
SET DOS16M=2
(this I beleive gives dos more memory)
In the meantime I'm going to try those diagnostics programs..
Thanks..any more suggestions.. I would definitely appreciate it.