screwed up virtual memory, help!

[DDeRek]

I was trying to resolve an error message I was getting from some software that I recently installed on a computer(Italian language interactive speech program)and the read me text said the program may have a difficult time running on a system with virtual memory enabled, so I thought, maybe this will be easier to fix that I thought and disabled virtual memory. Big mistake. Yes, I saw the warning message. I will know better next time. Boy will I. Does any body know what changes to make to enable virtual memory from DOS prompt? It would be in the IO.SYS right? I just took my OS finals and we really didn't cover anything practical like this, just basic theory. Please help!

[morriswindgate]

Virtual Memory only exisits in Windows, and it was created to allow multi-tasking. It does not exsist in DOS. I would think that you can start in Safe Mode and then re-enable it.

[DDeRek]

It locks up with a small arrow pointing down just behind the cursor starting in safe mode. Step-by step confirmation will get me to DOS prompt if I negate all steps regarding himem.sys and s-b-s states that emm386 cannot be found, no virtual memory manager.

[galaxian]

If you are running Win98, at the DOS prompt enter
Scanreg /Restore and choose the date when you did this nono. (it should be the registry backup when you first ooted up on that day). The restore will bring back System.ini.

Otherwise, at the prompt enter
EDIT SYSTEM.INI

I "think" disabled virtual memory will have MaxPagingFileSize=0 or maybe -1

Regardless, scroll to the [386Enh] section and delete any
MinPagingFileSize or MaxPagingFileSize lines.

If there is NOT a line
PagingDrive=C:

add it in that section (note there is no \after the : )

[morriswindgate]

You may be down to Re-Loading Windows.

[DDeRek]

Uh-oh. OK let me write this down and go try it. I am in the process of trying to locate the himem.sys in windows dir right now. I pointed autoexec.bat to windows\system and the step-by-step told me that himem.sys is missing. It's there, in windows.Lemme see what Galaxians got here.

[DDeRek]

OK there was no PagingDrive=C: so I added it(just like that), but I still get a lock up and tiny arrow(->,but pointing down) and the flashing cursor on boot up in normal or safe mode. Same thing for step-by-step if I confirm Device=C:\windows\himem.sys. If I negate that line, step-by-step continues, but gives me an "insufficient memory" message and "himem.sys is missing - make sure that file is in your Windows directory", but I checked Windows with "dir himem.sys /s" and himem.sys was in Windows. Any other ideas?

[DDeRek]

PS scanreg /restore was the first thing I tried. It failed, but I will try it again if you think it will do any good.

[DDeRek]

Whoa, there are two himem.sys files listed one in windows and one in C. Would that be a problem?

[galaxian]

Scanreg /Restore Failed???What does that mean? What happened?

Try adding the following lines to System.ini in the [386Enh] section
MinPagingFileSize=0
MaxPagingFileSize=150000

Also, delete any exising swapfiles.
Del c:\Win386.swp
Del c:\windows\Win386.swp

And, rename your autoexec.bat and config.sys files for the time being.

[DDeRek]

OK one sec. Rename config.sys & autoexec.bat with what names?

[DDeRek]

Rename autoexec.bat & config.sys with what names?

[galaxian]

Change the names to anything other than autoexec.bat and config.sys.
Autoexec.old and config.old is fine.

[DDeRek]

Ok lines added to system.ini and no swap files found, I don't remember exactly what the deal was with the scanreg /restore, should I try it again? I will finish renaming autoexec & config first and reboot. See what happens.

[DDeRek]

Ok config & autoexec are .old, still same on reboot-little arrow and flashing cursor-same step-by-step himem.sys & insufficient memory messages. I'm dead in the water,huh? Oh the scanreg /restore got a little farther this time, it went throught the restoration procedure, which it did last time, it stated: you have restored a previous backup of your regstry that contains no errors..., which it did last time, when I reboot to enact the restoration, the boot screen states "Windows 98 restarting" and the Oak Tech. CD driver statement, which it did not get that far last night. But then it freezes with the little arrow and cursor again. I think this OS is possesed by satan. Reinstall you say? I really hope not, but Mr Windgate may be right. I don't get it. Himem, oh screw it! I'll format and do a clean reinstall. I'm tired of it and I've got a term paper to finish, but thanks for all the guidance Galaxian! If nothing else it was good practice. I need practical experience with OSs, like I said my classes are all theory and don't reinforce the theory with problem solving or troubleshooting. Does anybody know of any resources that provide staged OS experiments for troubleshooting or anything like that? Most people don't want their OS screwed up so some college kid can learn his head from his ass. Thanx PCmech!

[galaxian]

Sorry the suggestions didn't help.
But, it does sound like you did something a lot more than just reset VM.
Especially if you restored a registry and ini files, that were prior to you disabling it!!