Low on memory message

[gforce]

After my machine has been on for 2.5 hours or more, I get a "there is not enough memory to open this program. Please close some applications and try again" message. The problem is, I have 512mb on memory and have verified that this is not the problem. In addition, even if I close all programs, the message persists. I'm forced to reboot every time before normalcy is restored. I've even run msconfig and unchecked all applications that aren't necessary. When I get this message, my computer can't even get to anything on the comtrol panel. I get a "path not available" message. Does anyone have any suggestions?
I'm running Windows 98, 1.4GHz pentium 4 processor, and upon booting up, have upwards of 75 percent of my RAM available. HELP!!!!

[galaxian]

The problem is most likely due to Low System Resources, which results in the Out of Memory Errors.
Check Explorer > Help About > System Resource Percentage.
If it is less than 80%, read the following links below. (I assume it is this number that you are seeing as 75% of your memory, which is the wrong way to look at it).

If Resources is not the issue, it could be a VCache issue that normally only occurs once you are above 512, but I have seen at 512. This issue also results in Out of Memory Errors.
In this case, do
Run > System.ini
Scroll to the [vcache] section and add a line
MaxFileCache=325000
Save, exit, reboot

This will constrain the vcache (file cache) to 325MBs, which should be more than ample.

Resource Links

http://www.aumha.org/a/resource.htm
http://www.pcforrest.freeserve.co.uk/resources.htm
http://www.pcnineoneone.com/howto/resources1.html

Even though you indicate that you have removed the unnecessary ones, use these links to double check. If your percentage after a cold boot is 75%, there are likely still some that are not required.

http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_content.htm
http://www2.whidbey.net/djdenham/Index.htm

[gforce]

Galaxian, where do I find Check Explorer > Help about > System resource percentage?

[gforce]

galaxian, this is my entire system.ini output, and I see no vcache section. Could this be the problem? (scroll within this box). BTW, I finally found the system resources info.
[boot]
oemfonts.fon=vgaoem.fon
shell=Explorer.exe
system.drv=system.drv
drivers=mmsystem.dll power.drv
user.exe=user.exe
gdi.exe=gdi.exe
sound.drv=mmsound.drv
dibeng.drv=dibeng.dll
comm.drv=comm.drv
mouse.drv=mouse.drv
keyboard.drv=keyboard.drv
*DisplayFallback=0
fonts.fon=vgasys.fon
fixedfon.fon=vgafix.fon
386Grabber=vgafull.3gr
display.drv=pnpdrvr.drv
SCRNSAVE.EXE=C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\3DTEXT~1.SCR

[keyboard]
keyboard.dll=
oemansi.bin=
subtype=
type=4

[boot.description]
system.drv=Standard PC
mouse.drv=Standard mouse
keyboard.typ=Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural Keyboard
aspect=100,96,96
display.drv=NVIDIA RIVA TNT2 Model 64/Model 64 Pro

[386Enh]
device=C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\cis1284.386
ebios=*ebios
woafont=dosapp.fon
mouse=*vmouse, msmouse.vxd
device=*dynapage
device=*vcd
device=*vpd
device=*int13
EMMExclude=C000-CFFF
device=*enable
keyboard=*vkd
MaxPhysPage=30000
PageBuffers=32
ConservativeSwapfileUsage=0

[NonWindowsApp]
TTInitialSizes=4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 18 20 22

[power.drv]

[drivers]
wavemapper=*.drv
MSACM.imaadpcm=*.acm
MSACM.msadpcm=*.acm
midi=mmsystem.dll
wave=mmsystem.dll

[iccvid.drv]

[mciseq.drv]

[mci]
cdaudio=mcicda.drv
sequencer=mciseq.drv
waveaudio=mciwave.drv
avivideo=mciavi.drv
videodisc=mcipionr.drv
vcr=mcivisca.drv
MPEGVideo=mciqtz.drv
MPEGVideo2=mciqtz.drv

[Password Lists]
.=C:\WINDOWS\000.PWL

[MSNP32]

[drivers32]
msacm.lhacm=lhacm.acm
VIDC.VDOM=vdowave.drv
MSACM.msg711=msg711.acm
vidc.CVID=iccvid.dll
VIDC.IV31=ir32_32.dll
VIDC.IV32=ir32_32.dll
vidc.MSVC=msvidc32.dll
VIDC.MRLE=msrle32.dll
msacm.msg723=msg723.acm
vidc.M263=msh263.drv
vidc.M261=msh261.drv
VIDC.IV50=ir50_32.dll
msacm.iac2=C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\IAC25_32.AX
msacm.msaudio1=msaud32.acm
msacm.sl_anet=sl_anet.acm
msacm.l3acm=l3codecx.acm
MSACM.imaadpcm=imaadp32.acm
MSACM.msadpcm=msadp32.acm
MSACM.msgsm610=msgsm32.acm
MSACM.trspch=tssoft32.acm

[cis1284.386]
lpt1=0
lpt2=0
lpt3=0

[TTFontDimenCache]
0 4=2 4
0 5=3 5
0 6=4 6
0 7=4 7
0 8=5 8
0 9=5 9
0 10=6 10
0 11=7 11
0 12=7 12
0 13=8 13
0 14=8 14
0 15=9 15
0 16=10 16
0 18=11 18
0 20=12 20
0 22=13 22

[Cricket]

Hi gforce,

There's more than one way to get to the System Properties window. You can either right click on "My Computer", choose "Properties, click on the "Performance" tab. Or you can hit the "Windows Key" (between Ctrl and Alt) and the "Pause/Break" key and then click on the "Performance" tab. Or you can go to Start> Settings> Control Panel> System. For whatever reason, Microsoft likes to have at least 3 or more ways to do any function in Windows.

Anyway, you'll have to add in the [vcache] section to System.ini . Type this in between the [mci] and Password Lists] sections:

[VCache]
maxfilecache=522288

Make sure you save the changes. You'll have to restart Windows for the changes take place.

:) Cricket

[galaxian]

cricket is right, down to the value of MaxFileCache.

Since you have 512MBs installed, you need to try constraining vcache at a number lower than the amount of installed ram.

I suggested 325MBs.

[gforce]

I've tried setting the vcache as suggested but the problem persists. After having the bare minimum of what I need in startup, my system resources show 88% free upon booting up. My internet software takes this down to about 73%. I've even installed Ram idle which allows me to free up unused Ram when certain conditions are met. None of this has helped. I'm curious as to why there seems to be a time threshold (about 2.5 hours) when this occurs. It seems as if some program is locking up my machine.

[galaxian]

Get rid of RamIdle. Programs that force windows to create available memory are a waste of time.
The error is really not a lack of memory. At least not in the traditional RAM sense.

Try running Resource Monitor (Start > Run > RSRCMTR). And as you approach the 2.5 hour timeframe(and when you get the error), watch the icon in Systray and see if there is a sudden drop in Resources. (also, keep Windows Explorer running so that you can get to it, to check the resource percentage there. To clarify, in Explorer, click on Help > About Windows 98, and you will see the %)
Booting to 88% indicates a minimum of programs starting.

??? When you added the [vcache] section, did you add maxfilecache or MaxFileCache? If the former, than I would change to the latter. Supposedly (haven't seen good evidence either way), some/all variables in the INI files are case sensitive.

[gforce]

I'm getting a "Can't find RSRCMTR or one of its components. Make sure the path and filename are correct and that all required libraries are available" message when I try to run the resource monitor. I've gotten rid of RamIdle as you suggested. Just in case this might help, my screen saver locks up sometime well after the 2.5 hours it takes to give me the initial message. I'm tempted to back up my hard disk and do a complete re-install of the OS as well as all applications.

[galaxian]

Have you tried switching screensavers?

You can load Resource Monitor from the Windows CD
Add/Remove Programs > Windows Setup Tab > System Tools > Details Button and select System Resource Meter
You can also install System Monitor, if it isn't already.

[gforce]

Both resource monitor and explorer show 73% of system resources free, but the low memory message is still happening. Any other suggestions before I start from scratch?????

[galaxian]

Last try...

With 512MB, windows shouldn't even be using it, but ...

Virtual memory. If it isn't, allow Windows to manage it.
Regardless, restart to DOS, and delete the swapfile.

DEL c:\win386.swp
DEL c:\windows\win386.swp

Restart windows (with fingers crossed).

[Cricket]

Hi gforce,

Have you gone through the power management settings and set them all to never?

At this point, with the 2.5 hour thresh hold you mentioned, it does seem as if there is some kind of software countdown happening (for whatever reason). Have you tried checking for spyware? There have been a bunch of nasty ones reported last year that gave Ad-Aware some problems. The newest version is said to be able to detect and remove them now. You can get Ad-Aware from here: http://www.lavasoftusa.com/

You may also want to check for trojans. I don't know of any good trojan detection and removal programs though. Check these out:
http://www.moosoft.com/
http://www.agnitum.com/products/tauscan/

:) Cricket