Windows Err Msg: Could Not Continue... Paging Error

 Last reviewed: November 21, 1994
Article ID: Q86368
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows operating system versions 3.0, 3.0a

SUMMARY

When you run Microsoft Windows operating system version 3.0, the following error message may occur while running multiple applications: 

   Could not continue running Windows because of paging error.
This error message is usually caused by running Windows on 386 computers with low RAM configurations. Increasing the amount of RAM or reducing the number of applications running will usually lessen the chances of receiving a paging error. In addition, running less MS-DOS-based applications with the PIF's background option set will help reduce these errors because Windows will be able to free more RAM by swapping the MS-DOS-based application out to the swap file. Some Windows-based applications are more prone to causing paging errors due to their memory-allocation methods.

MORE INFORMATION

In 386 enhanced mode, Windows uses both physical RAM and hard-drive space, by using temporary or permanent swap files, to supply applications with the memory that they need. This process is controlled by Windows Virtual Memory Manager (VMM).

How VMM Works

When virtual memory is used in 386 enhanced mode, some program code and data are kept in physical memory while the rest is swapped to the hard disk in a swap file to free more physical RAM for other applications. Whenever a reference is made to a memory address, it can be used without interruption if the information is currently in physical RAM. If the information is not in physical RAM, then a Page Fault occurs and the VMM takes control, pulling the required information back into physical RAM and, if necessary, swapping other information to the disk.

What Happens When a Paging Error Occurs

Windows is encountering a nested page fault. It causes the hard drive to attempt to read and write information faster than the VMM can control. This condition is known as "disk-racing" or "disk-thrashing" due to the high rate of hard-disk access.

This race condition occurs when one or more 4K pages of memory are brought into physical RAM from the swap file, and at the same time Windows must force one or more 4K pages out of physical RAM and into the swap file. The problem occurs when the pages that were moved to the swap file are needed immediately and are brought back into physical RAM, forcing the previous pages back to the swap file.

The situation quickly degenerates into a disk-racing or disk-thrashing condition and the system shuts down, displaying the above error message. You may notice the hard drive light is constantly on before the error message is displayed.

Windows uses three types of code:

  1. Fixed or locked code that cannot be moved from one memory address to another

  2. Moveable code that can be relocated from one memory address to another or even swapped out to disk

  3. Discardable code that can be deleted from memory and is reread from the hard drive when needed

The condition to trigger this problem can be minimized by applications designed to use mostly moveable or discardable code, which is not locked into physical RAM address, but can be swapped out to disk or to another RAM address. In protect mode, moveable code can still be moved in memory even when the global memory is locked (GlobalLocked()).

In Windows 3.0, fixed memory is page locked at a specific memory address in 386 enhanced mode. This can create large chunks of code located in RAM memory that can quickly overload Windows' paging system.

Reference(s):

"Microsoft Windows Resource Kit" guide for operating system version 3.1, pages 242-247

KBCategory: kbusage kberrmsg kb3rdparty
KBSubcategory: win30 winmem
Additional reference words: 3.00 vm hang lock swapfile

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Last reviewed: November 21, 1994
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