Err Msg: Not Enough Extended Memory Available to Start...

• Microsoft Windows 95

SYMPTOMS

When you try to start Microsoft Windows 95 you receive the following error message:

   Not enough extended memory available to run Windows.

   Quit one or more applications to increase available memory or
   restart your computer. Press any key to continue...

CAUSE

This error message can occur if you have configured your computer to create a RAM drive larger than 15 megabytes (MB). The error occurs even if your computer has enough memory to create the RAM drive and still meet the memory requirements for starting Windows 95.

A RAM drive larger than 15 MB is allocated all the available extended memory below physical address 16 MB. To start Windows 95 on most computers, some memory below 16 MB is necessary for DMA buffers. If all the memory below 16 MB is allocated to the RAM drive, Windows 95 cannot start.

RESOLUTION

To correct this problem, decrease the size of the RAM drive to less than 15 MB. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Restart your computer. When you see the "Starting Windows 95" message, press the F8 key and then choose Command Prompt Only.

2. At the command prompt, type

         edit c:\config.sys
   

   and then press ENTER.

3. Locate the line that contains RAMDRIVE.SYS. Change the line so that it contains a value lower than 15 MB. For example, to use an 8 MB RAM drive, change the line to read:

         DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\RAMDRIVE.SYS 8192
   

4. Save the CONFIG.SYS file and then quit the editor.

5. Restart your computer.