You can reduce the amount of physical memory available to Windows NT on a computer with an Intel processor without changing its physical memory configuration. This lets you simulate and test the effects of low memory on your computer.
Use the MAXMEM parameter on the Boot.ini file to set the maximum physical memory available to Windows NT.
Note
MAXMEM works only on Intel processor platforms. This information does not apply to RISC computers (DEC Alpha, MIPS, and Power PC) which store their boot options in ARC firmware.
Intel computers store boot options in a Boot.ini file. Add the MAXMEM parameter to a boot option line in the Boot.ini file. You can create multiple boot option lines and choose from among the alternates at boot time.
Warning Do not set the memory on Windows NT 4.0 Workstation or Server below 8 MB. If you do, Windows NT might be unable to boot.
1. Open Boot.ini. Because this is a read-only file, you must change its properties before you can edit it. It looks something like this:
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT40
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT40="Windows NT Version 4.00"
c:\="MS-DOS"
2. Copy the boot option line under [operating systems] and paste it just below the existing one. Within the quotes, type some text that will identify this option to you when you see it on the screen during bootup. For example:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT40="Windows NT Version 4.00,12Mb"
3. Following the quotes, type a space, then /MAXMEM=n where n is the amount of memory, in megabytes, you want to be available to Windows NT. Do not set this below 8 MB, or Windows NT might be unable to boot.
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT40="Windows NT Version 4.00,12Mb" /MAXMEM=12
4. You can create multiple boot option lines. Make sure the timeout parameter is long enough to let you choose from among them.
5. Reboot, choose the low memory option, then check About Windows NT or Task Manager to make sure the change was effective.