Less Conventional Memory in European Versions of Windows 98

ID: Q197030

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows 98

SYMPTOMS

In the Finnish, Brazilian Portuguese, and Polish versions of Windows 98, there may be less conventional memory available to MS-DOS-based programs.

In these versions of Windows 98, the MEM /C command may show Himem.sys occupying approximately 44 kilobytes (K) of conventional memory. In the English version of Windows 98, the MEM /C command shows Himem.sys occupying approximately 1K of conventional memory.

CAUSE

This problem occurs because Io.sys uses too much memory in the high memory area (HMA), forcing Himem.sys to be relocated in conventional memory.

RESOLUTION

A supported fix that corrects this problem is now available from Microsoft, but it has not been fully regression tested and should be applied only to systems experiencing this specific problem.

To resolve this problem, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information on support costs, please go to the following address on the World Wide Web:

http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/overview/overview.asp

This fix should have the following file attributes or later:


   Language   Date      Time      Size     File name
   ---------------------------------------------------
   Finnish    09/17/98  06:33am   222,390  Winboot.sys
   Polish     10/21/98  06:54am   222,390  Winboot.sys
   Brazport   01/19/99  01:13pm   222,390  Winboot.sys

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Finnish, Brazilian Portuguese, and Polish versions of Microsoft Windows 98.

This problem was corrected in Windows 98 Second Edition.

MORE INFORMATION

Windows 98 Setup renames the Winboot.sys file to Io.sys. The self- extracting executable file available from Microsoft is also renamed from Winboot.sys to Io.sys.

This issue also occurs in some non-English versions of Microsoft Windows 95. For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q170456 Less Conventional Memory Available in European OSR2

Additional query words: UMA

Keywords : diskmem win98
Version : WINDOWS:
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb