Windows 98SE More Than 512 Mb Ram?

**SteveLewis** · 08-13-2003, 09:50 PM

Can anyone here tell me how to get my PC with Windows 98Se to work with more than 512Mb of DDR333? I completed all the MS suggested "fixes"; i.e., VCACHE MaxFileCache=524288 and MaxPhysPage=30000 both in system.ini to no avail.

My PC is a P4 2.4Ghz 533FSB w/Intel D845PESV Motherboard & MSI GeF4200Ti w/ 128Mb DDR SDRAM. I had this PC built for FS2004 and have the stutters..... (I know, I should have shelled out the extra $$$ for Windows XP :-roll but after spending over $1,000 I couldn't part with an extra $200.)

2nd Question: Should I just bite the bullet and upgrade to Win XP Home?

Thanks!

Steve Lewis, KCLE

**Jeff S KDTW** · 08-13-2003, 09:55 PM

>2nd Question: Should I just bite the bullet and upgrade to
>Win XP Home?

Yes. ;-)

I recently jumped from 98SE to XP and couldn't be happier.

**ISPsouth** · 08-13-2003, 10:04 PM

If you are using your machine mostly for fs2004 keep 98 installed. I don't know how to get more than 512mb on it but I will tell you 384 works fine with mine. Why bog down your processor with XP, I'm not saying XP is no good it's just a CPU HOG - so many services and processes going on in the backround.
If you do get a copy of XP some day install it with 98 ( duel boot )
this is what I do - 98SE for games - XP for browsing,photos,burning, ect...
I run 98SE barebone ( turn off everything in msconfig ) leaves me with 99% of my CPU for FS2004 just what it likes.
This is also a way to keep those low end systems capable of running these simulators.

PIII 1.2 gig Tualatin
384 mb SDRAM
GEFORCE TI 4600
SB LIVE

**garycurran** · 08-14-2003, 12:57 AM

Steve,
While you could shell out the money for XP, I'm having issues with XP and 2004. Others aren't. However, maybe now, at the computer shows, you can find a 'better' price on Windows 2000 Pro, which is very similiar to XP, but without a lot of the bells and whistles, and it's a lot more stable than XP. In fact, I'm seriously considering moveing 2004 and my current video card to a slightly slower Win2K machine, and expect to see an increase in performance.

This is just my opinion, take it for what it's worth.

Gary

doncarlos · 08-14-2003, 01:06 AM

My opinion and as Lou has said...XP full and clean install then COF
if you look for bargains you will get one ...more problems than you barganed for...buy the full XP avoid any suggestion of an update.

Windows 98 Me gone forever in the support and driver updates.

**aafuss** · 08-14-2003, 02:04 AM

I think you need to change a setting line in system.ini.

**Trev** · 08-14-2003, 04:55 AM

If you know someone in the computer business get the OEM version of windows XP home, it will save you heaps of dollars. All you get is a disk in a carboard sleeve and a few notes on how to install it. Windows XP home OEM cost $239 NZ and the full version costs $599 NZ which comes in a box with manual.

Trevor:)

**ajmitch** · 08-14-2003, 06:03 AM

The only difference between XP Home upgrade and full versions is that the upgrade version checks for a copy of Win95, Win98, Win ME or Win NT on your PC. If it doesn't find one, it asks you to put that disk in for confirmation. Once it's happy, it asks you to put the XP disk back in and away you go with a full clean install. No problems and lots of bucks saved.

Tony

**Bruce** · 08-14-2003, 07:15 AM

you would be much better of bitting the bullit and getting XP, that way you would be able to use the extra ram and have a more stable system, it just runs so much better. if you do wish to keep to 98 (which at 5 years old is positivly acceient in computing terms) it is possible to use the extra memory/RAM by using catchman, i used to have 768 mb with ME (which is basically 98se\se) using this.