WINDOWS 98/SE/ME RAM LIMITATION PATCH Version 4.0 03/28/2008 Copyright (C) 2007-2008 By Rudolph R. Loew The Windows 98/SE/ME RAM Limitation Patch Program patches Windows 98, 98SE or ME to support Computers with more than 512MB of RAM. Unmodified Windows 98, 98SE or ME can malfunction or crash when more than 512MB of RAM is present. This Patch extracts the Windows Memory Manager (VMM.VXD) and the Disk Cache Manager (VCACHE.VXD) contained within the VMM32.VXD File in the Windows SYSTEM Directory, if necessary, The Patch then Updates them and the Extended Memory Manager (HIMEM.SYS Program in the Windows Boot Directory). NOTE: Computers having more than 3GB of RAM frequently limit RAM available to 32-Bit Software, to as little as 3GB. Any additional Memory is reserved for 64-Bit Software. REQUIREMENTS Windows 98, 98SE or ME. English Version (For Non-English Versions, See Below) 1.5MB of Space on the Hard Drive containing the Windows Directory. CONTENTS PATCHMEM.EXE Windows 98/SE/ME RAM Limitation Patch Program Version 4.0 README.TXT This File MANUAL.TXT Users Manual LICENSE.TXT License terms and conditions HISTORY.TXT Revision History NOTE: The name of the Patch program in the Full Versions is PATCHMEM.EXE while the name in the Demo Versions is PATCHM.EXE. NON-ENGLISH VERSIONS Code to support Localized Versions of Windows has been added in Version 4.0. Only limited testing has been performed to verify support. DBCS Versions of Windows are not currently supported. If the Patch reports Unknown VMM, VCACHE or HIMEM file, or you are using a DBCS Version of Windows, please contact Author. PATCH INSTALLATION 1. Download and UnZip the Program to a known location. 2. Open a MS-DOS Box or Boot into DOS. 3. Go to the Directory where the program is located. 4. Run PATCHMEM to install the patch. 5. The Patch will take effect the next time Windows is Booted. UNINSTALL PATCH (See WARNING Section Below) 1. Download and UnZip the Program to a known location (if necessary). 2. Open a MS-DOS Box or Boot into DOS. 3. Go to the Directory where the program is located. 4. Run PATCHMEM. 5. Type Yes to the Uninstall request to uninstall the Patch. OTHER PROGRAMS, PATCHES, DRIVERS AND UPDATES Reinstalling, Repairing or Upgrading Windows, or Adding/Removing Windows Components may overwrite the Patched files. If an Updated VMM.VXD and/or VCACHE.VXD file is added to the Windows SYSTEM\VMM32 Directory, the Patched VMM.VXD and/or VCACHE.VXD Module will be overwritten. Reinstalling the Patch will be needed to RePatch these files. Unfortunately there is no way to determine what effect other programs will have until they are installed. If Windows cannot be rebooted after an Installation, reduce the amount of RAM to 512MB or less or select the "Command prompt only" option in the Windows Startup menu. Go to the Directory where the PATCHMEM Program is located. Run the PATCHMEM Program to Reinstall the Patch. If the PATCHMEM Program asks to Uninstall the Patch, say Yes to Uninstall, then Rerun the PATCHMEM Program to Reinstall the Patch. Go to the Windows SYSTEM\VMM32 Directory. If a file named VCACHE.VXD exists, delete it. WARNING THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR DATA LOSS TO OCCUR DUE TO ERRORS IN THE PATCH OR IF THE PATCHED PROGRAMS ARE BYPASSED OR OVERWRITTEN. DO NOT USE IN CRITICAL SYSTEMS OR WHERE HUMAN SAFETY IS INVOLVED. Please E-Mail any Bug Reports to RLoew@hotmail.com. PROGRAM OPERATION The VMM.VXD and VCACHE.VXD Files are extracted from the VMM32.VXD file if they do not already exist. The Files are renamed to provide Backup Files before the Patched Files are written. The Backup Files have the same name as the Original Files but the extension is changed to .BAK provided the File's Name has an extension. If not, a .BAK extension is added. If an earlier Version of the Patch is found, or a Demo Version, it is Uninstalled. NOTE: The Demo Version 1.0 cannot be Uninstalled by this Patch. You must Uninstall it first using the original Patch Program. The Patched Files are deleted and the Backup Files are renamed back if the Patch is Uninstalled. If the Backup Files are not present, the Patch cannot be Uninstalled. OPTIONS The Program automatically examines the Computer to locate the necessary Files. The Program can be redirected to Patch specific Files by specifying File Names as follows: PATCHMEM [+MAXCACHE] [VMM32File VMMFile VCACHEFile HIMEMFile] MAXCACHE is the Absolute Maximum File Cache Size in MB (+256 = 256MB). VMM32File is the name of the VMM32.VXD file to extract from. VMMFile is the name of the VMM.VXD file to be updated. VCACHEFile is the name of the VCACHE.VXD file to be updated. HIMEMFile is the name of a copy of the HIMEM.SYS file to be updated. The Absolute Maximum File Cache Size is the largest File Cache Size that can be allocated under any circumstances. The Maximum File Cache Size can still be lowered, in Normal Mode only, by adding the MaxFileCache option to the SYSTEM.INI File. The Default MAXCACHE is 512MB. Settings above 750MB are likely to cause problems, especially with 16-Bit Programs. Settings below 128MB may conflict with Minimum File Cache Requirements, especially in Computers with a lot of RAM. If setting MAXCACHE to 512MB, do not include the MAXCACHE option. The MAXCACHE option can be specified alone if the default files are to be patched. Entering "-" for a Filename will prevent the file from being accessed or updated. Entering "*" for a Filename will revert to the Default System File. If you specify any Filenames, you must specify all four. Use "*" as placeholders for Filenames you are not specifying, and "-" for files you do not wish to access or modify. Only use DOS 8.3 Format Filenames. Do not use Filenames starting with "-". Do not use a Filename starting with "+" for the VMM32 File unless the MAXCACHE option is used. NEW WINDOWS INSTALLATIONS If you are doing a clean install of Windows into a Computer having more than 512MB of RAM, you will need to Install the Patch before Windows runs. If you can reduce the amount of RAM to 512MB or less, you can install Windows normally, run the PATCHMEM Patch Program, then restore the additional RAM. If you need to Install Windows in a system with more than 512MB of RAM present, you can do so as follows: 1. Place the Patch Program on a DOS Floppy Disk or on a Formatted Partition. 2. Perform the Windows installation until the FIRST reboot. Do not leave the Computer unattended in case Windows reboots without prompting. 3. Reboot and holds the CTRL key to get the Windows Startup Menu. NOTE: If Windows starts without the Startup Menu, it may crash. If so, press RESET and wait for the Windows Startup Menu. You may need to turn Power back on if it shut off. 4. Select the "Command prompt only" option and press ENTER. 5. Run the WININIT Command. 6. Go th the Floppy Disk or Partition where the PATCHMEM Program is located. 7. Run the PATCHMEM Program. 8. Remove the Floppy Disk if present. 9. Press the Reset Button or CTRL-ALT-DEL. 10. Continue the Windows Installation. NOTE: The Demo Version of this Patch disables Normal Mode, so you will not be able to continue the Windows Installation. You will only be able to run in Safe Mode. After evaluating the Patch, you will need to purchase a Full Copy of this Patch to continue Windows Installation. If you have a CD Burner or you install Windows from files placed on the hard drive, you can purchase pre-patched Installation Cabinet Files for your version of Windows. By replacing the original Cabinet Files in the Installation CD or Folder you can install Windows without further patching. This will also protect you from having the Patches removed if you Reinstall, Repair or Add/Remove Components to Windows using this CD or Folder. This will not protect you if an update replaces the Patched Files or corrupts them. MULTIPLE BOOT WITH OTHER OPERATING SYSTEMS The Patch is compatable with multiple boot systems. Each separate Windows 98/98SE/ME System must be Patched individually. RELATED PRODUCTS WINXX.CAB Windows Cabinet Files with Patch already applied. CONTACT INFORMATION Rudolph R. Loew 506 Bieling Rd. Elmont, NY 11003 1-516-352-9078 RLoew@hotmail.com Website: http://members.aol.com/rloew1