WINDOWS 98 RAM LIMITATION PATCH Version 1.0 (DEMO) 09/25/2007 Copyright (C) 2007 By Rudolph R. Loew The Windows 98 RAM Limitation Patch Program patches Windows 98 or 98SE to support Computers with more than 512MB of RAM. Unmodified Windows 98 can malfunction or crash when more than 512MB of RAM is present. This Patch updates the Windows Memory Manager (VMM32.VXD in the Windows SYSTEM Directory), the Disk Cache Manager (VCACHE.VXD contained within the VMM32.VXD File) 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. DEMO VERSION The Demo Version of this Patch disables Normal Mode. 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 use Normal Mode or complete a Windows Installation. Otherwise you will need to Uninstall the Demo Patch and reduce your RAM. REQUIREMENTS Windows 98 or 98SE. 6MB of Space on the Hard Drive containing the Windows Directory. CONTENTS PATCHM.EXE Windows 98 Limitation Patch Program Version 1.0 (DEMO) 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. 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 PATCHM 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 PATCHM. 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 VCACHE.VXD file is added to the Windows SYSTEM\VMM32 Directory, the Patched VCACHE.VXD Module in the VMM32.VXD File will be overridden. 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 98 Startup menu. Go to the Directory where the PATCHM Program is located. Run the PATCHM Program to Reinstall the Patch. If the PATCHM Program asks to Uninstall the Patch, say Yes to Uninstall, then Rerun the PATCHM 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. 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: PATCHM VMM32File HIMEMFile WININITFile VMM32File is the name of a copy of the VMM32.VXD file to be updated. HIMEMFile is the name of a copy of the HIMEM.SYS file to be updated. WININITFile is the name to be given to the WININIT.INI file to be created. Entering "-" for a Filename will revert to the Default System File. NOTE: The WININIT.INI file can only be used by WININIT.EXE to combine the VMM32.VXD components if it is named WININIT.INI, resides in the same directory as the copy of WININIT.EXE being run, and the VMM32.VXD file has not been moved. It is not necessary to combine the VMM32.VXD components, but it will reduce the file size from over 2MB to approximately 900KB. 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. 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. 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 PATCHM 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 98 Startup Menu. NOTE: If Windows starts without the Startup Menu, it may crash. If so, press RESET and wait for the Windows 98 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 PATCHM Program is located. 7. Run the PATCHM 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. MULTIPLE BOOT WITH OTHER OPERATING SYSTEMS The Patch is compatable with multiple boot systems. Each separate Windows 98/98SE System must be Patched individually. CONTACT INFORMATION Rudolph R. Loew 506 Bieling Rd. Elmont, NY 11003 1-516-352-9078 RLoew@hotmail.com Website: http://members.aol.com/rloew1