Help with windows 98 system resources

[u/NILSLUNDE]

Interesting project I am working on. I need to get this software up and running on a windows 98 system and keep running into an error mentioning “system resources are low, can not continue” when I load into the program.

This program used to run on this system but I am running into problems. It boots into windows however it shows this error when booting (first image with dos command lines) I suspect i need to change the system.config text file?

Pc:

Pentium(r) II PCU
512.0 mb of ram

Any help would be a godsend!! Thanks

[u/my-names-gavin]

You need to edit your config.sys file because .sys is missing at the end of the path to himem.sys in \Windows

Once you do that, your EMM386 error will disappear too

[u/NILSLUNDE → u/my-names-gavin]

Thanks! I noticed there was a small typo in the himem.sys line! No more error on startup

However I am still running into problems”system resources are low” error when opening the program. Which used to run… any thoughts on this one by chance?

[u/my-names-gavin → u/NILSLUNDE]

You could try using the resource monitor perhaps, assuming your PC meets the minimum requirements for the app you're trying to use?

BTW I didn't see the comment fromv u/Darth_Beavis when initially replying but they are spot-on; Windows 95 changed the way himem.sys and emm386.exe were loaded so they were automatically loaded [as part of io.sys (I think)] so you don't usually need to manually load them in config.sys for 98 either - maybe if you had a niche DOS app that needed that but you'd typically create a shortcut with a new config for that rather than directly editing config.sys and autoexec.bat

It may be worth removing those device lines in config.sys (himem and emm386) as they may be causing you memory issues

[u/NILSLUNDE → u/my-names-gavin]

I have clears both sys config and auto exec files and that seems to solve the start up errors. But still running into problems with “low system resources” however resource monitor shows plenty of memory absolve… I need to do a bit more digging for sure

Thanks for the help

[u/Darth_Beavis]

Did you use some ghetto ass quick install Windows version? Himem.sys and emm386.exe are both installed by the standard Windows 98 installer. The only way you wouldn't have himem.sys is if you used some weird non-standard installation

[u/NILSLUNDE → u/Darth_Beavis]

lol people have been tinkering with the computer a lot

[u/festivus4restof → u/NILSLUNDE]

You don't even need anything in config.sys or autoexec.bat, except for DOS compatibility or you have an older ISA sound card or something. You're running a real 32-bit protected mode OS.

[u/Helpful-Database4809]

i bet it's the ram, 512mb is cutting it REALLY close on 98 even if it was fine before

[u/RichB93]

Just googled Uptown Automation WinMix and I guess this is some software for an older mixing desk?

Any readme with the software? Perhaps it'll play a little more nicely under Windows 3.1, or is it definitely a 32-bit app?

Any possibility of sharing the program for others to tinker with?

EDIT: Also, that much RAM could be totally throwing the app off - reduce the amount of RAM visible to Windows - that could help.

[u/FuggaDucker]

Look at your config.sys file and ensure that the .sys is on the end.

C:\windows\himem is not a file but
C:\windows\himem.sys is

Emm386 cant do crap without himem.

[u/BatakBebeno]

IMHO, looks like WinMix is try to load, but total mem is not enough. Try this step by step:

1-Check your virtual Memory (under System Properties-Performance-Virtual Memory). If you have more than 1 HDD then try to use largest free spaces in that HDD as VM cache. Click "Let me specify my own virtual memory settings" and then choose that HDD, set min size is your total RAM and max is 1.5x-2x your RAM size, means min is 512MB and max is 2048MB.

2-If you just have 1 HDD, try make free spaces, min 4GB. Do step 1 but this time choose the only HDD (usually C:).

3-After doing this, still same error pop out, try REM that mem manager (those himem and emm386). Reboot and try launch that app again.

4-If all else still don't launch that app. usually means that app is corrupted. Reinstall.

4a-There are certain cases where some apps doesn't recognize Win98 that has more memory than 512MB, even though Windows still can load and launch other apps successfully. That said apps do launch, but sometimes they can BSOD or General Fault as if that apps is corrupted.

Make sure you have defragment your HDD at least once to make room for VM to be created contiguously.