[krelian]

I give up:wacko:

I really dont understand what went wrong.
and yes the files are all present in C:\....I might be stupid but I aint bloody stupid

I'm going to delete the partition and reinstall it

@dencorso (and usher)
I really appreciate you spent time trying to help me out, dont really wanna waste anymore of it...but if you can give me just a final little help......

I will only put a single 512mb module on the mobo, just to be on the safe side
after that, I figure these are steps I need to take?

-install SP2.1
-reinstall KB311561, just in case
-place the 2x1GB memory modules and clear CMOS
-follow your instructions in post #12

so if I understand correctly, config.sys in C\ will only have A SINGLE line?
autoexec.bat though should still be empty?

bye for now

This post has been edited by krelian: 15 April 2010 - 02:39 PM

[dencorso]

Since you're reinstalling, let's do it this way (let's let the installation of office XP for after all else is working OK):

With just 512 MiB RAM do:
1) Install Windows and check it's working fine.
2) Install SP2.1 and check it's working fine.
3) Add a "MaxPhysPage=48000", without the inverted commas to the [386Enh] section of C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM.INI
4) Install Xeno86's modded VCache.VxD
This should be enough to get you ready for more RAM.
Now, let's give Usher's method a test, since you'll will be at a point it's harmless to do and it may work.
5) Add a "MaxPhysPage=48000", without the inverted commas to the [386Enh] section of C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM.CB
If there isn't such a section, create it at the end of the file. *Do* *not* copy SYSTEM.INI over SYSTEM.CB!
Just edit it with notepad, OK?
6) Now place in the 2x1GB memory modules and clear CMOS and reboot.
Windows should start normally. Restart in Safe Mode. Restart back in normal mode. Report.

If Usher's method works, that's it. If not, we now remove step (5) and proceed to add Japheth's HIMEMX.EXE and xRayeR's IO.SYS patch. If that's necessary, I'll give you as detailed instructions as you find necessary, OK?

Good luck!

@Usher: Yes, I know I'm proposing to use just half of your trick, since I recommended Xeno86's patched VCache.
But if what I proposed above works, then you've already got your proof of concept, so bear with me, please!

[krelian]

great, thanks, I'll try that

there's another thing I forgot to ask:
last time I used some switches at setup, list here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/186111
for example those to bypass scandisk and not installing ACPI, I got the idea from this page
http://www.usbman.co...8seusbguide.htm
is there anything else I need to actually bypass?

This post has been edited by krelian: 15 April 2010 - 08:34 PM

[dencorso]

No. And installing 98SE without ACPI is a good idea which leads to a generally more stable configuration. I wrote about how to remove it from a finished installation in an old (but still useful) post, for which there is a link in the first post of the > 1 GiB thread. But, since you're installing from scratch, it's much cleaner to prevent Win 9x from using ACPI at install time. If all the rest works OK, I may then suggest you some extra tweaks that may be done at any time afterwards.

[krelian]

IT WORKS!!!!
used the usher's method, or dencorso's guidelines till step 6
I can now enter safe mode with 2GB installed and the system is very stable, I burned a few cds, flashed the firmware of my SCSI burner, no memory problem whatsoever

couple of things, probably obvious, probably not.....bear with me I'm still such a noob

1)This one is really, really weird
When I enter safe mode, my USB mouse doesn't work, even there's NO POINTER, it's like disappeared
BUT if take a memory module off, then it works no problem.
Put the 2nd memory module back in, used a USB to PS/2 adapter, rebooted. Now the pointer reappeared, but still I can't move it
Rebooted again, entered BIOS options and "disabled USB mouse support". Now the mouse finally works even in safe mode.

2)I actually reinstalled windows for 2 times.
The first time also went good, however I installed Office XP as I had a feeling that's what messed things last time.
And as expected, couldn't boot into safe mode.
There must be something in the Office XP engine that **** with memory settings, but whatever I'm not gonna risk again. I'll probably install either Office 2000 or 97

This post has been edited by krelian: 18 April 2010 - 09:06 AM

[dencorso]

Congratulations!
I think now is high time for you to do a full, sector-by-sector, partition image, to obviate the necessity of ever reinstalling again. Do it before installing Office (whatever version) and, after you settle for a version, do it again. Theis way you start a library of known-good backups, which will make it much easier, from this point on, to experiment on the OS and avoid big-scale messes. I use Ghost 2003 for it, but there's a good free alternative jaclaz pointed to some time ago: PartitionSaving (link)! Do give it a try (and use the DOS version of the program, which is the easier and safer way to do images). Say... did you get a single BIOS setting, using which you mouse works OK both in normal and safe mode? This is the only point that was not clear for me in you latest post. And, BTW, your machine has been added to the > 1 GiB list. Do check whether I described it right, please.

@Usher: Congratulations for you, too! Now your method IS tested, and proven to work. I'll add a "Mini How-To" post to the > 1 GiB list quite soon, containing both your original method, and my modification of it (viz. using Xeno86's VCache, instead of [vcache] settings).

You two rock!

[submix8c]

@krelian - just a comment/explanation of the USB Mouse (AFAIK)...

Depends on the BIOS of the MoBo whether it will work or not. In your case not, in mine yes.

If I understand my BIOS, it has "enable USB Legacy Support" which allows for the BIOS "emulating" PS2 until the OS takes over at which point the Drivers are loaded for USB devices. In Safe Mode, no Drivers are loaded but the BIOS allows for the OS to "see" PS2 devices. Very nice.

In your case, it appears you get one or the other (many older Compaq's/Gateway's are like that). So, your method of "switching" works. Use USB when not going to Safe (faster than PS2) and just "switch" when Safe is needed.

This post has been edited by submix8c: 18 April 2010 - 12:58 PM

[krelian]

Hi submix, thanks for your input, funny thing the problem is now gone.
Just for the heck of it, I tried to clear CMOS once again and that did it, now I can boot into safe mode with a mouse plugged into the USB port

dencorso, on 18 April 2010 - 12:22 PM, said:

You two rock!

I HARDLY rock
I could have never figured it out without your and usher's help, the only people that rock here are you and him
I always thought to get some HDD cloning software but couldn't decide which, thanks for that

pm coming your way