[Lcsmrz]

Old 486dx4-100 computer, 20MB RAM, Win 3.1, Netscape 4.01, Dos 5. Used for surfing and Email only.

Recently, random GPFs running Netscape only. Tried tweeking Windows, without correction. MemTest86 hangs and reboots, so I suspect an intermittant RAM failure. But I hate to spend ANY money on such an old machine.

I vaguely remember from 20 years ago that there was a way to remove memory segments from use with a switch somewhere.

Anyone have a better memory ???

Thanks for exercizing the neurons ...

Larry

[LarryCore]

Yeah, you can do that in the EMM386 line of your CONFIG.SYS.

Instead of just EMM386.EXE NOEMS you would make it something like EMM386.EXE NOEMS x=400-4ff.

What memory range did you want to try to exclude? I'll see if I can dig up the right numbers...

Have you tried simply removing some of the RAM? With 20 meg, you must have some combo of chips that will allow you to take out at least 4 meg...

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[Lcsmrz]

Thanks for the quick reply !!

I have several things to try: removing or swapping SIMMs around, running a different RAM tester, etc. The segments on the GPFs differ from the one error I got from MemTest86 before it hung.

Thanks for the good memory on EMM386!

Larry

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by LarryCore:
Yeah, you can do that in the EMM386 line of your CONFIG.SYS.

Instead of just EMM386.EXE NOEMS you would make it something like EMM386.EXE NOEMS x=400-4ff.

What memory range did you want to try to exclude? I'll see if I can dig up the right numbers...

Have you tried simply removing some of the RAM? With 20 meg, you must have some combo of chips that will allow you to take out at least 4 meg...
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

[Steven715]

Considdering that you have a good spec 486 is it not work thinking about installing windows 95??

I am assuming that your 486 DX4 is about 100 MHZ?

at leas then you can have a decent IE and Java Script

the minimum requierments for win 95 is

386 25 MHZ

4 Ram

100 MB Hardisk

Windows 95 will be quite stable on that sec computer you have

Just Saying that is all!!!!!!!!!

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[Lcsmrz]

Thanks for the replies ...

I considered upgrading to Win95 several year's ago, but didn't have the time. I just hate to spend time/money on such an antiquated system. My guess is that the transition won't be smooth ...

I've been swapping SIMMs and playing with EMMSYS and CONFIG.SYS, without much luck identifying a segment of memory that's at fault. I've been running Dr Watson this week to see it can give me more clues, but haven't had time to decypher yet. It's been a number of years since I programmed anything -- try the 286 !!

I even went so far as to reinstall my 486dx33, but with the same result. A friend has a 16MB SIMM that he's going to give me, just to try it out. Netscape doesn't run well at 8MB RAM!!

I already reinstalled Netscape and Windows, just in case. Maybe some other chip on my motherboard is intermittently failing; this box is ten year's old !!

Thanks again for your advice ...

Larry