🚀 go-pugleaf

Steve Buckley <Stephen@SPBUCK.softnet.co.uk> wrote in article
<01bc7a9a$c0460da0$LocalHost@ste>...
> All,
> 
> Is there a 16Mb memory limitation to Windows 3.1 or Windows for
> Workgroups??
> 
> i.e. on a 64Mb PC will only the first 16 Mb be used by windows?
> 

I noted your query, which was not answered fully here, and have assumed
that you've upgraded your RAM, but Windows doesn't recognize it...?

This is a relatively publicly-undocumented problem in Win 3.1x!  And it
only happens when one upgrades past the 16MB level.  It seems that *only
during initial install*, SETUP in the target Windows directory is modified
to contain an encrypted configuration record pertaining to your machine,
while still in character mode.  If you run a slow enough PC you can see the
message "Modifying Setup.EXE" briefly appear on the basebar.  But it ONLY
happens at the first install.  If you perform subsequent installations on
top of the existing one, Setup.EXE's info is not altered with respect to
RAM, at least.  The only solution is to delete Setup.* from the Windows
directory, before starting reinstallation.

I knew a fellow who was handling huge files in Word 6.0, so he upgraded his
RAM to 32MB.  In DOS, MEM reported the full compliment of RAM.  In Windows,
it still acted like an 8MB PC.  He reinstalled Windows, reestablished his
VMemory swap file, upgraded his BIOS, replaced the RAM chips installed, all
for nothing.  We talked to Microsoft, and Dell (the PC maker) extensively. 
Finally, when I mentioned that perhaps deleting just Setup.* might do the
trick - having just seen the slow PC do this at my job - the MS employee
said to reinstall from scratch, with no pre-existing install.  Of course
this latter solution would work, but at the expense of all the previously
installed software as well.

Deleting Setup.* in the Windows directory and reinstalling on top of the
remaining existing installation, is all you need to do in order for Windows
to re-recognize the configuration, and your extra RAM.

Hope this helps.

Stephen Goodman        * Download the Loop Of The Week and more! at
EarthLight Productions  * http://www.primenet.com/~sgoodman/Studios