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Memory Errors Occur when Trying to Play DOS Games in Windows

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This document applies to HP and Compaq PCs with Windows 98, and Me.
A game written for DOS sometimes will not open in Windows 98 or Windows Me. You may receive an error message similar to "Not enough memory: At least X amount of memory is needed." You may also have sound and/or video problems.
This problem usually occurs when Windows has not allocated enough memory to run a DOS game. You will need to reallocate the memory in Windows in order to run your DOS game. This document will show you how to do this.
Step 1: Determining if you need more free space
The error message may have occurred because too many programs were open at the same time. Use the following steps to check for free space on the hard drive:
  1. Double-click My Computer on the Windows desktop,
  2. Right-click the hard drive icon (usually the C: drive) and select Properties .
  3. Click the General tab.
  4. Notice the amount of Free space listed for the hard drive.
    • If the free space is less than 5% the total drive space, more free space needs to be made available on the hard drive. Proceed to the next step.
    • If you have more than 5% free space, the next steps will not help solve your problem. Try restarting your computer and running only your DOS game and no other programs.
Step 2: Clearing the Startup group
This step involves clearing the Startup group to help reallocate system memory.
  1. Click Start , Settings , and Taskbar & Start Menu .
  2. For Windows Me, click the Advanced tab.
    For Windows 95 and 98, click the Start Menu Programs tab.
  3. Click the Advanced button.
  4. Double-click the Programs folder on the left.
  5. Double-click the Startup folder icon.
    When the Startup folder is open, its contents is listed on the right, and the Startup folder icon is listed on the left.
  6. Hold down the Ctrl key on your keyboard and select items located within the Startup folder.
  7. When all the items within that folder are selected, right-click the selection and press Delete .
    Your computer will ask if you want to send those items to the Recycle Bin.
  8. Click Yes .
  9. Go to the next step.
Step 3: Configuring Windows settings
This step involves changing some Windows settings to help increase system memory.
  1. Click Start and Run .
  2. In the Open box, type: msconfig
  3. Click the OK button.
    The System Configuration Utility appears.
  4. Click the win.ini tab.
  5. Find the Windows folder.
  6. Click the plus sign (+ ) to the left of the Windows folder.
  7. Remove the check marks from Load and Run . (Be sure not to remove any other check marks.)
  8. Click Apply and then OK .
  9. If prompted to restart, click Yes or OK to restart the computer.
Step 4: Letting Windows manage the memory
Let Windows manage its memory for optimal performance. Use the following instructions to let Windows manage the memory:
  1. On the Windows desktop, right-click My Computer .
  2. Choose Properties .
  3. Click the Performance tab at the top of the window.
  4. Click the Virtual Memory button.
  5. Click Let Windows manage my virtual memory settings [Recommended] .
  6. Click OK .
  7. Restart the PC.
    You should no longer receive memory errors when opening a DOS game in Windows 98 or Me.


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