98SE

Is the XP SP1 still the preferred hal to patch for > 4GB memory? Are the Chinese and all other versions based on the SP1 Hal or are they based off of W2K3 Sever? That Gavotte Ramdisk you are using is this one PAE aware based? What happens if you have 32GB and you set the hal maximum to 16GB, is the remaining 16GB still accessible for PAE Ramdisk use?

With 8GB installed, By your statement then the Swap File Max is not really 2GB since 98SE will use up to 3GB normally up to 3.5GB Max leaving only 0.5GB left to squeeze out a 512MB SwapFile which will be stored on the Ramdrive. How would you go about forcing 98SE to use less than 3.5GB of its memory to a lower threshold or is that even possible if using the Ram Limitation Patch? Let's say you want to reduce/force 98SE Programs memory to a 1GB limit so you can have a 3GB SwapFile or 2GB actual SwapFile if 1GB is fully reserved for MMIO. And from what you stated earlier it seems even less likely to need more than 4GB installed for maximizing the Ram Limitation Patch. Any excess memory above 4GB can only be used as a 64-bit XMS Ramdisk but cannot be added as Virtual memory to increase the total memory 98SE can use for 16/32-bit programs. In XP the behavior is different as you can create a large swapfile greater than 2GB using memory above 3.2GB. Maybe there is a way to hack this swapfile size limit in 98SE to match XP's behavior.

This is for an 8GB installed memory setup. The highest possible stable memory patched setup will be tested to compare to a traditional 98SE system memory unpatched for performance evaluation comparison. The max memory limit you described would be similar to XP if it was in the 3.2GB->3.5GB range. However he stated the Swapfile had a 2GB max limit so I used an 8GB installed memory as an example of a common setup to optimize. The first 3GB he stated is only for 98SE, 1GB reserved for MMIO although I wanted to know specifically how the 64MB, 128MB, and 256MB PCIe graphics card would affect MMIO space usage and if the remaining unused memory from that 3GB-4GB MMIO area would be freed up to the 98 Programs on top of the 3GB or is it totally untouchable and reserved only for the video cards. The above 4GB->8GB memory region would be used by the 64-bit XMS Ramdrive to create a 4GB Ramdrive. 2GB Max for a Swapfile as stated unless there is no Swapfile Limit and can be as large as the remainder of the memory installed above 4GB when using a 64-bit XMS Ramdrive. Now if there is no 2GB Max for a Swapfile then in a 64GB system, 64Gb-4GB leaves a 60GB 64-bit Ramdrive max which can be assigned as a large Swapfile which would add 60GB of Virtual Memory on top of the 3GB 98SE Total Memory creating a combined max of 63GB memory. However if the 2GB Swapfile is the true max no matter how much RAM is installed above 6GB then I don't see any real advantage having more than 6GB installed for 98SE standard 16/32bit programs which are limited to the first 3GB.

I think there was a typo up there 4-8GiB not 9GiB for 64-Bit RAM. The first 3GiB will be available to Windows 98SE for running any programs. The 1GiB MMIO is the 1Gib always allocated for MMIO or only when a PCIe graphics card is installed? Would installing an AGP graphics card would free up an extra 1GiB from the MMIO? The 64bit XMS RAMDisk should be up to 4GiB not 5GiB. What MAX MB capacity graphics card does not require reflashing to work properly? Do 256MB, 128MB, and 64MB PCIe graphics card work properly without any reflashing and how much MMIO RAM is reserved for each of these? So the total Max Memory available cannot exceed 4GB no matter if no swapfile then 4094MB or a combination of Swapfile 2GB Max will reduce RAM to 2GB as well to equate 4GB. Is the 3GB-4GB MMIO range locked down completely? If the graphics card used only 512MB of MMIO is the remaining 512MB unusable by 98SE or is it reallocated for RAM if the swapfile was reduced to 1.5GB so the RAM is 2.5GB?

Yes Dencorso we know the Asmedia USB 3.0/3.1 drivers will work on the Asmedia USB 3.0/3.1 controllers. We are trying to figure out if Dibya has attempted to try and mod the Asmedia USB drivers to work on the Intel 3.0 xHCI USB controllers since none exist for XP and he stated he got them to work on XP although only using his kernel mod. I am trying to see if it can be done on standard XP without patching the memory limit to reduce the amount of altered functionality in case it breaks compatibility somehow with certain programs. But if the Intel USB 3.0 ports work on XP it will be a huge win. I also have a similar board as you but Z77. The Intel USB 3.0 ports do function in XP but only as USB 2.0 ports. Can anyone comment on any Z87 or Z97 USB drivers on XP if they function as USB 2.0 ports or are they dead?

I assume the 1GB Video card comment is in reference to none exist or are you stating if it did exist it would not function in 98SE even though there is sufficient memory with your memory limitation patch? Let me know if these values for a theoretical 98SE max is correct under this more standardized configuration. If we stick to an 8GB system and want to maximize it for 98SE usage. 512MB PCIe Video card MAX Use only your XMS Ramdrive 64-bit version so it only touches above the 4GB->8GB memory range. Using your Ram Limitation Patch 98SE should access the first 4GB (4094MB) of memory for running programs. Then set a FIXED 2GB MAX Swapfile (nothing larger is possible) to the 64-bit XMS Ramdrive assigned to Z: which should use the 4GB-6GB memory region. Then the final remaining 2GB 6GB-8GB memory region is available on the assigned Z: 64-Bit XMS Ramdrive. Adding a 512MB Video card will reserve 128MB of MMIO space if I halve what you stated earlier for the 1GB Video card using 256MB of MMIO space. End result is: 98SE Programs total memory available 6014MB (FIXED PageFileMax=2048MB + 98 Programs 3966MB = 4094MB-128MB[512MB Video Card MMIO]) 64-bit XMS Ramdrive space remaining is 2048MB left of 4096MB which can be used for a temp folder or browser cache location.

Which USB controllers are you installing the Asmedia USB drivers onto?

That's the question I want to know if Dibya has tried using Asmedia USB drivers on the Intel USB controller. Maybe these will work since Asmedia has XP drivers.

Maybe I should simply the scenario given all these limits. 98SE installed on a hard drive. 6GB installed RAM 32-bit XMS Ramdisk 2GB (this is the max correct?) 2GB Max Swap File placed on the 2GB XMS Ramdisk Now at this point you load into Windows 98SE. What is your maximum available RAM for programs in 98SE now? Assuming you are using a 1GB (1024MB) Graphics card how does this affect the maximum available RAM? What is subtracted if any? Does using either a 1GB Windows 98 SE video card PCIe vs 1GB Windows 98 SE video card AGP make any difference? At this moment no sound cards are installed to reduce any other variables.

Downloaded for now. Will transfer the files to Floppy for testing later. Still troubleshooting 98SE for USB boot.

I think I follow you now. So even in a 64GB installed memory system the maximum you can use is 2GB for 98SE no matter what or is it really 4094MB? Or if you set no Pagefile it will be 4GB (4094MB max as you stated) which should be faster than using any swap file? However if you do create a 2GB max Pagefile would this be redundant and add more latency when > 2GB memory is accessed. Is this correct? So it is better to have no Pagefile or if some programs require it make only a small one like 16MB leaving you with 4078MB for 98SE programs? So even in your MEMORY64 patch you aren't able to virtualize each process or program it to use its own virtual 2GB memory limit without rewriting the code for each Windows program? So no way to trick a Windows program into thinking it is in its own protected 2GB environment as a 32-Bit application without altering the program's source code? Is the Memory64 a DOS or Windows patch? And if you can't use anything over 4094MB inside 98SE then anything above it to be useful is just a large Ramdrive (64GB-4094MB) 60GB approximately?

Have you tried other manufacturer USB 3.0 driver besides Renesas? How about Asmedia with your patch?

98SE Maximum RAM 4094MB and earlier you mentioned "The Maximum Swap File Size is 2GiB or the difference between 4GiB and the available RAM, whichever is less." I just to make sure what happens in these two Swap File scenarios. So if you were to use a 1024MB Swap File, does this mean you have only 3070MB left for 98SE programs to use? Or does it have the same effect in XP where adding the 1024MB Swap File will increase total available 98SE memory to 5118MB? And you mentioned Max Swap File Size is 2Gib = 2048MB, does this mean you have have 2046MB for 98SE programs to use? Or will it increase total max to 6142MB being the 98SE Max Limit possible with your 98SE Ram Patch? Have you looked at the WinME to see if this Max Limit can be increased or a way to create a 64bit version to increase the limit? And if say 64GB was being used could it be broken down into 4GB memory chunks for each program to run inside 98SE for multitasking rather that capped at 4GB? Is the Max Swap File Size of 2Gib also the same for WinME or is it higher? I downloaded the Ramdisk test file for later. Doing some work on the P4 troubleshooting. Just resurrected the onboard USB 2.0 header ports that I never used before to get 4 extra USB 2.0 ports. The original ones on the rear I found were actually USB 1.0 no wonder it was taking so long to boot.

How many total files are altered in the Kernel patch? Maybe it can be reduced just for USB only and not other functions like Memory. Can you list the filenames that need to be replaced?

Dibya so which computer can you test Z170 or some other for the USB driver? So does it work on regular XP SP3 or not? I think maybe it would be better to instead of make Vista work like Windows 7 you just use Windows 7 code instead since it is more supported from the start then try to make DX12 work. Less headache.

Did you modify this file or was this original Fernando downloaded? Still looking for just Intel USB 3.0 driver only No Kernel Mod just XP standard. Did you test on your Z170 yet? What steps did you do on yours and what USB devices have you tested that works and which don't?

Sounds like you modified just the W7 drivers for the Vista OS instead without doing anything else? If you want to get XP installed on that system try these Chipset Drivers which includes your SATA AHCI for XP driver. You will need to use nLite to slipstream into an untouched XP disc. Burn it and it should install recognizing your SATA controller properly now. http://support.amd.com/en-us/download/chipset?os=Windows XP - Professional/Home&RenderOnServer=true

You mean you added your Hardware ID into the .INF? What was your Hardware IDs of your ChipType uPD720201? I want to do a comparison.

Okay let's say we consider the 98SE into Ramdisk project. We have a 64GB system and we use your 9X/ME Memory Limit Patch so no more BSOD memory problems with > 512MB scenario. What is the maximum amount of memory that 98SE would then be able to use for the OS without any stability problems? For the moment we don't set a pagefile.

Thanks. Z170/Z270 do not have IDE Mode present in BIOS. Only AHCI or RAID option. When you say switchable referring to being able to pick AHCI mode? RAID will not work is that what you meant?

USB SATA First test: DOS stage Black Screen Of Death error. C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\vrtwd.386 Second DOS stage Black Screen Of Death error. C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\vfix.vxd Third DOS stage Black Screen Of Death error. Error loading GDI.EXE. You must reinstall Windows. IDE -> SATA Adapter -> SATA SSD Didn't detect on either port More troubleshooting...

You mean when the hard drive goes into standby energy mode? I always set my 98 Power settings to keep hard disk on all the time. Won't this solve your Swap File on your XMS DOS Ramdisk issue? But if you placed the entire 98SE into your Ramdrive and run it won't that also solve not needing a physical hard drive or SSD to wake up or go into spin down mode?

For the Ramdisk I want a Windows version so I can create different sized Ramdisks on the Fly once inside Windows 9X/ME. I want to store the large CD/DVD iso to the Windows version of XMS Ramdisk as ISO or actual hard drive directory. I will copy this ISO from a USB hard drive where all my CD/DVD games will be stored directory to the Ramdrive. Then I can launch the game without any lag for smoothest performance. May sound like overkill but that is my reason for doing it if R. Loew ever decides to make a Windows 9X/ME GUI version. I don't want to always reboot and create those Ramdrives in DOS every time I alter it. Later I want to use VirtualDrive to store the ISO on the Ramdrive for certain optical disc check games which won't run if I can't find a proper CD patch for them. Jaclaz, Pagefile for Windows 9X/ME I haven't touched Windows 9X/ME in so long to give you a proper response until more testing to find if no pagefile or what is the best pagefile size for stability or max pagefile size when you have plenty of memory that can handle it. But I don't see any reason why you couldn't make a small pagefile like 8MB -> 64MB for any programs back then that will only run with one. I also don't want the pagefile stored on the HDD/SSD so everything is done off Ramdisk if possible. But I am greedy so I may use a larger pagefile until max limit possible that Windows 9X/ME can handle safely with stability. Save the rest of the remaining memory for a very large Windows RamDrive and one tiny Ramdrive letter for B: emulation in case for install disk swap emulation for legacy software. Also from experience swapfile placed on Ramdrive for Win 3.X/9X/ME/NT+ I think there will always be some strange program that needs a little pagefile so you cannot use No Pagefile for all situations. The list of programs that have issues with no pagefile enabled I cannot list since I don't know all of them. Maybe someone else has made a topic on such information?

Your hard drive is too large. Try to find either 60GB SATA HDD or if your motherboard has IDE controller use 60GB IDE laptop 2.5 hard drive instead. The maximum SATA HDD I would try is 120GB or 128GB. Too many headaches as DOS can't really read files and directories correctly above that threshold things start getting wonky. Maybe 250 and 320GB might be different. I remember a few USB hard drives I connected that large still can read FAT32 no problem in 98 DOS. But older 6.22 DOS and earlier I think might have problems if you want to pure legacy non Windows DOS. I would try 20GB hard SATA or IDE HDD instead since that is the smallest. Sata SSD you can go to 4GB so that should work on all MSDOS/WIN 9x DOS multiboot. I will be testing installing W98 onto SSD via USB port to see if it works. Never tried it before but now the technology exists. I also have an old IDE to SATA adapter so I can test SATA drive on IDE controller to see if it works that way too.

Edit your email addresses out and send it as a Private Message to him so no one spams you. Good! all clear now Intel SATA Controller options: Z77 has IDE, AHCI, and RAID. Z87/Z97 Does anyone any of these two motherboard chipsets to confirm if the "Intel" Sata Controller has IDE Compatibility mode on them still in BIOS setting? Z170/Z270 IDE removed, Only has AHCI and RAID. Thanks.