 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
Windows Forum / Windows 95 / January 2004Windows 95
How do I reduce the load on the memory of windows 95? Right now it's at 100. >How do I reduce the load on the memory of windows 95? Right now it's at 100. Please explain the nature of your problem. Is something wrong? Windows does not tabulate or report something named "memory load" so I do not understand what you are trying to reduce. If you are receiving an error message, please state exactly what the message says and tell us what you are doing when this message appears. Bill Starbuck (MVP) The error message on Win 95: "The Parameter is incorrect". Lately I have started receiving this message on my IBM Aptiva with Win 95 when I start the computer. The message appears at the very end of startup after desktop is seen. I haven't made any hardware/software changes. Please advise. Thank you for looking in. SHAH. My initial thought is that the message is not coming from Windows but from one of the programs you have added and that starts automatically when Windows starts. To check this hypothesis, start Windows in Safe Mode. Safe Mode starts Windows itself and does not allow other programs to start automatically. To choose Safe Mode, press the F8 key about four times at one-second intervals shortly after you turn on the computer. If Safe Mode eliminates the error message, them you need to identify the specific program that is emitting the message. The simplest way to do this would be to remember what program you added just before the error messages started to appear. You should then use the Add/Remove module in Control panel to uninstall this program. If you cannot remember what you added just before the error messages began to appear, you will have to run a bunch of experiments with the programs that start automatically. I'll explain how to do this after you report back the results of starting Windows in safe Mode. Bill Starbuck (MVP) Thank you for your quick response. Sorry for this rather long monologue but I feel encouraged by your timely response to do my part just as thoroughly this time. I should have mentioned the "Safe Mode" experience in my original querry. Anyway, I retried it. After the "Safe Mode" start I still get the message, "The parameter is incorrect". My set up is, IBM Aptiva with Win95 and HP Laserjet 3100 multifunction. In safe mode it reported "Printer is turned off" so I chose "Cancel", not "Retry" to test your hypothesis. Then I deleted its folder from the Windows Explorer just to make sure everything was removed. Previously HP people have told me to do so for complete removal of the device. After that I turned off and chose Restart a few times and the error message "The Parameter is incorrect" promptly shows up. Please let me reassert, I have not changed any Hardware/Software just prior to this message turning up. We have had cable internet installed earlier this year and I reinstated Networking miscellaneous just recently - HOWEVER, THE ERROR WAS NOT THERE IMMEDIATELY AFTER any of these!. I just thought I will mention these FYI. Just for the record, I have no other computer networking with this one right now. It has been my ambition to someday connect my two computers but my efforts are stymied by these ongoing experiences and lack of time and expertise. Thank you for looking in. SHAH. So you get the same error message in Safe Mode. Further, if I understand correctly, the error message does not identify its source. You protest: >Please let me reassert, I have not changed any >Hardware/Software just prior to this message turning up. We have had >cable internet installed earlier this year and I reinstated Networking >miscellaneous just recently - HOWEVER, THE ERROR WAS NOT THERE >IMMEDIATELY AFTER any of these!. I just thought I will mention these >FYI. The practical fact is that error messages have causes. Something had to change to make this error message begin appearing. You may have been unaware of changing something or you may have forgotten that you changed something, but I assure you that the computer itself did not take action spontaneously and unilaterally. I am wondering if perhaps you should uninstall and then reinstall the cable internet software. The error message could relate to cable networking: When I searched the KnowledgeBase for clues, I found that networking is a possible cause of the message. Have you consulted the supplier of your cable service? This is pretty depressing news because it is leading me to think that you will have to reinstall Windows. I would first try to reinstall Windows on top of the current installation. The Windows Setup program can usually fix the things that go wrong with Windows. However, I am not at all convinced that this error message is coming from Windows. I search the KnowledgeBase for documents about the phrase "The parameter is incorrect" and found a lot of these, but when I restricted the search to documents relating to Windows 95, I got only a few documents about networking and Internet Explorer. Since you do not have a network and the message does not appear when you are using Internet Explorer, its source is mysterious If the message still appears after you reinstall Windows on top of the current installation, then you can reinstall Windows into a new emptry folder. This will surely eliminate the problem but it will also force you to reinstall any applications that you want to continue using. (There go a few hours.) The following article explains how to install Windows into a new folder: How to Reinstall Windows 95 to a New Folder [142096] http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/142/0/96.asp Information about reinstalling is also on www.windowsreinstall.com. Bill Starbuck (MVP) Thank you. A computer novice I am, though I do know the "machine" has to have a cause to have an effect. I will take down the LAN as well as Cable related software someday and will keep you posted. You mention you found "lot of these" on knowledge base. If I get to review the material may be I will spot something I may have done and not thinking of it as relevant. Please advise. On the other hand since it does not affect functionality there is no marginal gain to be had in dramatic solutions such as reinstall of OS. That's life! Keep in touch. It could be a good idea for you to search the Microsoft KnowledgeBase (http://support.microsoft.com/support/search/c.asp?) Bill Starbuck (MVP) Today, I decided to spend some quality time with my computer. As you advised, I took down LAN and WWW. In Network and Internet Properties I used Remove to remove Protocols and Services. To identify cause and effect relationship, if any, I chose to Restart computer after each action and each time "The Parameter is incorrect" promptly appears. The knowledgebase you gave me the link to also talks about Domain ralated issues. Since nothing worked, I used Add to put back the Protocols and Services. Then I changed Domain names just in case. But "The Parameter is incorrect" was still there. Thank you and wish you and yours a very Happy New Year. Shah. > Today, I decided to spend some quality time with my computer. As you > advised, I took down LAN and WWW. In Network and Internet Properties I [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > "The Parameter is incorrect" was still there. Thank you and wish you > and yours a very Happy New Year. Shah. Please post the contents of your config.sys and autoexec.bat files. > Please post the contents of your config.sys and autoexec.bat > files. The config.sys file: DEVICE=C:\WONDOWS\HIMEM.SYS/testmem:off DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE NOEMS I=E000-EFFF X=F000-FEFF FILES=40 BUFFERS=50 DOS=HIGH,UMB DEVICEHIGH=C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\IBMIDECD.SYS /D:IBMCD001 device=c:\windows\cs4232c.exe/A The autoexec.bat file: @ECHO OFF SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 T4 PATH C:\IBMVTYPE\BIN;C:\IBMTOOLS LH DOSKEY C:\IBMTOOLS\RESUME.EXE REM C:\IBMTOOLS\IBMPFILE C:\IBMAV95\IBMAVSH/F00 Thank you for looking in. Greetings for the New Year to you and to yours, Sincerely, Shah > > Please post the contents of your config.sys and autoexec.bat > > files. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > BUFFERS=50 > DOS=HIGH,UMB Since this is Windows 95 I would put a rem in front of all of these items. > DEVICEHIGH=C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\IBMIDECD.SYS /D:IBMCD001 Is there a particular reason to run your cd drive in DOS mode? rem this line also. This is also missing the matching mscdex line in your autoexec.bat file. > device=c:\windows\cs4232c.exe/A I don't know what it is. There should be a space before the /A. And I would rem it anyhow > The autoexec.bat file: > @ECHO OFF Superfluous, rem it. > SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 T4 Only needed for your DOS games to play sounds, rem it and see if your error message goes away. > PATH C:\IBMVTYPE\BIN;C:\IBMTOOLS > LH DOSKEY no comments. It shouldn't hurt to rem both of these. > C:\IBMTOOLS\RESUME.EXE I don't know what it does, I would rem it to see if the error message goes away. > REM C:\IBMTOOLS\IBMPFILE no comment ( actually there is: it's already remmed!). > C:\IBMAV95\IBMAVSH/F00 Looks like an antivirus program from IBM. Is is still supported and updated? There should be a space before the /f00. I would rem it and see if the error message goes away. As a rule, Windows 95 does _not_ require _any_ autoexec.bat or config.sys files. On Wed, 31 Dec 2003 11:54:06 -0600, "Kay Archer" <abuse@127.0.0.1> >"Shah" <pmshahmwi@comcast.net> wrote in message >> > Please post the contents of your config.sys and autoexec.bat >> > files. >> The config.sys file: >> DEVICE=C:\WONDOWS\HIMEM.SYS/testmem:off [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >Since this is Windows 95 I would put a rem in front of all of >these items. I agree. If you run DOS apps within in Windows that require particular Files, Buffers etc. then I'd re-phrase the above as... DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS/testmem:off DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE NOEMS I=E000-EFFF X=F000-FEFF FILESHIGH=40 BUFFERSHIGH=50 DOS=HIGH,UMB ...i.e. using the new ..HIGH versions of the directives. These need Emm386.exe UMB services to load the extra stuff high, and Emm386.exe in turn requires an explicit HiMem.sys line >> DEVICEHIGH=C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\IBMIDECD.SYS /D:IBMCD001 >Is there a particular reason to run your cd drive in DOS mode? >rem this line also. This is also missing the matching mscdex >line in your autoexec.bat file. Again, I agree. Sure, you want DOS mode to have CD-ROM support, but there are far more elegant ways to attain that. OTOH, loading the BIOS extension in Config.sys and *not* loading MSCDEx from Autoexec.bat makes sense for DOS mode .pif that are left to "Use with current..." if DOSSTART.BAT has MSCDEx added there. I'd prefer to set "Exit to DOS.pif" to "Specify a new..." and then localize all DOS mode CD, Mouse, etc. support there. >> device=c:\windows\cs4232c.exe/A >I don't know what it is. There should be a space before the /A. >And I would rem it anyhow Again, I agree - I have no idea what it is, and I'd non-destructively suppress it and see what happens. >> The autoexec.bat file: >> @ECHO OFF >Superfluous, rem it. Not really - it's "free" and it does hide screen drool. OTOH there's a school of thought that says you should leave it out to have a better chance of spotting unexpected stuff that malware may add. >> SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 T4 >Only needed for your DOS games to play sounds, rem it and see if >your error message goes away. Nah, can leave that in - once again, it's "free" (Echo, Set, Path, Prompt etc. are all internal commands that don't load any code or consume any additional memory) >> PATH C:\IBMVTYPE\BIN;C:\IBMTOOLS >> LH DOSKEY >no comments. It shouldn't hurt to rem both of these. I'd move DOSKey to DOSSTART.BAT or a "Specify a new..." .pif's private Autoexec.bat file for DOS mode, and to the "batch file" field in the Properties of Command.com for DOS window sessions, respectively. I'd also add an /Insert parameter to disable overtype by default. >> C:\IBMTOOLS\RESUME.EXE >I don't know what it does, I would rem it to see if the error >message goes away. Agree. It looks like a power management TSR that is quite likely to kick something over. >> REM C:\IBMTOOLS\IBMPFILE >no comment ( actually there is: it's already remmed!). >> C:\IBMAV95\IBMAVSH/F00 >Looks like an antivirus program from IBM. Is is still supported >and updated? There should be a space before the /f00. I would >rem it and see if the error message goes away. >As a rule, Windows 95 does _not_ require _any_ autoexec.bat or >config.sys files. That's true. Applications may benefit from them, though... I use Set statements to extend the Path to a single extra dir for 3rd-partyware tools, and for the Blaster variable, both within Config.sys >------------ ----- ---- --- -- - - - - The most accurate diagnostic instrument in medicine is the Retrospectoscope >------------ ----- ---- --- -- - - - - Happy New Year. Thank you, sincerely, for taking time on New Year's Eve to respond. I have been introduced to this form of communication just recently and am truely wondering what sets this group apart from the OEM, whom I have paid thousands of dollars to buy these equipments, that their "tech support" has no inclination to even acknowledge the problem! I wonder how I wasted literally hundreds of hours just on "hold" with "tech support" and not be told about this group. Anyway, let me get back to business at hand! First, I have had this set up for years now and the error in question is a recent experience (two months at the most). In supplying the autoexec.bat and config.sys data I was hoping you would identify something that must have occurred recently. This set up came with new computers and I don't even know what these lines mean much less choose to run CD ROM in DOS mode. I haven't used the computer in DOS mode, ever, and don't even know how to. I am nervous about making changes to something this profound and not be able to reverse it although, I will, with your help, if I can make some sense of what we are doing here. Finally, if Win 95 does not need either of these files should I just get rid of it? Will that make it start faster? Quite frankly, I am very encouraged just because you responded and have a thousand questions/problems running through my thinking system I wish I could resolve. But I am not comfortable to make too many requests in a "free forum". Is there a book(s) that will help me treat these issues in a systemic way rather than just shoot the problem of the day? Really, it can set 2004 apart from the past life! Thank you, sincerely, Paresh M Shah > Happy New Year. > [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > here. Finally, if Win 95 does not need either of these files should I > just get rid of it? Will that make it start faster? The usual method is to just rename the files, for example to config.123 and autoexec.123. That way if it turns out that you do need something there, it remains available. It is possible that startup will be slightly faster. Again, using the REM command one line at a time a rebooting after each change may show you exactly where the problem is occuring. It is also possible that your particular error message is coming from a program in Startup or being run from the registry. I wanted to start with config.sys and autoexe.bat both because of the message and they are easier to troubleshoot. > Quite frankly, I am very encouraged just because you responded and > have a thousand questions/problems running through my thinking system > I wish I could resolve. But I am not comfortable to make too many > requests in a "free forum". Is there a book(s) that will help me treat > these issues in a systemic way rather than just shoot the problem of > the day? Really, it can set 2004 apart from the past life! My favorite book was "Peter Norton's Guide to DOS", unfortunately out of print for many years. My copy was loaned out and has never returned. "Upgrading and Repairing PC's" by Scott Meuller is also a good resource. I used it when I taught computer repair classes at the local vo-tech. But the newsgroups are where I often go to find problem solving clues. Using the search function on Google Groups, you can put in the significant part of the error message and often find that the solution has already been discussed. I will admit though, that my first place to search is the Knowledge Base (http://support.microsoft.com) and use the same search method (you can limit your search to Windows 95). > Again, using the REM command one line at a time a rebooting after > each change may show you exactly where the problem is occuring. > It is also possible that your particular error message is coming > from a program in Startup or being run from the registry. I > wanted to start with config.sys and autoexe.bat both because of > the message and they are easier to troubleshoot. Good morning. Today, I used Start-Run-sysedit to edit both autoexec.bat and config.sys files, added REM in front of each line and rebooted the system. The error message "The Parameter is incorrect" appeared promptly. It made no change to this error message. As the system was rebooting I felt the HD sounds were slower than usual but no other difference. I deleted REM from the two files and it is running back as usual - with the error message. Please advise. Thank you. > > Again, using the REM command one line at a time a rebooting after > > each change may show you exactly where the problem is occuring. [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > running back as usual - with the error message. Please advise. Thank > you. Create a new folder. Move the shortcuts from Start, Programs, Startup into that folder. Reboot and see if the message appears. You may wish to do only one shortcut at a time to try to isolate where the error message comes from. Some more questions, is the error message appearing _before_ Windows starts? Does your date/time stay correct? Thank you for your persistence. > Create a new folder. Move the shortcuts from Start, Programs, > Startup into that folder. Reboot and see if the message appears. First, the short answer, yes the error "The Parameter is incorrect" promptly appears after following these instructions. Hopefully I have followed your instruction correctly: I right clicked START, then chose Programs and Startup. The Startup folder is empty. The Windows and Programs folders had all of three shortcuts which I moved to TEMP95, a folder I created which placed itself next to "TEMP" folder. Then I chose to Restart the system from START and the error message appeared promptly. > Some more questions, is the error message appearing _before_ > Windows starts? Does your date/time stay correct? The error appears at the very end of the start process after all icons have showed up on the Desktop. It is the last activity on the screen after which computer is ready for use. The date/time remain correct. This time I wondered where the message originates. The source folder, not the cause or the trigger point if you will. So I used advanced feature in Find function to search for the folder with the phrase "The Parameter is incorrect". It gives only one file named Kernel32 as the search result. It resides in c:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM folder. When I clicked on it to open it, Windows says can not find Winword.exe to read it. Hope you can make some sense out of it. I have a gut feeling the problem arises in Windows working with HP Laserjet 3100 (multifunction) and have vague memory that when it appeared two years ago HP tech support had sent me an updated driver disk which solved that and few other problems at the time. These problems were issues with faxes. Needless to say, I uninstalled Jetsuite with all its components to solve this problem this time before I ever posted these questions on the internet. I have been using HP Lj with the new drivers for a long time now and the error is only a recent phenomenon. HP has stopped supporting 3100! Thank you. > The error appears at the very end of the start process after all icons > have showed up on the Desktop. It is the last activity on the screen [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > on it to open it, Windows says can not find Winword.exe to read it. > Hope you can make some sense out of it. You don't want to open Kernel32 with any wordprocessing program. It could still be a program that is trying to run when Windows starts. Use startup manager (http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_description/0,fid,7608,00. asp) to disable the programs that are being started from the registry. Again, do this one at a time until you identify the offending program. > I have a gut feeling the problem arises in Windows working with HP > Laserjet 3100 (multifunction) and have vague memory that when it [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > using HP Lj with the new drivers for a long time now and the error is > only a recent phenomenon. HP has stopped supporting 3100! Use startup manager to disable the programs that are being started from the > registry Please advise procedures. Thank you. The link you provided takes me to PC World magazine and I did not understand its significance. > Use startup manager > to disable the programs that are being started from the [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > The link you provided takes me to PC World magazine and I did not > understand its significance. Download the program Startup Manager. See if the message box has a title. If so, repost with it. Ben > Use startup manager > to disable the programs that are being started from the [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > The link you provided takes me to PC World magazine and I did not > understand its significance. > See if the message box has a title. If so, repost with it. > Ben Thank you. The message box has no title. Its a small, credit card size posting, has a rex X mark and it appears at the end of the start process after all icons have taken their seats at the desktop. After the message appears the computer is ready for use. Please advise. Thank you. Shah >Thank you for your persistence. My trading as could be near-anagrammed as AC Persistance :-) >> Create a new folder. Move the shortcuts from Start, Programs, >> Startup into that folder. Reboot and see if the message appears. >First, the short answer, yes the error "The Parameter is incorrect" >promptly appears after following these instructions. Points away from the (or rather, that) Startup as being where it runs from. Other runpoints abound. >Hopefully I have followed your instruction correctly: I right clicked >START, then chose Programs and Startup. The Startup folder is empty. OK >The Windows and Programs folders had all of three shortcuts which I >moved to TEMP95, a folder I created which placed itself next to "TEMP" >folder. Then I chose to Restart the system from START and the error >message appeared promptly. OK; I think you can and should undo those changes... they aren't autorunning shortcuts as such. >> Some more questions, is the error message appearing _before_ >> Windows starts? Does your date/time stay correct? >The error appears at the very end of the start process after all icons >have showed up on the Desktop. It is the last activity on the screen OK, that's well after Windows starts... >The date/time remain correct. ... so that's not as relevant as it would have been for BIOS phase issues that could follow flat-battery loss of CMOS settings. >This time I wondered where the message originates. The source folder, >not the cause or the trigger point if you will. So I used advanced >feature in Find function to search for the folder with the phrase "The >Parameter is incorrect". It gives only one file named Kernel32 as the >search result. It resides in c:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM folder. Don't pick a fight with that dude; you'll lose :-) Not only is it merely the messenger, it also happens to be a brawny 10-foot-tall messenger with your nads already between steel teeth >Windows says can not find Winword.exe to read it. Just as well. Applying rich text formatting to core binary code is a Bad Idea. >I have a gut feeling the problem arises in Windows working with HP >Laserjet 3100 (multifunction) and have vague memory that when it >appeared two years ago HP tech support had sent me an updated driver >disk which solved that and few other problems at the time. These >problems were issues with faxes. Fits. I've seen that in contexts where no "parameters" (as entered by myself) apply, so it's fallout from a system call that was made in a deranged way, e.g. "park this car in the kitchen sink please". The car-parking function might complain "kitchen sink" is a bad parameter. >--------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - - Error Messages Are Your Friends >--------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - - |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2009 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.