Win98SE EMM.386 startup error - Tech Support Forums

MaxVal · July 15th, 2002, 03:37 PM

I was working on a friend's machine and noticed a brief error message on startup "EMM.386 load failure- unable to set page frame".
After the pause, it resumes loading with no apparent ill effects.
I am aware that this is the expanded memory manager and it most likely will not matter, but I would like to fix it!
Ideas anyone?
MAX

no1_vern · July 15th, 2002, 04:03 PM

You want to get rid of the message?
Easiest way is to make a copy of your config.sys file- put it in a safe place.
Edit the config.sys file to remove the "DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE"
Startup line. Be warned some older programs wont run correctly if you disable this program.

btvillarin · July 15th, 2002, 05:11 PM

Or, put add the "REM" (sans quotes) in front of that line. That way, you can undo it if it screws up something.

Bryan
_________________________________________________
I don't go in here often, because I check the THGC more. But, I wanted to see how it was in here. =)

Redwolf · July 15th, 2002, 05:56 PM

My suggestion is to run sfc and reload emm386. Just goto Start>Run>type sfc>then tell it to extract C:\Windows\Emm386.exe (second option). You should be set.

CMonster · July 16th, 2002, 05:39 AM

I can almost guess that your friend has a Sound Blaster Live (Value) card installed.

Try deleting config.sys

Next try removing the Sound Blaster Live Virus and getting another sound card.

MaxVal · July 16th, 2002, 09:13 AM

Thank you all!
Duhh, I should have peeked at the Config.sys file first.
I'll check the hardware for the Sound Blaster Live
I did run SFC and replaced a couple of corrupted files, and some changed ones, but that didn't change a thing.
I also ran a search for the EMM.386 file with no success. Why didn’t the SFC offer to extract it?
Any additional thoughts are welcome, meanwhile I'll give these Ideas a go.
MAX

Redwolf · July 16th, 2002, 10:33 AM

Hey, I like the SBLive!

BFlurie · July 16th, 2002, 12:03 PM

C:\Windows\Emm386.exe

Normally, you don't need this loaded for Windows -- Winders sets the page frame for expanded mem w/o it. Do you need emm386.exe loaded for some reason?

MaxVal · July 16th, 2002, 01:08 PM

I know of no reason for it to be loading.
Most WIN 98SE machines have nothing in the Config.sys file, but I need to check it.
Do I take it that EMM386.EXE is not generally loaded on a WIN 98SE machine?
MAX

BFlurie · July 16th, 2002, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Do I take it that EMM386.EXE is not generally loaded on a WIN 98SE machine?

No. There might be some situations if you drop to PURE Dos mode & run programs there that emm386.exe might be useful to load, tho there are better ways to load it other than in Config.sys like a customized Exit To Dos.pif file.

Seems I recall long ago I might have received a similar error even tho emm386.exe wasn't loading -- Winders just said that when it couldn't set the expanded memory page frame. R-click on any .pif (Dos shortcut) file, choose properties/ memory & see if "expanded memory" is available. If "auto" is seen in the box, I think it is (maybe Winders can provide expanded mem w/o a page frame?). Otherwise, many diagnostic programs can show if & where the 64K page frame is set in memory -- somewhere between C800 & EFFF.

Note that all this has no effect on Winders programs (which use Windows' mem mapping) -- only Dos in a Window or pure Dos.