Re: Memory above 512 MB

Tech-Archive recommends: Fix windows errors by optimizing your registry

From: Papa (bikingis_at_my.fun)
Date: 07/21/04 

Date: Wed, 21 Jul 2004 17:35:28 -0400

In my circle of friends, 256 MB is inadequate, and in my judgment 256 MB
would be marginal on anyone's XP system.

In answer to your question, it was in regard to upgrading to XP. I have done
it numerous times, and, without exception, the clean install was easier.
Getting the latest drivers, and reinstalling user software, is a piece of
cake.

Best regards.

"Ken Blake" <kblake@this.is.an.invalid.domain> wrote in message
news:uQ1a231bEHA.2880@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> In news:edsAWz1bEHA.4032@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl,
> Papa <bikingis@my.fun> typed:
>
> > Thanks for your comments. Appreciated.
>
>
> You're welcome.
>
>
> > I'll have to side with S. Heenan, though.
>
>
> Your choice, of course.
>
>
> > I've rescued way too many
> > sick computers from friends, and invariably a clean install
> does the
> > trick - whereas I have spun many a wheel trying to do an
> upgrade only
> > to eventually go for the clean install anyway.
>
>
> With WIndows XP or earlier versions? With earlier versions, I
> would agree with you. But not with XP.
>
>
> > A clean install is
> > simply easier, and well - clean ;>)
>
>
> Easier? I think it's much harder. You have to backup and restore
> all your data, restore all your applications, reconfigure the
> operating system and the applications the way you want them, etc.
> Depending on how much customization you have, it can be a long
> involved process.
>
> But the decision is yours, not mine.
>
>
> > As for what my daughter needs in the way of computer
> capability, I am
> > well aware of the economic and functional importance of fitting
> > hardware and software to the intended use. Her applications
> really do
> > require that much memory.
>
>
> OK. I was just cautioning you to be sure. If you already are,
> then that's fine.
>
>
> > Beyond that, I will again have to disagree
> > with you. In my opinion 256 MB for an XP system is just
> marginal,
> > even for office software, which anymore does a lot of
> audio/visual
> > tasks.
>
>
> As I said, it depends on the user and what he does. I know many
> people running XP quite happily with 256MB, and their performance
> is fine.
>
> --
> Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
> Please reply to the newsgroup
>
>
> > "Ken Blake" <kblake@this.is.an.invalid.domain> wrote in message
> > news:OaIEjV1bEHA.3148@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> >> In news:urcp4n0bEHA.636@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl,
> >> Papa <bikingis@my.fun> typed:
> >>
> >> > Great advice. I'll do a backup and then do a clean install,
> >> which, as
> >> > you well know, prevents the system from inheriting old
> >> problems,
> >> > among other things.
> >>
> >>
> >> Although many people will tell you that formatting and
> installing
> >> cleanly is the best way to go, I disagree. Unlike with
> previous
> >> versions of Windows, an upgrade to XP replaces almost
> everything,
> >> and usually works very well. Old problems are rarely
> inherited.
> >>
> >> My recommendation is the opposite of the one you're replying
> to:
> >> at least try the upgrade, since it's much easier than a clean
> >> installation. You can always change your mind and reinstall
> >> cleanly if problems develop.
> >>
> >>
> >> > And thanks for answering the memory question.
> >>
> >>
> >> Just confirming that the problem you're alluding to in Windows
> 98
> >> doesn't exist in XP. There's no problem with 640MB, or even
> more.
> >>
> >> However, whether your daughter will make effective use of that
> >> much RAM is another story; it might well be overkill. RAM is
> >> helpful to the extent that it keeps you from using the page
> file.
> >> Once you have enough RAM for that, more does almost nothing
> extra
> >> for you. How much RAM you need to not use the page file
> depends
> >> on what apps you run, but for most people running a common
> range
> >> of business applications, it's somewhere between 256 and
> 512MB.
> >> *Some* people, however--for example those editing large
> >> photographic images--can effectively use more, often *much*
> more.
> >>
> >> So unless she's a very demanding user, I would begin by adding
> a
> >> single 256MB stick and monitoring page file use (you can use
> this
> >> free program:
> >> http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_pagefilemon.htm). If it's
> >> significant, you can always add the second one later.
> >>
> >> --
> >> Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
> >> Please reply to the newsgroup
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> > "S.Heenan" <sheenan@wahs.ac> wrote in message
> >> > news:JNxLc.72445$Mr4.47946@pd7tw1no...
> >> >> Papa wrote:
> >> >> > I will be installing two 256 MB chips into my daughter's
> >> Windows
> >> >> > 98SE system soon. It will be in addition to the two 64 MB
> >> chips in
> >> >> > there now. So she will have a total of 640 MB of RAM.
> Then I
> >> >> > intend to upgrade her system to Windows XP Pro. Her CPU
> is
> >> running
> >> >> > at 1.3 GHZ and her HD has 40 GB and is 10 percent full.
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> Do not upgrade from Windows98SE to Windows XP. Backup her
> data
> >> and
> >> >> perform a clean install of Windows XP. The upgrade version
> of
> >> WinXP
> >> >> may be used for this purpose. Simply insert the qualifying
> >> Win98 CD
> >> >> when prompted by setup. The OEM version will allow only a
> >> clean
> >> >> installation.
> >> >>
> >> >> > Can I expect any problems with Windows XP in going to 640
> MB
> >> of
> >> >> > RAM? I know there are some steps that need to be taken
> with
> >> W98
> >> >> > operating systems when 512 MB is exceeded.
> >> >>
> >> >> You should not have any problems regarding the amount of
> >> memory.
>
>

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