"f/f george" wrote...

I only had the nerve to increase my maxfilecache to 512 MB.  Does that

mean

I'm only using 512 MB, and the last 256 MB isn't doing anything?  Should

I

sell it and get a new DVD RW?

I read once that anything after the 512, if you use the max file cache
setting, is uncached and just slows down the system.
If you still have the book that came with the motherboard it should
tell you how much max memory the board can take.

That's easy.  It's a Dell, and the specification is 256 MB in each of three
sockets, max, for a total of 768 MB.  That's what they've published.

I wonder what they have to say about it on their bloated support website.

You do realize that if you went to Win2k alot of these issues would go
away....RIGHT!   ... but the max file cache line would be GONE!
AND MUCH fewer crashes!!!

I hear you.  I'm not trying to defend Win98.   I know it's a toy, but I'm
still getting functionality out of it.  Today I just learned to manually
increase my maxfilecache from 200 megs to 512 megs (supposed to be performed
automatically by Windoze on startup, but that never happened), and I already
feel like I have a new OS.  Thanks Chris Priest / this thread.

I'm pretty happy now that I have 512 MB working.  My goal wasn't necessarily
to get 768 MB working, just to max my system.  It's not worth spending $200
on an operating system to get all 768 MB working -- I'm sure that 512 is
enough for my needs.

Neither can I see spending $200 to eliminate the crashing.  I've been glued
to my computer all day (dontchya know), rebooted it twice when I updated my
system.ini file, and it hasn't crashed yet.  OK that Win2000 could continue
another 5 years, and I'm on borrowed time after 6 hours.  But it's OK for me
for now.

Also, when it becomes time to spend my hard-earned money on an OS, I would
like to consider something besides giving $200 to Microsoft (gasp!!!!).
NewEgg.com sells OEM-Student versions of WinXP Pro for $70, which might be
an idea, if I can figure a way to forge some Student Credentials.

Better yet, Mandrake-Linux is in the same low ballpark -- retail, and they
claim to have wonderful stability, security, and usability.  They are
catching my attention, and I would be delighted to vote with my pocketbook
for the underdog.

Microsoft just gave away $32 Billion in stock dividends, but they didn't
give me anything, and I'm still steaming.

-------

Still looking for information about experimenting with setting maxfilecache
for 768 MB.

CU,
         -Neil-