On occasion, my computer freezes up as I experience the following error message:

An internal stack overflow has caused this session to be halted. Change the STACKS setting in your Config.Sys file, then try again.

Here is a snapshot of my Config.Sys file:

DEVICE=C:\Windows\Himem.sys

REM To use the DOS Modem Driver change the "noems" on the
REM next line to "ram".
Device=C:\windows\EMM386.exe noems
DOS=High,UMB
Files=50
Buffers=40
REM Devicehigh=C:\Realmode\Atapi_CD.Sys /D:MSCD000 /I:0
REM DEVICEHIGH=c:\aecu.sys

What is the STACKS setting? How do I change the STACKS setting? What should I set it to?


------------------
Cybersleuth

Windows or just DOS?
Version?

------------------
"I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question."
-- Charles Babbage, mathematician, computer pioneer, analytical engine designer (1791-1871)
-- (Question: 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?')

"Just because I don't care, doesn't mean I don't understand."
-- Homer Simpson

Originally posted by tjaymadison:
Windows or just DOS?
Version?


My OS is WinSEII. I noticed it in Win and, I think, during boot up report of one of my Utilities - Norton possibly.

< Operating System(s) >
Windows System: Microsoft Windows 98 Ver 4.10.2222 A
DOS Sub-System: Microsoft MS-DOS Ver 7.10 A



------------------
Cybersleuth

My OS is WinSEII. I noticed it in Win and, I think, during boot up report of one of my Utilities - Norton possibly.

< Operating System(s) >
Windows System: Microsoft Windows 98 Ver 4.10.2222 A
DOS Sub-System: Microsoft MS-DOS Ver 7.10 A

The Microsoft site which does apply to WIN98SEII suggests
that the Config.sys startup file may not be properly configured for the Windows
installation. And it suggest using the following values:
STACKS=64,512 ;(this is the maximum allowed)
FILES=60
BUFFERS=40

As you can see, I don't even have a STACKS line in my Config.Sys file!

The link refers to another link only applying to Windows 3.x and/or Millenium. This
one suggests adding a STACKS line entry in the Config.Sys file:

Stack overflows can cause Microsoft Windows to stop responding (hang). If
Windows
hangs intermittently, try adding the following line to the CONFIG.SYS file:

STACKS=9,256

Should I try it and adjust the values accordingly for files and buffers? Can I undo
this if it doesn't work?



------------------
Cybersleuth

The main reason I asked about 'just DOS' is that I was wondering if you
needed to do a lot of work in a strictly non-Windows environment.

If you don't, I can't see anything in your Config.sys file that really
needs to be loaded. Windows by itself does a much better job of managing
every statement loaded in that file, with the possible exception of
'aecu.sys' -- do you know what that is in reference to? Hardware?

Try this:

Start > Run > type msconfig in the Open box, click OK.

Click the Selective startup button

Clear any check marks in the first three boxes underneath

Check, if necessary, the last three boxes

Click the Apply button, then the OK button

Click Start > Shut Down > Restart

Let us know.

------------------
"I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question."
-- Charles Babbage, mathematician, computer pioneer, analytical engine designer (1791-1871)
-- (Question: 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?')

"Just because I don't care, doesn't mean I don't understand."
-- Homer Simpson

[This message has been edited by tjaymadison (edited 05-23-2001).]