Fluctuating Free RAM

[TonyPi]

Hi, desperation is setting in!
After bootup or REstart, my available free
memory is shown as 306Mb or 357Mb (approx
50Mb variation) as seen in 'System Monitor' or
'Memokit' (memory monitor and recovery utility)
this being with all other things being equal;
ie same start-up configuration with same Start-Up
list. This 50Mb free Mem variation is entirely random!
Associated symptoms include slow to find USB
printer (followed by 'Communications Error Diag box)
or failure to find USB printer. Random BSOD on
Shut-Down - no error messages - requires RESET
button due to total freeze. Sundry crashes or freezes.
With free Mem at 306Mb(start) problems very unlikely.
Advice on what to look for would be appreciated.
May we see peace in the New Year,
Regards, TonyPI.
Config: AMD 1.4, 512 DDR, 2x HDD 40Mb, x4 Parts.
USB - Epson printer and scanner,Thrustmaster, Tablet.
LPT1 Epson Dotmatrix,(seldom used),DVD/CD ROM,
Plexwriter.Floppy, PS1 Keyboard and logitech optical.
Win 98SE. M/S Shut-Down supplement installed.

[mjc]

OK, let me get this straight...when you boot up and have over 306MB free you get crashes and slow/no USB printer.

It sounds like maybe a driver conflict or the USB drivers aren't intializing...try updating the motherboard drivers. Also keep an eye on everything that loads at startup and trim down to only that which you absolutley can't do without; often times if two devices/programs try to load at the same time one of them will get loaded and the other, well, it ain't pretty.....

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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

[TonyPi]

Hi MJC,
The 357Mb or 306Mb free memory is entirely random ie it is + or -
50 Mb for same start-up configuration. If by chance at start-up there is 306Mb free RAM showing then crashes and printer problems are very unlikely,
if 357 Mb free is shown then problems are on the horizon! If printer is not ON-Line or is not hot-plugged then problems are unlikely whatever happens. The random free memory available really has me thrown! My Motherboard ASUS A7A266 with BIOS at rev 1004 is way behind current available update of 1009. Full memory test just carried out - No problems. Words of wisdom appreciated.
Regards, TonyPI

[mjc]

The first thing I would do is to go into Safe Mode and get into Device Manager and look for duplicate devices...especially printers or USB controllers, and if there are any remove them...then I would loook around for the most recent motherboard drivers.

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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

[bassman]

I think MJC is on to it here. Just in case there are no duplicates, here is a couple more ideas.
You might also try disconnecting that printer and removing the drivers for it. Then try several startups and see if that clears the problem.
Try removing one stick of RAM at a time(not sure what your configuration is), go thru the complete startup process letting it acknowledge the new RAM amount. Try several startups and see if you get the fluctuation with the new amount. Do this with each stick seperatly to see if you have one going out.
Good luck

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