"Error on Initializing VCACHE" Need help on installing RAM

[ChrisMacPherson]

Hi All,
I have just purchased a 64Mb DIMM PC100. I am running a P266MMX which has 3 DIMM slots and is windows 95. Already in two of the memory slots are 2, 32Mb DIMMs
of the same speed.

When I put the new 64Mb DIMM in to the third slot and boot up my PC, the system
boots up normally until it tries to start windows. Then I get the message

"Error Initializing VCACHE
Windows Protection Error - You must restart the computer"

I do not know a lot about computer hardware and this is very confusing. I have followed my instruction manual to a T, and this DIMM setup is shown in the manual.
If you can shed some light on my problem thanks very much.

Chris MacPherson
thedamager@hotmail.com

http://www.technomusic.org/macpweb

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[dxd]

First off, you should try just the 64mb module alone to see if the same error occurs. If not, add one 32mb module at a time and see if/when the error occurs.

Vcache is a 32bit driver that sets aside RAM as a cache(buffer) for disk & network reads and writes. Initially it is a dynamic value, whereas Windows will determine how much is needed by the OS. You can however set the minimum and maximum RAM Vcache uses...mainly to troubleshoot issues. You can alter these settings in the System.ini file by adding (if not there) a section called [vcache]. under that section you can force Windows to use min and max amounts. Ex.

[vcache]
MaxFileCache = 8192 (the values are in Kilobytes)
MinFileCache = 4096

The above is just for reference as I think your problem is more related to hw. My curiosity is with the speeds of the RAM modules you have. It appears the 64mb module is a 100mhz module...what speeds are the 32mb modules?
Doug
dxd_2000@yahoo.com

 

[ChrisMacPherson]

Thanks Doug,
I tried to boot up with just the 64Mb Module and got this error :

"VFAT device Intialisation Failed
A device or resource required by VFAT is not present or is unavailable. VFAT cannot continue loading. System halted."

I then went in to the setup screen after another boot with just the normal 2 , 32Mb modules in place. I couldn't find any speeds of these modules in setup, or on the modules themselves, but a friend suggested that the bus speed may be connected to my problem. The bus speed is 66Mhz.

I hope this doesn't mean I have the wrong ram as I have only followed the manual, but do you think these speeds should match?

thanks again

P.S I forgot to mention in the first msg that on restart, after the Vcahce error, I managed to boot up in safe mode with all three ram modules installed. I checked in control panel > system > performance, and the ram totalled 128Mb which is the correct amount for the three modules. Does this mean that it should work in normal mode?
Chris MacPherson
thedamager@hotmail.com

http://www.technomusic.org/macpweb

Bring on the new Browza's!!

Learn/t/ing D\HTML, Javascript, Java, VB5-6, COBOL, Pascal

 

[dxd]

Well, here is the true test. Will it boot in safe mode with only the 64mb module. If not, I would consider it a hardware compaitbility issue...or who knows maybe just a faulty module. However, I never recall seeing 100mhz memory on less than a Pentium II system.

It could boot in safe mode with all the memory installed probably because the core system files were loaded in the lower memory regions. But, with VCACHE trying to grab upper memory it will fail.

Here is a link to a Microsoft article describing the VFAT error you are getting now. You may or may not want to try what it says to....doubtful it will work though.

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q139/0/63.asp

Doug
dxd_2000@yahoo.com

 

[ChrisMacPherson]

Thanks for your help, I've decided to upgrade my motherboard and CPU, I think it's about time!!


Chris MacPherson
thedamager@hotmail.com

http://www.technomusic.org/macpweb

Bring on the new Browza's!!

Learn/t/ing D\HTML, Javascript, Java, VB5-6, COBOL, Pascal