98 with more then 512 MB of RAM?

I have a computer with 98SE and 2000 dual-booted. I have 512 MB RAM right now.
However Windows 2000 would really benefit from more (Im thinking 1GB) of RAM.

I read that the maximum amount of RAM 98 could recognize is 512 (applies to all 9X systems) and if you have more then that 98 would not  boot. I also read that there is a way to get 98 to work with up to 2GB's

Is this true? How can I put more RAM in this PC and yet have both systems work?

[Moderator]

1. Click "start", then click "run".
2. In the box, type in the following without the quotation marks, "C:\windows\system.ini notepad"
3. Scroll down until you get to the [VCache] section.
4. If the line "MaxFileCache = " already exists, then change it to read "MaxFileCache=524288" (without the quotation marks).

I have a computer with 98SE and 2000 dual-booted. I have 512 MB RAM right now.
However Windows 2000 would really benefit from more (Im thinking 1GB) of RAM.

I read that the maximum amount of RAM 98 could recognize is 512 (applies to all 9X systems) and if you have more then that 98 would not  boot. I also read that there is a way to get 98 to work with up to 2GB's

Is this true? How can I put more RAM in this PC and yet have both systems work?

Not true.  My P3 rig with 640MB RAM triple boots WinXP, Win98SE, Ubuntu.  I used to have Win2k on it prior to Unbuntu.  Will performance under Win98 increase with more RAM?  No.

Not true.  My P3 rig with 640MB RAM triple boots WinXP, Win98SE, Ubuntu.  I used to have Win2k on it prior to Unbuntu.  Will performance under Win98 increase with more RAM?  No.

I don't think he wanted to increase performance under Windows 98.... just wanted to make sure WIN98 would still run with more than 512 so he wouldn't have to stick with just 512 for his other boot.

I don't think he wanted to increase performance under Windows 98.... just wanted to make sure WIN98 would still run with more than 512 so he wouldn't have to stick with just 512 for his other boot.

Correct

Reference.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/253912

I read that the maximum amount of RAM 98 could recognize is 512 (applies to all 9X systems) and if you have more then that 98 would not  boot.

Yes thats not quite true. I had 639MB, 2, 256MB and 1, 128MB on my Win98SE. It showed the correct amount on My Computer and I didn't alter the System.ini. 

Within Windows 98SE, you are able to restrict the amount of memory it uses following either the directions provided by "patio" or the link provided by "Geek-9pm".

To use "msconfig", here is the direct link, http://support.microsoft.com/kb/181966/EN-US/, referenced by Geek-9pm's link.

See the entry for "Limit Memory to <x> MB:".

I'm experimenting with this on a different computer (P4 w/2GB RAM) and I'm getting the error shown here:  http://support.microsoft.com/kb/253912

I've made all the recommended changes and it won't boot Windows.  The splash screen starts and then the error message, and press any key to continue, then computer shuts off.  It boots to command prompt and runs DOS with no obvious issues.  This particular computer allows booting from a USB drive and that's what I'm using for this test.  It allows to select from any USB mass storage devices it sees on power-up.

I've edited system.ini, looked through win.ini, config & autoexec.  If I have success, I'll post results.

Did you try the "Limit memory to xxx MB" option accessed through:
     Start -> Run -> msconfig -> General tab -> Advanced button ?

[Moderator]

My Win2k workstation also has Win98SE on it with 1G of RAM and this is what i used to get Win98SE to boot properly.

Did you try the "Limit memory to xxx MB" option accessed through:
     Start -> Run -> msconfig -> General tab -> Advanced button ?

Won't boot Windows, will boot DOS.  May have something to do with it being a USB flash drive.

This fix worked:  http://support.microsoft.com/kb/184447

Tried it on hard drive instead of flash drive.  Refuses to start in Safe Mode giving the Out of Memory error.  Normal Mode starts the boot, then attempts to plug 'n play all hardware, then eventually locks up at about the same point as the flash drive.  I've given up.