Troubleshooting HIMEM.SYS 3.10 XMS Test (TESTMEM) Failures (109845)
The information in this article applies to:
• Microsoft Windows 98
• Microsoft Windows 95
• Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.2
• Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.21
• Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.22
• Microsoft Windows for Workgroups 3.11
This article was previously published under Q109845
If this article does not describe your hardware-related issue, please see the following Microsoft Web site to view more articles about hardware:
SYMPTOMS
You receive the following error message at startup after HIMEM.SYS version
3.10 tests extended (XMS) memory:
ERROR: HIMEM.SYS has detected unreliable XMS
memory at address XXXX:XXXXh. XMS driver not installed.
CAUSE
This error may be caused by a fault in the computer's external cache
controller or by bad or mismatched memory chips on the external cache
(generally 64, 128, or 256K cache SRAM). If disabling the external cache
does not correct this problem, there may be a problem with the motherboard
at the current processor speed, A20 handler problems, or bad or mismatched
main system RAM chips.
RESOLUTION
Use the following troubleshooting procedures to isolate the cause of the
XMS test failure:
• Disable the external cache (also known as "secondary cache" or
"CPU cache") in CMOS. For information about how to do so, refer
to the documentation included with your computer or contact
your hardware manufacturer.
NOTE: If disabling the external cache corrects the problem, replace the memory (SRAM) on the cache with the type and speed chips recommended by
your hardware manufacturer. If this does not correct the problem, you
may have a bad cache controller. Contact your hardware manufacturer for
more information.
• Disable Turbo in CMOS.
• Disable Fast Gate A20 and Fast A20 Display in CMOS.
• Try different machine switches with HIMEM.SYS (/M:2, 11, 12, and 13).
For more information on this procedure, type "help HIMEM.SYS" (without
the quotation marks) at the MS-DOS command prompt.
• Replace main system RAM chips with the type and speed memory modules
recommended by your hardware manufacturer.
NOTE: You can disable XMS memory testing by adding /TESTMEM:OFF to the device line that loads HIMEM.SYS in your CONFIG.SYS file. For example,
DEVICE=C:\DOS\HIMEM.SYS /TESTMEM:OFF
Disabling XMS memory testing may allow HIMEM.SYS to load, but you may
experience random file corruption, system instability, or other problems
until the underlying hardware problem is resolved.
Modification Type: |
Major |
Last Reviewed: |
12/28/2001 |
Keywords: |
kbprb KB109845 |
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