Virtual memory problem? - Need advice.

[Kenneth]

I've been trying to help my stepfather with a problem his computer has been having recently and I was hoping I could get some advice on the matter.

His computer is having two different problems:
1. When loading windows it gives the message "Error loading VCACHE, you need to restart the computer." (Paraphrased)

2. In windows it often BSOD's with the message "Fatal exception error in VXD IFSMGR" (Paraphrased)

Both of these are happening fairly frequently now. Since they both vcache and ifsmgr.vxd are apparently related to the virtual memory manager, I suspect that one of three things has happened:

1. Some weird configuration error (unlikely, I've already checked most settings).
2. Corrupted system files.
3. Bad memory.

Unfortunately, I don't have the expertise to make a further diagnosis. Does anyone have any advice that they can give?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Prodigy^]

it sounds like a lot of things are messed up...

first of all, boot in DOS and type:

scandisk

let it go through a complete checkup AND surface scan. this might find bad sectors on your harddrive, and will try to fix the problems.

if this doesn't work, reinstall all drivers, like sound, video, etc. and reinstall DirectX when you're done (after rebooting).

if this doesn't work, then the easiest thing might be to wipe the harddrive clean (from dos type: 'format c:') and reinstall windows

 

[corkyg]

Agree with the scan disk first. But then, I would try booting to Safe Mode, exiting and rebooting regularly. Win98 can sometimes self-heal minor glitches. Then, if that doesn't fix it, I would reinstall Win98 over itself. That can fix corrupted files sometimes.

If you can get it to run with Windows, run SFC (System File Checker) and it will often find problem files for you.

Then when all else fails, start fresh with a clean HDD. Save rour data files first . . . or do a DELTREE only on \WINDOWS and then install from scratch. You can often reinstall apps in their former places and save your data files that way.

 

[Soccerman]

Prodigy I agree on the Scandisk one, it's possible that the virtual memory file on the computer could be on a bad sector.. it's just one possibility. However, I don't think those drivers/API reinstall will accomplish much.

Try doing a Defrag after doing a scandisk with the virtual memory DISABLED, (you'll need to close everything to do this completely probably anyway), and let it go through that. afterwards RE-ENABLE the Virtual memory. it will be in one big chunk, and the computer will run a bit faster anyways.. if there aren't any problems with the harddrive, then you got me.. maybe just disabling, and re-enabling the Virtual memory could do it, it's hard to tell, but the smallest things like that sometimes work (shrug).

 

[Soccerman]

"If you can get it to run with Windows, run SFC (System File Checker) and it will often find problem files for you."

where is that program? I've never heard of it before!

 

[Prodigy^]

Soccerman: just to make sure, you're aware that he's talking about virtual memory and not swap file, right? the vcache is some very small amount of swap file so to speak, that.....uhm ok i dunno what it is, but it's not = swap file. i have these lines in my system.ini:

[vcache]
MinFileCache=0
MaxFileCache=0
ChunkSize=0

which disables this. on the other hand I have:

[386Enh]
PagingDrive=C:
MinPagingFileSize=409600
MaxPagingFileSize=409600
ConservativeSwapFileUsage=1

which is the swapfile stuff.

PS:

"where is that program? I've never heard of it before!"

you and MANY others I assume....I don't know why, but Windows has tons of useful utilities that are so well-hidden that you'd think it was a lie.....anyway it's in C:\Windows\System\Sfc.exe

 

[Soccerman]

ahh but isn't Virtual Memory on the harddrive in a Swap file? if not I am totally confused... I've referred to the Virtual Memory as Swap file, and I think I have heard many poeple say that too.

it's just that I've been thinking that my whole computer life, so now if it's not, it's just.. whoa...

anyway, that VCACHE thing is different then virtual memory. shoot. I remember seeing that before. heh, I don't remember what VCACHE does, but I know for sure what the Virtual memory and swap file is..

Yeah I know MS has put in a few handy little programs.. they just keep popping up!

 

[medic]

When loading windows it gives the message "Error loading VCACHE, you need to restart the computer." (Paraphrased)

This relates to a possibly corrupted vcache.vxd file, this is the 32bit version of the old 16bit Smartdrive disk cache system. I would go to run and type sfc and run system file checker first. Also try setting a set swap file after a 0 defrag. How much ram do you have?
As Prodigy showed you can also edit the system.ini file and try setting it to 0 or try 8192 or 4096 for both min and max values. if that doesnt work then vcache errors are also commonly related to bad memory or timings set too fast.

In windows it often BSOD's with the message "Fatal exception error in VXD IFSMGR" (Paraphrased)

IFSMGR is the Windows Installable File System Manager and most of the Microsoft database points to a file named vhpscand.vxd which is a scanner virtual device driver (do you have scanner software installed?) if this file is located in the windows\system folder then right click it, choose cut, and paste it into the windows\system\Iosubsys folder and reboot.

 

[Soccerman]

nice job CRV!

hehe, well maybe you can answer what the VCACHE is.. I seem to remember knowing it before, but I've forgotten. it seems soooo familiar to me...

 

[medic]

Basically it's a 32bit version of smartdrive..
Info and setup:
http://www.studio201.com/cwu/support/vst/win95_details/vcache.html

What is the vcache?
From the Windows 95 Resource Kit:

The 32-bit VFAT works with a 32-bit, protected-mode cache driver (VCACHE). This driver replaces the 16-bit, real-mode SMARTDrive disk cache software provided with MS-DOS and Windows 3.1. The VCACHE driver features better caching algorithms than SMARTDrive, to cache information read from or written to a disk drive. The VCACHE driver also manages the cache pool for the Universal Disk Format File System (UDF) and the 32-bit network redirectors provided with Windows 95.

From:http://www.putergeek.com/wp/vcache/vcache_95.htm

 

[Kenneth]

Thanks for all of the advice so far. I'll give him a call and we will try several of these fixes tomorrow.

 

[Bozo Galora]

http://www.3dspotlight.net/tweaks/memory/memory-3.shtml

(also pge 4,5)

 

[Livin4Real]

I think a couple of people touched on this but.... Go to "system properties" then "performance" then "virtual memory" change both
minimum and maximum to zero. now restart and immediately go to disk defragmenter and defrag your hard drive. once it's done go back to your virtual memory and set both values to twice as much as your ram, but do not go over 256mb. Make sure both are the same. This will keep windows from getting fat with junk! Good Luck!