Windows 98 maximum time between reboots?

[AMCRambler]

I just got asked a strange question: What's the maximum time Windows 9X system can run before it has to be rebooted? I said I didn't know there was a maximum time, why would there be? They said the operating system had memory leaks inherent in the code that were never patched, and it would end up using up all the resources after a certain amount of time. Anybody hear anything about this? Just curious. The fellow said it was something like 30 days at the most. I'm assuming this is if you have the maximum amount of ram possible and I guess it would be until all the main memory is used up and it has to start swapping with the hard drive, since you could always install a larger hard drive to give your more time. So I'm assuming he means until main memory is used up. Anyone know?

 

[EeyoreX]

The short answer is; it depends. Windows 98 is terrible when it comes to memory managment and has lots of problems, that are inherent in the code. I have seen Windows 98 machines that needed to be rebooted at least once per day (not including crashes) and I have seen Windows 98 run for days at a time. It depends on too many variables, and thus, there is no deffinative answer. I suppose, a Windows 98 machine that did nothing, just sat there running, could run indeffinetly (if nothing runs, Windows can't not release the RAM used and therefor shouldn't have a problem). If you run a lot of apps, your time, generally, will be less and less. This also depends on the apps run, the number of instances of the app run, how badly the app is coded, etc. There is no such thing as a "maximum time" Windows 98 can run.

\Dan

 

[Electrode]

about 42 days. due to a timer bug, it will freeze after that.

 

[EeyoreX]

about 42 days. due to a timer bug, it will freeze after that.

I have no reason to doubt this statement, other than that I have no reason to beleive it. Can you provide a link or documentation that confirms this?

\Dan

 

[Doomer]

I once had it running for a whole hour before having to reboot but this was with it sitting doing nothing.

If I had a nickel for every time I had to reboot Win98, I'd be richer than Bill Gates.

 

[bozo1]

I have no reason to doubt this statement, other than that I have no reason to beleive it. Can you provide a link or documentation that confirms this?

The bug was 49.7 days. When it was discovered in 1999 I believe, MS said they would release a 'fix' but as far as I know, it never was released. The bug affected 95 and 98. Not in the mood to go link hunting.

 

[redbeard1]

MS

Though they don't reference it to 98SE.

 

[MadRat]

Oh you should stay stable for 30-40 seconds between reboots. Any more than that and you're running at your own risk. :sun:

 

[EeyoreX]

MS

Though they don't reference it to 98SE.

Thanks for the link. I have been using NT based OSes since NT4 so I was totally unaware of this.

\Dan

 

[sciencewhiz]

I had 3 weeks of uptime once and 2 weeks several time with 98se. But, unless you are patched, you can only stay up for 2^32 ms (theoretical maximum)

 

[AMCRambler]

Holy cow, I never knew about this. It never would have affected me though since I always shut the my pc down at night and of course had to reboot as much as everyone else! I'm glad to see at least microsoft patched it though. Well live and learn. Thanks for the info dudes.