Windows 95/98 and Windows NT 4.0 Can Share Virtual Memory (175639)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows 95
  • Microsoft Windows 98
This article was previously published under Q175639

SUMMARY

If you are dual booting with Windows 95/98 and Windows NT 4.0, you can save hard drive space by allowing Windows 95/98 and Windows NT 4.0 to share a Pagefile.sys file on a common FAT partition.

MORE INFORMATION

To configure the Pagifile.sys file in Windows NT, perform the following steps:

  1. Click the Start button, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click the Systems icon. Click the Performance tab, and in the Virtual Memory section, click Change.
  2. Set Initial Size: (MB) and Maximum Size: (MB) to the same value. Then click OK.
To configure the Pagefile.sys file in Windows 95/98, perform the following steps:

  1. Click the Start button, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then Double-click theSystem icon.
  2. Click the Performance tab, and then click Virtual Memory.
  3. Select the 'Let me specify my own virtual memory settings' option and set the Minimum and Maximum values to the same values entered for Windows NT above.
After you restart Windows 95/98, edit the System.ini file and add or edit the following under: 

[386Enh]
PagingFile=X:\PAGEFILE.SYS
PagingDrive=X:


X: = the common drive

After these values are added or edited, restart the computer. If there is a Win386.swp file remaining on the Windows 95/98 drive, the file can be deleted. Both Windows 95/98 and Windows NT will now share the virtual memory space, thus saving needed drive space.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:12/16/2004
Keywords:kbinfo KB175639
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.