Error Message: Not Enough Extended Memory Available to Run Windows (311367)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition
  • Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition
  • Microsoft Windows 98
  • Microsoft Windows 95

This article was previously published under Q311367

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to start Microsoft Windows, you may receive the following error message:
Not enough extended memory available to run Windows.

Quit one or more applications to increase available memory or restart your computer. Press any key to continue...

CAUSE

This issue can occur when the System.ini file contains many duplicate [TTFontDimenCache] entries.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, remove the duplicate entries in the System.ini file. To do this, follow these steps.

  1. You need to have or create a Startup Disk that has been created by your operating system. To create this disk, follow the steps in appropriate article.

    267287 How to Create a Startup Disk in Windows Me

    296532 How to Create a Windows 98 Startup Disk

    284943 How to Create a Windows 95 Startup Disk in MS-DOS

  2. Insert the appropriate Startup disk and restart the computer to a command prompt.
  3. At the command prompt, type c:, and then press ENTER.
  4. Type cd\Windows, and then press ENTER.
  5. Type copy system.ini system.old, and then press ENTER.

    This creates a backup copy of the System.ini file with the name System.old.
  6. Type edit system.ini, and then press ENTER.
  7. Scroll to the [TTFontDimenCache] section of the System.ini file.
  8. Delete all duplicate entries under [TTFontDimenCache].

    NOTE: This includes duplicate [TTFontDimenCache] headings.

    The [TTFontDimenCache] section should appear as follows:
    [TTFontDimenCache]
    0 4=2 4
    0 5=3 5
    0 6=4 6
    0 7=4 7
    0 8=5 8
    0 9=5 9
    0 10=6 10
    0 11=7 11
    0 12=7 12
    0 13=8 13
    0 14=8 14
    0 15=9 15
    0 16=10 16
    0 18=11 18
    0 20=12 20
    0 22=13 22
    					
  9. On the File menu, click Save.

    To do this by using keyboard commands, press ALT+F to open the File menu, and then press S to save the file.
  10. On the File menu, click Exit.

    NOTE: To do this by using keyboard commands, press ALT+F, and then press X.
  11. Remove the Windows Startup disk, and then restart the computer.

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:12/20/2004
Keywords:kberrmsg kbprb KB311367