error: Memory Manager is currently inactive....

Question

Hi all, Your help would be much appreciated.  I just installed a Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 9 SATA/150  120GB drive with a SIIG SATA/ULTRA PCI controller card on my 3-year old Optiplex GX110.  I was advised by MAXTOR tech support that I would not need to upgrade my original A01 BIOS, since the host controller card BIOS takes care of the 120GB drive.  After some conflict problems and at least three re-installs of Windows 98, I am able to start the computer, but it is an excruciatingly slow start -- upon startup, I get the message: 'error: Memory Manager is currently inactive. Try turning the AUTO switch off in your Config.sys entry.  SB16 Emulation driver did not load.' I have no idea how to fix this problem, since I don't know much about DOS. I tried to remove the Sound Blaster Live driver, and reinstall it from the Dell Sound Blaster CD -- all that did was render the computer unable to start at all.  I was able to start in SAFE MODE, and followed the instruction in the Windows Help Troubleshooter by disabling all devices, and re-enabling them gradually to no avail.  The computer wouldn't start normally. The only thing that seems to help start it is by reinstalling Windows 98, and although it starts (about a 7-8 minute bootup with a beep), it displays the same 'error: ....' message as above. After 12 hours of struggling with this, I am at my witts end! Please help! Thanks! MindsEye Message Edited by MindsEye on 10-23-2003 11:14 AM

simpswr · Answer

You could disable the SB driver DOS load in your Autoexec file and see if that helps.  You can use Run > msconfig to see and edit the autoexec.bat file.  good luck . . wrs

MindsEye · Answer

Thanks, wrs! I spent another day trying to isolate the problem, and finally succeeded by working with msconfig, removing most files, restarting each time by adding one file at a time until the problem veered its ugly head: my SoundBlaster Live card was the culprit which, although showed no conflicts in the Device Manager, was using the same IRQ as the SATA Controller Card.  I unchecked it from the Autoexec.bat file, the startup load file, and disabled the device at device mangager.  The system now boots up faster, although it still takes about 4 minutes to do it, but I will leave it as is unless I encounter other problems. If I do, I may look into updating the original A01 BIOS to the A09, but I worry that it may cause new problems.  So, right now I will go with the slogan 'If it aint broke don't fix it'.  What do you think? Thanks again! Cheers! MindsEye

simpswr · Answer

It sounds like your problems are more related to the re-install of 98 than the new drive. . . have you tried the latest drivers for the sound card?

Do you have any available PCI slots that you could move the sound card to? That will often resolve the IROQ conflicts.

Your call on the BIOS update. . I usually keep mine fairly up to date, but it is not a task to be taken lightly. I use a UPS for BIOS updates to prevent a power loss from disableing the MB. Otherwise, it is a relatively straightforward process.

One other thought . . I have found that if I set the HDD on the card to Master (as oppose to Cable Select) that boot time is improved. If you have two drives, you would have to set the other as Slave.

good luck . . wrs

Message Edited by simpswr on 10-25-2003 08:43 AM

MindsEye · Answer

Thanks for all your advice, wrs, I have been off-line because my computer kept crashing.  It will not tolerate that card, so I took it off and returned it with the drive.  My computer has not been the same since I flashed the BIOS to A09. I did a clean install of WIN 98 SE, but made the mistake of restoring the registry, which was obviously corrupt. I will have to do this again, but this time, no restoring of the registry. Do you think I am doing the right thing? Thanks! MindsEye

simpswr · Answer

restoring the registery was likely counterproductive . . just brought the old problems into the new installation.  As long as you have data backed up, a reinstall would seem to be in order.  good luck

MindsEye · Answer

Thanks for your reply and advice, simpswr! I may have to upgrade to WIN XP, since I will need to network this computer (wirelessly) to my new XPS computer, unless WIN 98 supports wireless networking, which I am not aware of. Does WIN 98 supports wireless networking?  If it does, I may not upgrade to XP. Thanks! MindsEye

simpswr · Answer

98 does support wireless . . I have an older notebook with Win 98 with a wireless card and it works fine. I tried a Linksys and it would not install . . went with a Microsoft card and it works great. The Microsoft drivers seem to intergrate better. Networked the notebook back to several pc's with XP and it works fine.

Good Luck

MindsEye · Answer

Thanks, smpswr! I will definitely try to stay with Win 98 on the GX110, and try to link it wirelessly with my XLS. I will be using the Dell True Mobile 2300 Router and attach the New Dell True Mobile USB Adapter to the GX110.  I hope it works out OK. Cheers! MindsEye

Xander Ortiz · Answer

Hey,

Good times! Well, I know a lot about DOS, but unfortunatelly I forget what switch you use for the AUTO. If I am not mistaken, I think it is most simple "/AUTO". To edit the config.sys file, you may do one of two things:

1. From DOS, type:

C:

CD\

EDIT CONFIG.SYS

Unfortunately, for some reason, when you boot up off of the boot-up disk or CD, the "edit" command does not work. So...

2. In Safe mode, go to your hard drive and right click on the "Config.sys" file, and choose "Open with..." Then choose Word Pad (or Note Pad). You should now be able to edit this file.

This should get you started. Mess around, I guess, but make a copy of the file to a floppy before you do, so you have a backup. If all else fails, you can always reinstall windows (for the millionth time)!

MindsEye · Answer

Thanks for the advice, Xander! I will probably do another clean install of WIN 98SE, and this time I will not restore the registry. Cheers! MindsEye

Windows General

error: Memory Manager is currently inactive....

Was this post helpful?