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Other => General Topics => Topic started by: mathboyx215 on November 20, 2009, 11:48:04 PM
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I went into start up and recovery to change the settings so that it will make a complete memory dump next time my computer bsod but it seems like that the setting keeps reverting back to the original setting ::)
Any ideas on why this might happen?I use vista 32bit
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Anyone?
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With more than 2 gigs of RAM on Vista 32 bits, it won't work.
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With more than 2 gigs of RAM on Vista 32 bits, it won't work.
Ok thanks.I have exactly 2gig of ram :P
Also, why wouldn't it work with more then 2gigs of ram?
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The great Gods at Microsoft haven't figured that out.
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With more than 2 gigs of RAM on Vista 32 bits, it won't work.
How is this incorrect statement related.
32bit versions of windows (with some exceptions) can handle 4GB of RAM. The exceptions being some can handle more.
@ mathboyx215
The pagefile.sys must be large enough to be able to cater for the amount of RAM you have installed or it wouldn't be able to store the complete data in RAM at the time of a bsod.
I don't use Vista but in XP, you need My Computer, View System Information, Advanced tab, Performance, section (next to where you would change the memory dump details), Advanced Tab. From here, Virtual Memory, Change button and set the size to a minimum to cater for the amount of RAM you have plus some, see image example of my settings, minimum 2GB (the RAM I have) plus half again as a maximum, so 3GB.
You could however, set it to System Managed size, which should also work, but I prefer to control the size so it doesn't grow too big, by setting a minimum size it helps reduce fragmentation.
If you already have it set to System managed size, I don't know why this isn't retaining your settings.
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HI DavidR.I tried what you suggested but it is not working.Setting are still reverting back to original.Any other ideas?
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My only thought would not having enough privileges as this would require administrator privileges. Or the dreaded UAC, but I can't help on that side I have avoided Vista and stuck with XP Pro.
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Hi mathboyx215
Just in case you haven't visited this page yet.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/254649
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Turn UAC off temporarily and try again; you do need to be an admin to change system settings. Even if DavidR is still using XP. :)
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Hi mathboyx215
Just in case you haven't visited this page yet.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/254649
So indeed,complete memory dump is not available on my computer.How strange ::)
The strangest part is that kernel memory dump option also doesn't work on my computer.
@DavidR and sded
I can't turn off UAC as every time I try to turn it off,it gives a continue and cancel option.When I click on continue, nothing happens :P
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Are you on an admin account? There should be no problems turning UAC off and on. I can also get full dumps with 2GB RAM. A few days ago spent 4 hrs uploading one to Avast! for the beta. Invoked a BSOD from a hung machine and dump was generated after that. ;)
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Yes,I am on the admin account.
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Try another way to turn off UAC. From the run command, type msconfig. Under tools, select "turn off UAC" and execute the command line string you see.
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perhaps the specification - no complete mem dump over two gigs - is a bit misleading, and only put in place because it was thought that there could be problems with way too large dumps once computers started to run bigger and bigger RAM, and the kb article has not been updated because no ideal solution has yet to be found. So 2 gigs is still held as a benchmark but machines may differ according to the mem dump file that needs to be generated, and this may also carry through to the kernel mem dump. Is there any indication that your mem dump file will be excessively large? Are you carrying mem hungry load each time OS is running?
Check your system restore for recent changes - does it look okay to turn off and create a new restore point? If so, you can create a new restore point (say, save point as 'check mem dump'). And remove all restore points except the most recent by using Disk Cleanup utility (More Options tab) in System Tools.
Otherwise, back to an issue over admin privs, I guess.
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I have turned off uac and that doesn't seem to make any differences.
perhaps the specification - no complete mem dump over two gigs - is a bit misleading, and only put in place because it was thought that there could be problems with way too large dumps once computers started to run bigger and bigger RAM, and the kb article has not been updated because no ideal solution has yet to be found. So 2 gigs is still held as a benchmark but machines may differ according to the mem dump file that needs to be generated, and this may also carry through to the kernel mem dump. Is there any indication that your mem dump file will be excessively large? Are you carrying mem hungry load each time OS is running?
Check your system restore for recent changes - does it look okay to turn off and create a new restore point? If so, you can create a new restore point (say, save point as 'check mem dump'). And remove all restore points except the most recent by using Disk Cleanup utility (More Options tab) in System Tools.
Otherwise, back to an issue over admin privs, I guess.
My memory load is usually around 40% and I don't see any indications that the dump will be excessively large.
I have turned off system restore for a long time ;)
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What do your startup and recovery settings actually look like? Mine are attached.
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The dump size, doesn't relate to only what is in memory now, a full memory dump (if possible) would be the size of the RAM and then some.
System Restore is unrelated the Startup and Recovery where the memory dump settings are and the pagefile.sys size.
I have had system restore disabled for years and that doesn't effect the memory dumps (memory.dmp) file creation.
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What do your startup and recovery settings actually look like? Mine are attached.
Mines look the same except that by default it is to create a small memory dump
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Is the choice of "complete memory dump" not available, or when you change it and check back again is it changed back to "small memory dump"?
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When I change it and check back again,it is changed back to small memory dump.
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How large is your paging file? See attached.
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its 2048mb
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Too small. This is the size of your RAM Change it to something like 3000 and try again. There should be a recommended size also that is larger than 2048.
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I changed it 3200 and it is still not working. :(
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Try a reboot also. Not all of this stuff works on the fly. Otherwise, settings look ok, so ???
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Already rebooted and still not working.
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Back to my original reply. This is from the Microsoft Website re. Vista:
Complete memory dump
Not available on computers with 2 or more GB of RAM. Records the entire contents of system memory when the system stops unexpectedly. If you choose this option you must have a paging file on the boot volume large enough to hold all of the physical RAM plus one megabyte (MB). The file is stored in the directory listed under Dump file.
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Back to my original reply. This is from the Microsoft Website re. Vista:
Complete memory dump
Not available on computers with 2 or more GB of RAM. Records the entire contents of system memory when the system stops unexpectedly. If you choose this option you must have a paging file on the boot volume large enough to hold all of the physical RAM plus one megabyte (MB). The file is stored in the directory listed under Dump file.
If you have read sded's reply,then you should know that he had recently got a dump that is 2gb.Its strange how that it is not working on my computer.
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I get a full 2GB dump with the larger page file, and am out of ideas. And the previous inability to turn off UAC bothers me as does the inability to change the drop down list. I actually invoke the dump from a hung system using the procedure avast! recommends at http://support.avast.com/index.php?_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=71. And my tortured .ftp program verifies that it was 2GB. What version of Vista are you using again? One other place to check is the Microsoft help forum at Broadband Reports, http://www.dslreports.com/forum/microsoft or one of the Microsoft tech forums.
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I am using home premium
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OK, I have a computer with home premium on it and 2GB-I am currently using Ultimate. Will go check the dropdown box when I get a chance, but know that I dumped UAC there OK.
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Went down and tested the computer with VIsta Home Premium and 2GB, SP2, and could change between small, kernel, full dump with no problem. Do you have SP2 installed?
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Yes,I have sp2 installed
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I'll just assume that it is not possible to do a full memory dump on my computer.