Microsoft KB Archive/120156

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RAM Doubler Readme File Describes Known Macintosh Conflicts
'Article ID: Q120156

Creation Date: 04-SEP-1994

Revision Date: 18-APR-1996' The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Word for Macintosh, version 6.0
 * Microsoft Excel for Macintosh, version 5.0
 * Microsoft Office for Macintosh, version 4.2

SUMMARY

RAM Doubler is a software enhancement that increases the amount of available memory to applications.

The following release notes ship with version 1.0.4 of RAM Doubler. These notes outline known incompatibilities between RAM Doubler and third-party software and hardware and 32-bit addressing.

MORE INFORMATION

RAM Doubler v1.0.4 This Readme is divided into the following sections

New information Known Incompatibilities A Note about 32-bit addressing How to Contact Connectix Corporation When using RAM Doubler, do not increase the memory allocation of your applications unless you are experiencing Out of memory errors. Many RAM- intensive programs (for example, Adobe Photocopy and FileMaker) perform better with their default partition sizes than artificially larger ones. NOTE: If you use Apple's RAM Disk, the memory for the RAM Disk is unavailable for doubling. Therefore an 8 MB Macintosh with a 2MB RAM Disk will have 6MB of application memory available for doubling with RAM Doubler (i.e. it will have 12MB of application memory after installing RAM Doubler). Also, to protect against performance loss, the amount of your physical RAM, minus the size of your RAM Disk, should never be less than 4 MB.

NOTE: RAM Doubler can not fully double a Macintosh with more than 128 MB of RAM. Under this case, RAM Doubler will only extend memory up to 256 MB.

KNOWN INCOMPATIBILITIES

RAM Doubler is not currently compatible with the Radius Rocket or Fusion Data System's TokaMac, Mobius Speedster 040, or Applied Engineering Transwarp accelerators. Generally, accelerators which do not support Apple's Virtual Memory will not work with RAM Doubler, either.

Along the same lines, non-accelerator hardware add-ons which are not compatible with Apple VM may have problems with RAM Doubler as well; all third-party PowerBook display cards, notably the Envisio display adapters, are not compatible with RAM Doubler.

RAM Doubler is not compatible with the currently shipping FWB SCSI JackHammer, however an upgrade should be available shortly to address the issue. Contact FWB for more information.

Some hard disk drivers, notably early versions of Alysis eDisk, allocate memory in a way which prevents RAM Doubler from extending RAM. Contact your hard drive vendor if you receive the alert concerning a driver not in the system heap.

Hewlett-Packard print drivers may exhibit slow performance or failure under extended memory (while running with either RAM Doubler or Apple virtual memory). This is because they attempt to allocate and make use of all available free memory while printing, even when they don't need to. The solution is to reduce this memory before trying to print, for example by opening several applications, or a special copy of TeachText with an unusually large partition, so that the "Largest Unused Block" reported by the Finder is smaller (we recommend trying to lower it to below 1500K if you are experiencing this problem.)

RAM Doubler is not currently compatible with TimesTwo. The problem is extremely rare, however it can cause data loss. Currently we recommend Stacker, which does not use an "invisible file", or any of the file-level compression products, such as AutoDoubler or Now Compress.

RAM Doubler is not currently compatible with usrEZ's UltraShield security software.

MacTCP 1.0 and 1.1 are not compatible with RAM Doubler; we suggest upgrading to version 2.0.1 or later which is compatible.

If you are using a Macintosh 660AV or 840AV, make sure you have at least version 1.1 of the "Enabler 088" file. Version 1.0 causes problems with the Express Modem when RAM Doubler is installed.

Apple has recently shipped System Update 3.0 which fixes a number of long- standing bugs in the Mac OS, and provides some speed improvements as well. We strongly suggest you install this update, if you have not already.

Some DSP plug-ins for Adobe Photocopy on the 660AV and 840AV do not work with RAM Doubler because they do not work properly in extended memory environments.

Along the same lines, the most current version of Network Software Installer is version 1.4.4. If you are using EtherTalk, we strongly suggest you install this version. DO NOT install versions 1.4.2 or 1.4.3.

The American Heritage Dictionary version 3.0, which is not 32-bit clean hangs with RAM Doubler installed.

FaxSTF software, which is not compatible with extended memory, will freeze with RAM Doubler installed.

A NOTE ABOUT 32-BIT ADDRESSING

If you see the message that RAM Doubler may not fully double RAM:

RAM Doubler may not fully double your memory if your Mac is using 24-bit addressing AND you have more than 5 MB of physical RAM. This is because 24- bit addressing can only manage a total of 16 MB of memory, of which some is used up by hardware (serial ports, floppy drive, ROMs, and video, network or other NuBus cards). You can still work in 24-bit addressing; however, you will not be able to use as much additional RAM as if you had switched to 32-bit addressing.

To switch to 32-bit addressing, you must be using System 7. If you are, you'll need to open your "Memory" Control Panel, and then click the "On" button for 32-bit addressing. If you have a Mac II, IIx, IIcx, or SE/30; your Mac needs MODE32 from Connectix to have the 32-bit addressing option. MODE32 is available through free distribution. You can acquire MODE32 from online services, user groups, local Apple Dealers, or directly from Apple or Connectix.

Before switching to 32-bit addressing, you should check that all your programs, including applications, system extensions (of any kind), NuBus cards, and hard disk drivers are compatible with 32-bit addressing. If you do not check, you may run into unexpected difficulties with your computer, not because of RAM Doubler but because of enabling 32-bit addressing.

If you have trouble restarting your Mac with 32-bit addressing on, restart your Mac and hold down the Shift key to disable all extensions. Next, remove all non-Apple software from the System Folder, and Extensions and Control Panels folders. Then, place one extension into the System Folder and restart. Repeat this process and eventually you should find the extension that is not compatible with 32-bit addressing. You should contact the manufacturer for a compatible version.

HOW TO CONTACT CONNECTIX CORPORATION

Connectix Corporation 2600 Campus Drive

San Mateo, CA  94403 (800) 950-5880 (415) 571-5100 (415) 571-5195 (fax) AppleLink:

CONNECTIX  Business CONNECTIX.TS Technical Support CONNECTIX.CS Customer Service CompuServe: Go MACAVEN, select Section 8

America OnLine: Command K (keyword), Connectix

RAM Doubler is manufactured by Connectix Corporation, a vendor independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding these products' performance or reliability.
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"THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED 'AS IS' WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY." '' ©1997 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Legal Notices.

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