Err Msg: While Initializing Device NTKERN: Windows Protection...

ID: Q192397

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

When you are installing Windows 98 and your computer restarts for the first time, you may receive the following error message:

While initializing device NTKERN: Windows Protection Error. You need to restart your computer.
You may also receive one of the following error messages after Windows 98 Setup is completed: If you try to start your computer in Safe mode, you may receive the following error message:
Himem.sys Has Detected Unreliable XMS Memory at address.


CAUSE

This behavior can occur if there is defective random access memory (RAM) in your computer.


RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, remove or replace memory chips in your computer to eliminate bad memory. For information about how to remove or replace your memory chips, please consult your hardware documentation or manufacturer.

To work around this issue, use any of the following methods:


Method 1

If your computer has over 16 megabytes (MB) of memory, it may be possible to work around this issue by configuring your computer to only use 16 MB of memory. To do so, use the following steps:

  1. Use any text editor (such as Notepad) to open the System.ini file in the Windows folder.


  2. Add the following line to the [386enh] section of the System.ini file:

    MaxPhysPage=01000


  3. Save this file, and then quit Notepad.


  4. Restart your computer, and then restart the Windows 98 Setup program.

    NOTE: If you cannot start your computer in Safe mode, restart your computer, press and hold down CTRL key until the Windows 98 Startup menu appears, and then choose Command prompt only. Use a text editor (such as Edit.com) to edit the Windows\System.ini file.



Method 2

Restart the Windows 98 Setup program after you start your computer and choose Safe Mode Command Prompt Only. To do so, restart your computer, press and hold the CTRL key until the Windows 98 Startup menu appears, and then choose Safe Mode Command Prompt Only.


Method 3

Use the System Configuration tool to limit the amount of random access memory (RAM) available to Windows. To do so, follow these steps:

  1. Restart Windows in Safe mode. To do so, restart your computer, press and hold the CTRL key until the Windows 98 Startup menu appears, and then choose Safe Mode.


  2. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click System Information.


  3. On the Tools menu, click System Configuration Utility.


  4. On the General tab, click Advanced.


  5. Click the Limit Memory To <n> MB check box (where <n> is a number) to select it, and then set the memory limit value to 16 MB.


  6. Click OK, click OK, and then restart your computer.



MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about troubleshooting memory issues, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q181862 Specifying Amount of RAM Available to Windows Using MaxPhysPage
Q134503 Parity Error Messages May Indicate Bad Memory
Q134503 Parity Error Messages May Indicate Bad Memory

Additional query words: 


Keywords          : kberrmsg kbhw kbsetup win98 
Version           : WINDOWS:
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: February 13, 1999