Program too big for Memory

[furrycheeky]

I have just inherited an old PC and it was full of spyware and virus' as my brother didn't think of security. We wanted to sort it out and give to my grandparents as a basic internet starting point.
Everything was working, but no matter how many scans/fixes were run there was always something else.
So out came the XP disc and a completely fresh install done.
I already had downloaded AVG virus and Spybot search and destroy, so copied them over using a usb stick.

However any attempt to install either program did nothing. Running from a command promt you get the error "program too big for memory".

The PC only has 256mb installed with is minimum but everything was working before the wipe. There are no errors in the device manager and it reports that there is 256mb installed.

Any help appreciated.

[pauln90]

The best thing you can do is uninstall the programmes and then download new versions from the internet.

It is probable that whilst you think you have copied them successfully from your own PC you have not installed all the components.

[The Builder]

If you know how - it's often best to re-format the Hard Disk first. Deletion and uninstalling invariably leaves loads of bits and pieces that take up space and system memory

[furrycheeky]

Thanks for the responces. It was a full format and install so not likely to be anything left over.

The 2 programs I am trying to run are the installer programs freshly downloaded fron the relevent websites. Rather than copying the files from my PC.

[ACtheTROLL]

You said from a comand prompt!!!!?????
avg (and ss&d) is a windows installer! not command line
(however avg will start the installer from a command prompt!!)

Have a look at avira - recently been getting better writeups than AVG

AVG
Minimum system requirements
CPU Intel 486 133 MHz
30 MB free hard drive space (for installation)
32 MB RAM
will run in XP (althought no mention is made of SP0, 1,or 2)
have you applied the sp2 patch yet?
and updated the windows installer?

[furrycheeky]

I only tried the command prompt as there is a brief flicker after you double click on the installer but you couldn't see what it was trying so say.. So I thought I would try the command promt as then the messages stay on the screen.

I have installed nothing else yet (considering the mess it was in) I wanted to get protected before anything else.

[ACtheTROLL]

you are absolutely right - os - virus - upgrade
but some progs will only install to XPsp2
(not with that error message though)

is it possible that the installer is corrupt?
(normally if not enough memory - the swap file kicks in - not an error message)
can you try installing that avg file on another machine?




Right click My Computer | properties
what version of windows - how much ram?

try installing something else - does that work?

is it possible one of the dimms is faulty ?...
Have you installed the mobo drivers?
I'd be tempted to remove half the memory
(unless you have a 256 dimm!) and see what happens (with either stick)

[Mac70]

It could be a lack of memory. I refurbished an XP for my sister the other and with just an av installed only 46mb was left free out of 256mb, so doubled it.

[ACtheTROLL]

The MS spec for XP is
min = 64
recommended = 128
I have quite a few running 128 + office ... no problems

I've just installed avg to XP pro running in 96Mb using virtual PC without problems - slow ... but it completed

The more I think about it
The "won't fit in memory" sounds more like a corrupt installer.
unless of course ....xp is corrupted

[furrycheeky]

Thanks to all, I an going to start again from scratch, and see what happens.