Faulty RAM "Damaged" WinXP

Hi,

One of my desktop PCs is a Gateway, bought new in 2001 with Win98se
and 64MB of RAM. Years later, I added a 128MB ram card for a total
of 192MB. Note: There are only 2 RAM slots.

I replaced the 10GB HD with a 20GB HD. I "split" the HD in "half". I
installed Win98 in C: and WINXP in D: (dual boot system).

Recently, I replaced the 64MB with 128MB (I received from a friend).

Win98 bootup was just fine and reported "256MB" of RAM via "Properties".
Later, when I tried to boot up WinXP in D:, it reported "a change in
hardware" (not exact words). I was presented with options to boot up in "Safe
Mode", "Boot up Normally", etc. I selected to boot up "Normally". However,
the "Normal" bootup "locked up"!!!!!! Booting up again in "Safe Mode" did
not resolve the problem.

SOLUTION:

I put back the 64MB of RAM. Then booted up into Win98. Via "Dos Prompt",
I "DELTREE" the three folders ("WINDOWS", "Program Files", and "Documents and
Settings") in D: partition. NOTE: I always turn off "System Restore".
I replaced those 3 folders with the "backups" (made via WinZip). They are
located in "SYSTEM.SAV" folder in C:

Now I can bootup WinXP again.

BTW, On an old NEC desktop PC, I replaced a 64MB with a 128MB RAM card.
I had NO problems booting up WinXP.

The next time I get a "good" 128MB RAM card, I will replace the 64MB RAM
card again.
John