The HeapFixer program is useful for increasing the area of memory, called the “System Heap”, where “INIT” software such as our QuickINIT and QuickServer files load. Because of the proliferation of “INIT files” for the Macintosh, shortages in the “System Heap” are now more frequent. This CAN occur even on machines with more than one megabyte of RAM. Unreliable operation of your Macintosh or unexplained crashes are common symptoms. HeapFixer can be used to correct this situation by increasing the initial size of System Heap memory to make sure there is enough free space.
How to use HeapFixer
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• Start up your computer. At the Finder, select “About the Finder” from the Apple menu. A memory usage bar chart will be displayed. Look at the bar labeled “System”. A number will also be displayed to the left of the bar - MAKE A NOTE OF THIS NUMBER. The darker part of the bar indicates memory used, the lighter part of the bar indicates free memory. If there is less than 25% free space indicated for the “System”, you may occasionally have probelems. If you need to expand your System Memory allocation, do the following:
• Copy HeapFixer onto your startup disk and eject the QuickMail Update disk.
• Double-click the HeapFixer icon.
• When the program’s menu bar appears, select “Heap Size…” from the FILE menu.
• A dialog box will appear asking you to select the disk on which you wish to alter the System Heap size. Use the DRIVE button, if necessary, to select your startup disk. Then click the SELECT button.
• Another dialog box will appear explaining how much memory is used for your current “System Heap” and how much space is free. We recommend keeping AT LEAST 25% or more free. If you have a lot of RAM or use MultiFinder, you might want to keep at least 50% free. You are shown how much larger than “normal” your "System Heap" memory has been expanded.
INIT files can cause the size of the System Heap to be expanded beyond the inital allocation, if necessary. The final size of the System Heap is indicated by the figure shown in the “About the Finder” memory chart that we examined earlier.
• To increase the initial allocation point of System Memory beyond the point it is being expanded to by INITs, type the number that we had you write down earlier (from the “About the Finder memory display) into the entry field in the dialog box, replacing whatever is there. You may even want to give it a little extra.
• Click the “OK” button.
• The changes you have made will take effect the next time you restart your Macintosh. DO SO NOW.
• After your Macintosh has restarted, check the “About the Finder” memory display again. If you still do not have 25% or more space free, use HeapFixer again, as described above, to further increase the amount of System Memory. It is also possible in some situations to have allocated too MUCH memory to the System Heap. If you have more than 50% free, use HeapFixer again to REDUCE the amount of memory allocated to the System Heap.
WARNING: Increasing System Heap memory reduces the amount of memory available to run application software. If you are using only a one megabyte Macintosh or if you have a LARGE quantity of INIT files, or are using INITs such as print spoolers, RAM caches, “beep sound” programs, or other INITs that can take large amounts of System memory, you may reach a point at which you must remove some of your INITs in order to have enough memory to run all your application software.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Reinstalling the system software with Apple’s Installer program will change the startup allocation amount back to what it was before you used HeapFixer. Adding or removing any INITs will also affect your System Heap memory.
We now have a Customer Support Forum on MacNET and on CompuServe in Section 4 of Apple Vendors Forum A. Type “GO APVENA” at almost any CompuServe prompt to go directly there. Customer support forums on other online services will be opening in the near future, and we will announce them as they become available.
