32 bit windows XP only read 3 gb memory...help

[daqs]

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Bro. any tips on how to remove 3 gig memory barrier on windows xp.....


thanks

[Der FüHRER]

you can't bro, if you have the 32bit edition installed. if you install the 64bit edition, it has a higher max memory but some popular apps might not work properly with it

[mindless]

how lucky... he got more than 3 gigs of memory.. now im jealous.. wahehehe

[simoko]

Microsoft® Windows® XP, can only use a maximum of 4 GB of address space; however, the amount of memory available to the operating system is less than 4 GB. Certain components within the computer require address space in the 4-GB range. Any address space reserved for these components cannot be used by computer memory.

The following components require memory address space:

System ROM
APIC(s)
Integrated PCI devices, such as network connectors and SCSI controllers
PCI cards
Graphics card
PCI Express cards (if applicable)
At start-up, the BIOS identifies the components that require address space. The BIOS dynamically calculates the amount of reserved address space required. The BIOS then subtracts the reserved address space from 4 GB to determine the amount of usable space.

If the total installed computer memory is less than the usable space, all installed computer memory is available for use only by the operating system.

If the total installed computer memory is equal to or greater than the usable address space, a small portion of installed memory is available for use by the operating system.

The first thing that you see on this list is “Graphics card�. Video cards nowadays commonly have one or two hundred MB of RAM on them. That video RAM takes up part of the 4GB address space, which then is not available for your physical RAM.

There is a /3G switch that you can include in your bootini file. But it will not make your "missing" RAM reappear.The /3GB switch in the boot.ini file affects the way Windows XP allocates the 32-bit virtual address space that each process gets. By default, that address space is split evenly between the operating system and the program. The /3GB switch forces the OS to allocate 3GB to the program and only 1GB to the system. This can result in the OS being squeezed and not working efficiently. It's necessary for only a very few, extremely RAM-hungry programs.

hope this helps....

[brown_dog]

don't worry na detect na cya bro. But it is used for Hardware memory allocation. Which in turns improves your system.

[EarlZ]

don't worry na detect na cya bro. But it is used for Hardware memory allocation. Which in turns improves your system.

LOL, The very same topic a few weeks ago and you still insist on the same thing.

@OP

To cut things short, i would assume you have 4GB of ram installed, If so there is nothing you can really do as the total limit of a x86 32bit system is 4gb address range ( HORAY! ) but the upper address ( 3.5GB ~ 4GB ) is reserved for the system I/O and any physical ram that falls into that address will NOT be usable.