I had a total of 2GB of RAM installed (4 x 512MB). I just installed another
2GB by removing 2 of the 512MB, so now I have 2 x 2GB and 2 x 512MB for a
total of 5GB (and yes they are installed in the correct matching pairs).

When I started up XP Pro I got the message that the memory had changed and
to hit F2 to enter setup, which I did and it confirmed 5GB is now installed.
So I continuted to load windows. I then right clicked on My Compuer >
Properties and it only lists 3.37GB.

I then went to System Info and on the Summary screen it lists:
Total Physical Memory 5,120.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 2.85 GB
Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
Page File Space 5.21 GB

I added more RAM since I do a lot of graphics on this PC and wanted better
performance, but now I'm not sure if I'm using all the additional RAM I
bought. Is some of my new RAM not being used? Is there a way to get all my
RAM to be used?

Mark

Are you running 32-bit or 64-bit XP?

John

Mark Christensen wrote:

> I had a total of 2GB of RAM installed (4 x 512MB). I just installed another
> 2GB by removing 2 of the 512MB, so now I have 2 x 2GB and 2 x 512MB for a
> total of 5GB (and yes they are installed in the correct matching pairs).
>
> When I started up XP Pro I got the message that the memory had changed and
> to hit F2 to enter setup, which I did and it confirmed 5GB is now installed.
> So I continuted to load windows. I then right clicked on My Compuer >
> Properties and it only lists 3.37GB.
>
> I then went to System Info and on the Summary screen it lists:
> Total Physical Memory 5,120.00 MB
> Available Physical Memory 2.85 GB
> Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
> Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
> Page File Space 5.21 GB
>
> I added more RAM since I do a lot of graphics on this PC and wanted better
> performance, but now I'm not sure if I'm using all the additional RAM I
> bought. Is some of my new RAM not being used? Is there a way to get all my
> RAM to be used?
>
> Mark
>
>

So doing some research I came across some info about a /PAE switch. I found
one post that said to:

"Open your boot.ini file (remove its Read-Only and Hidden attributes) and
delete the 3GB switch. Then add the /PAE switch. Reboot your computer. XP
will now see all 4 GB of RAM."

Is this safe to do? How do I do that?


"Mark Christensen" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>I had a total of 2GB of RAM installed (4 x 512MB). I just installed another
>2GB by removing 2 of the 512MB, so now I have 2 x 2GB and 2 x 512MB for a
>total of 5GB (and yes they are installed in the correct matching pairs).
>
> When I started up XP Pro I got the message that the memory had changed and
> to hit F2 to enter setup, which I did and it confirmed 5GB is now
> installed. So I continuted to load windows. I then right clicked on My
> Compuer > Properties and it only lists 3.37GB.
>
> I then went to System Info and on the Summary screen it lists:
> Total Physical Memory 5,120.00 MB
> Available Physical Memory 2.85 GB
> Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
> Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
> Page File Space 5.21 GB
>
> I added more RAM since I do a lot of graphics on this PC and wanted better
> performance, but now I'm not sure if I'm using all the additional RAM I
> bought. Is some of my new RAM not being used? Is there a way to get all my
> RAM to be used?
>
> Mark
>

How do I tell?

I'd assume 32 bit.

"John John" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> Are you running 32-bit or 64-bit XP?
>
> John
>
> Mark Christensen wrote:
>
>> I had a total of 2GB of RAM installed (4 x 512MB). I just installed
>> another 2GB by removing 2 of the 512MB, so now I have 2 x 2GB and 2 x
>> 512MB for a total of 5GB (and yes they are installed in the correct
>> matching pairs).
>>
>> When I started up XP Pro I got the message that the memory had changed
>> and to hit F2 to enter setup, which I did and it confirmed 5GB is now
>> installed. So I continuted to load windows. I then right clicked on My
>> Compuer > Properties and it only lists 3.37GB.
>>
>> I then went to System Info and on the Summary screen it lists:
>> Total Physical Memory 5,120.00 MB
>> Available Physical Memory 2.85 GB
>> Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
>> Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
>> Page File Space 5.21 GB
>>
>> I added more RAM since I do a lot of graphics on this PC and wanted
>> better performance, but now I'm not sure if I'm using all the additional
>> RAM I bought. Is some of my new RAM not being used? Is there a way to get
>> all my RAM to be used?
>>
>> Mark
>

Sys Info screen says my XP is Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2 Build 2600.
And I have a system32 folder.

"John John" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> Are you running 32-bit or 64-bit XP?
>
> John
>
> Mark Christensen wrote:
>
>> I had a total of 2GB of RAM installed (4 x 512MB). I just installed
>> another 2GB by removing 2 of the 512MB, so now I have 2 x 2GB and 2 x
>> 512MB for a total of 5GB (and yes they are installed in the correct
>> matching pairs).
>>
>> When I started up XP Pro I got the message that the memory had changed
>> and to hit F2 to enter setup, which I did and it confirmed 5GB is now
>> installed. So I continuted to load windows. I then right clicked on My
>> Compuer > Properties and it only lists 3.37GB.
>>
>> I then went to System Info and on the Summary screen it lists:
>> Total Physical Memory 5,120.00 MB
>> Available Physical Memory 2.85 GB
>> Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
>> Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
>> Page File Space 5.21 GB
>>
>> I added more RAM since I do a lot of graphics on this PC and wanted
>> better performance, but now I'm not sure if I'm using all the additional
>> RAM I bought. Is some of my new RAM not being used? Is there a way to get
>> all my RAM to be used?
>>
>> Mark
>

How to determine whether your computer is running a 32-bit version or a
64-bit version of the Windows operating system
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827218

John

Mark Christensen wrote:
> How do I tell?
>
> I'd assume 32 bit.
>
> "John John" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>
>>Are you running 32-bit or 64-bit XP?
>>
>>John
>>
>>Mark Christensen wrote:
>>
>>
>>>I had a total of 2GB of RAM installed (4 x 512MB). I just installed
>>>another 2GB by removing 2 of the 512MB, so now I have 2 x 2GB and 2 x
>>>512MB for a total of 5GB (and yes they are installed in the correct
>>>matching pairs).
>>>
>>> When I started up XP Pro I got the message that the memory had changed
>>>and to hit F2 to enter setup, which I did and it confirmed 5GB is now
>>>installed. So I continuted to load windows. I then right clicked on My
>>>Compuer > Properties and it only lists 3.37GB.
>>>
>>>I then went to System Info and on the Summary screen it lists:
>>>Total Physical Memory 5,120.00 MB
>>>Available Physical Memory 2.85 GB
>>>Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
>>>Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
>>>Page File Space 5.21 GB
>>>
>>>I added more RAM since I do a lot of graphics on this PC and wanted
>>>better performance, but now I'm not sure if I'm using all the additional
>>>RAM I bought. Is some of my new RAM not being used? Is there a way to get
>>>all my RAM to be used?
>>>
>>>Mark
>>
>
>

No, that switch won't do that with Windows XP, it will only work with
Server versions. Furthermore, whoever wrote that post didn't know what
they were talking about, the /3GB switch deals with Virtual Address
Space available to applications, it doesn't have anything to do with
Physical Memory (RAM).

Perhaps SP3 will change that (/PAE) but I don't know, I haven't heard
reports of any changes to the XP PAE kernel with SP3 so I kind of doubt
that it will be changed to allow for use of RAM above the 4GB barrier.

You will need to use a 64-bit workstation to use all that RAM, or one of
the 32-bit 2003 Server version.

John

Mark Christensen wrote:

> So doing some research I came across some info about a /PAE switch. I found
> one post that said to:
>
> "Open your boot.ini file (remove its Read-Only and Hidden attributes) and
> delete the 3GB switch. Then add the /PAE switch. Reboot your computer. XP
> will now see all 4 GB of RAM."
>
> Is this safe to do? How do I do that?
>
>
> "Mark Christensen" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>
>>I had a total of 2GB of RAM installed (4 x 512MB). I just installed another
>>2GB by removing 2 of the 512MB, so now I have 2 x 2GB and 2 x 512MB for a
>>total of 5GB (and yes they are installed in the correct matching pairs).
>>
>>When I started up XP Pro I got the message that the memory had changed and
>>to hit F2 to enter setup, which I did and it confirmed 5GB is now
>>installed. So I continuted to load windows. I then right clicked on My
>>Compuer > Properties and it only lists 3.37GB.
>>
>>I then went to System Info and on the Summary screen it lists:
>>Total Physical Memory 5,120.00 MB
>>Available Physical Memory 2.85 GB
>>Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
>>Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
>>Page File Space 5.21 GB
>>
>>I added more RAM since I do a lot of graphics on this PC and wanted better
>>performance, but now I'm not sure if I'm using all the additional RAM I
>>bought. Is some of my new RAM not being used? Is there a way to get all my
>>RAM to be used?
>>
>>Mark
>>
>
>
>

I have an x86 processor, so 32 bit.

"John John" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> How to determine whether your computer is running a 32-bit version or a
> 64-bit version of the Windows operating system
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827218
>
> John
>
> Mark Christensen wrote:
>> How do I tell?
>>
>> I'd assume 32 bit.
>>
>> "John John" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>>
>>>Are you running 32-bit or 64-bit XP?
>>>
>>>John
>>>
>>>Mark Christensen wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>I had a total of 2GB of RAM installed (4 x 512MB). I just installed
>>>>another 2GB by removing 2 of the 512MB, so now I have 2 x 2GB and 2 x
>>>>512MB for a total of 5GB (and yes they are installed in the correct
>>>>matching pairs).
>>>>
>>>> When I started up XP Pro I got the message that the memory had changed
>>>> and to hit F2 to enter setup, which I did and it confirmed 5GB is now
>>>> installed. So I continuted to load windows. I then right clicked on My
>>>> Compuer > Properties and it only lists 3.37GB.
>>>>
>>>>I then went to System Info and on the Summary screen it lists:
>>>>Total Physical Memory 5,120.00 MB
>>>>Available Physical Memory 2.85 GB
>>>>Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
>>>>Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
>>>>Page File Space 5.21 GB
>>>>
>>>>I added more RAM since I do a lot of graphics on this PC and wanted
>>>>better performance, but now I'm not sure if I'm using all the additional
>>>>RAM I bought. Is some of my new RAM not being used? Is there a way to
>>>>get all my RAM to be used?
>>>>
>>>>Mark
>>>
>>
>>
>

So is all the RAM above the 3.37 listed on the my computer > properties
wasted?

Is there any way to at least have the my computer > properties show 4GB?

Thanks.

"John John" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> No, that switch won't do that with Windows XP, it will only work with
> Server versions. Furthermore, whoever wrote that post didn't know what
> they were talking about, the /3GB switch deals with Virtual Address Space
> available to applications, it doesn't have anything to do with Physical
> Memory (RAM).
>
> Perhaps SP3 will change that (/PAE) but I don't know, I haven't heard
> reports of any changes to the XP PAE kernel with SP3 so I kind of doubt
> that it will be changed to allow for use of RAM above the 4GB barrier.
>
> You will need to use a 64-bit workstation to use all that RAM, or one of
> the 32-bit 2003 Server version.
>
> John
>
> Mark Christensen wrote:
>
>> So doing some research I came across some info about a /PAE switch. I
>> found one post that said to:
>>
>> "Open your boot.ini file (remove its Read-Only and Hidden attributes) and
>> delete the 3GB switch. Then add the /PAE switch. Reboot your computer. XP
>> will now see all 4 GB of RAM."
>>
>> Is this safe to do? How do I do that?
>>
>>
>> "Mark Christensen" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>>
>>>I had a total of 2GB of RAM installed (4 x 512MB). I just installed
>>>another 2GB by removing 2 of the 512MB, so now I have 2 x 2GB and 2 x
>>>512MB for a total of 5GB (and yes they are installed in the correct
>>>matching pairs).
>>>
>>>When I started up XP Pro I got the message that the memory had changed
>>>and to hit F2 to enter setup, which I did and it confirmed 5GB is now
>>>installed. So I continuted to load windows. I then right clicked on My
>>>Compuer > Properties and it only lists 3.37GB.
>>>
>>>I then went to System Info and on the Summary screen it lists:
>>>Total Physical Memory 5,120.00 MB
>>>Available Physical Memory 2.85 GB
>>>Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
>>>Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
>>>Page File Space 5.21 GB
>>>
>>>I added more RAM since I do a lot of graphics on this PC and wanted
>>>better performance, but now I'm not sure if I'm using all the additional
>>>RAM I bought. Is some of my new RAM not being used? Is there a way to get
>>>all my RAM to be used?
>>>
>>>Mark
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>

Yes to the first question and no to the second one.

John

Mark Christensen wrote:

> So is all the RAM above the 3.37 listed on the my computer > properties
> wasted?
>
> Is there any way to at least have the my computer > properties show 4GB?
>
> Thanks.
>
> "John John" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>
>>No, that switch won't do that with Windows XP, it will only work with
>>Server versions. Furthermore, whoever wrote that post didn't know what
>>they were talking about, the /3GB switch deals with Virtual Address Space
>>available to applications, it doesn't have anything to do with Physical
>>Memory (RAM).
>>
>>Perhaps SP3 will change that (/PAE) but I don't know, I haven't heard
>>reports of any changes to the XP PAE kernel with SP3 so I kind of doubt
>>that it will be changed to allow for use of RAM above the 4GB barrier.
>>
>>You will need to use a 64-bit workstation to use all that RAM, or one of
>>the 32-bit 2003 Server version.
>>
>>John
>>
>>Mark Christensen wrote:
>>
>>
>>>So doing some research I came across some info about a /PAE switch. I
>>>found one post that said to:
>>>
>>>"Open your boot.ini file (remove its Read-Only and Hidden attributes) and
>>>delete the 3GB switch. Then add the /PAE switch. Reboot your computer. XP
>>>will now see all 4 GB of RAM."
>>>
>>>Is this safe to do? How do I do that?
>>>
>>>
>>>"Mark Christensen" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>>news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>
>>>
>>>>I had a total of 2GB of RAM installed (4 x 512MB). I just installed
>>>>another 2GB by removing 2 of the 512MB, so now I have 2 x 2GB and 2 x
>>>>512MB for a total of 5GB (and yes they are installed in the correct
>>>>matching pairs).
>>>>
>>>>When I started up XP Pro I got the message that the memory had changed
>>>>and to hit F2 to enter setup, which I did and it confirmed 5GB is now
>>>>installed. So I continuted to load windows. I then right clicked on My
>>>>Compuer > Properties and it only lists 3.37GB.
>>>>
>>>>I then went to System Info and on the Summary screen it lists:
>>>>Total Physical Memory 5,120.00 MB
>>>>Available Physical Memory 2.85 GB
>>>>Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
>>>>Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
>>>>Page File Space 5.21 GB
>>>>
>>>>I added more RAM since I do a lot of graphics on this PC and wanted
>>>>better performance, but now I'm not sure if I'm using all the additional
>>>>RAM I bought. Is some of my new RAM not being used? Is there a way to get
>>>>all my RAM to be used?
>>>>
>>>>Mark
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>
>