6GB memory and XP 32 bit

[ToddAndMargo]

Hi All,

I have a customer with two Vista 64 bits trying
to run software that explicitly states its does not
work with Vista, especially 64 bit Vista. Oh, what
a mess!

Question: her computers have 6 GB of memory.
If I change her over to XP 32 bit, being
that 32 bit OS's only can use 4 GB of memory,
what happens to the extra 2 GB of memory?
Does it just get ignored or do I get a BSOD?

Many thanks,
-T

 

[JS]

Hi All,

I have a customer with two Vista 64 bits trying
to run software that explicitly states its does not
work with Vista, especially 64 bit Vista. Oh, what
a mess!

Question: her computers have 6 GB of memory.
If I change her over to XP 32 bit, being
that 32 bit OS's only can use 4 GB of memory,
what happens to the extra 2 GB of memory?
Does it just get ignored or do I get a BSOD?

Many thanks,
-T

It get ignored.

Why not make it a dual boot with Vista 64-bit and XP 32-bit.

 

[ToddAndMargo]

It get ignored.

Thank you!

Why not make it a dual boot with Vista 64-bit and XP 32-bit.

Her two critical programs are a mess in Vista, especially 64 bit

XP will do everything she need correctly and twice as fast

Dual boot is a bit complicated for her

-T

 

[Richard Urban]

Hi All,

I have a customer with two Vista 64 bits trying
to run software that explicitly states its does not
work with Vista, especially 64 bit Vista. Oh, what
a mess!

Question: her computers have 6 GB of memory.
If I change her over to XP 32 bit, being
that 32 bit OS's only can use 4 GB of memory,
what happens to the extra 2 GB of memory?
Does it just get ignored or do I get a BSOD?

Many thanks,
-T

A 32 bit operating will ignore the extra 2 gig of RAM. You will likely see
something along the lines of 2.8 to 3.5 gig shown in Windows XP.

 

[Michael Tsang]

Hi All,

I have a customer with two Vista 64 bits trying
to run software that explicitly states its does not
work with Vista, especially 64 bit Vista. Oh, what
a mess!

Question: her computers have 6 GB of memory.
If I change her over to XP 32 bit, being
that 32 bit OS's only can use 4 GB of memory,
what happens to the extra 2 GB of memory?
Does it just get ignored or do I get a BSOD?

Many thanks,
-T

Change her to XP 5.2 64-bit

 

[David]

You could install VMWare virtual machine and install XP into the virtual
machine. That way, she gets her vista and all the rest of her apps using the
max memory and XP using whatever memory you give it. Both versions of
Windows running simultaneously (XP inside a vista window)

--
Best regards,
Dave Colliver.
http://www.AshfieldFOCUS.com
~~
http://www.FOCUSPortals.com - Local franchises available

 

[Peter Foldes]

The 32 bit OS will ignore the extra 2GB. As Richard pointed out the 6GB will read
only between 2.5 and 3.2GB

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Hi All,

I have a customer with two Vista 64 bits trying
to run software that explicitly states its does not
work with Vista, especially 64 bit Vista. Oh, what
a mess!

Question: her computers have 6 GB of memory.
If I change her over to XP 32 bit, being
that 32 bit OS's only can use 4 GB of memory,
what happens to the extra 2 GB of memory?
Does it just get ignored or do I get a BSOD?

It gets ignored, but it's not just 2GB that gets ignored; it's more
like 3GB.

Here's the scoop on it:

All 32-bit client versions of Windows (not just Vista/XP/7) have a 4GB
address space (64-bit versions can use much more). That's the
theoretical upper limit beyond which you can not go.

But you can't use the entire 4GB of address space. Even though you
have a 4GB address space, you can only use *around* 3.1GB of RAM.
That's because some of that space is used by hardware and is not
available to the operating system and applications. The amount you can
use varies, depending on what hardware you have installed, but can
range from as little as 2GB to as much as 3.5GB. It's usually around
3.1GB.

Note that the hardware is using the address *space*, not the actual
RAM itself. If you have a greater amount of RAM, the rest of the RAM
goes unused because there is no address space to map it to.

 

[ToddAndMargo]

You could install VMWare virtual machine and install XP into the virtual
machine. That way, she gets her vista and all the rest of her apps using the
max memory and XP using whatever memory you give it. Both versions of
Windows running simultaneously (XP inside a vista window)

There is a performance hit with VM's. And she is luck if she
would crack 600 MB under XP. Plus VM's are more complicated.
KISS: Keep It Simple and Stupid

 

[ToddAndMargo]

A 32 bit operating will ignore the extra 2 gig of RAM. You will likely
see something along the lines of 2.8 to 3.5 gig shown in Windows XP.

Just so long as there is not BSOD. Thank you!

-T

 

[ToddAndMargo]

Change her to XP 5.2 64-bit

Ouch. No 64 bit has a bunch of compatibility problems.
It is going to be hard enough getting nVidia drivers out of
HP for XP.

 

[ToddAndMargo]

The 32 bit OS will ignore the extra 2GB. As Richard pointed out the 6GB
will read only between 2.5 and 3.2GB

I just wanted to make sure I was not going to get
a BSOD out of it

 

[ToddAndMargo]

It gets ignored, but it's not just 2GB that gets ignored; it's more
like 3GB.

Here's the scoop on it:

All 32-bit client versions of Windows (not just Vista/XP/7) have a 4GB
address space (64-bit versions can use much more). That's the
theoretical upper limit beyond which you can not go.

But you can't use the entire 4GB of address space. Even though you
have a 4GB address space, you can only use *around* 3.1GB of RAM.
That's because some of that space is used by hardware and is not
available to the operating system and applications. The amount you can
use varies, depending on what hardware you have installed, but can
range from as little as 2GB to as much as 3.5GB. It's usually around
3.1GB.

Note that the hardware is using the address *space*, not the actual
RAM itself. If you have a greater amount of RAM, the rest of the RAM
goes unused because there is no address space to map it to.

Thank you. Great explanation.

-T

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Thank you. Great explanation.

You're welcome. Glad to help.

 

[David]

I am running a VM of my old laptop on my new laptop and notice hardly any
performance hit. If VMs were underperforming, then they would not be as
widely used as they are. In fact, I also have a CentOS VM running as well. I
have not noticed any degradation in performance either on my host (vista 64
bit) or either of the guests.

My old laptop was running with 2GB memory, I have my VM running with 1GB and
have noticed no difference.

There is nothing complex about a VM. You just treat it as any other PC. The
most complicated bit would be getting the DVD drive or memory sticks working
with it, but even that is pretty simple.

However, it is your choice, I am not here to persuade you. I was just
offering up another fairly simple option with the benefit that all your
memory will still be available to the host operating system. It is more
complex to re-install another operating system to a real computer as you
have to find and load all the drivers. VMs are fairly simple, and with
VMWare, all the required drivers are just there.

--
Best regards,
Dave Colliver.
http://www.AshfieldFOCUS.com
~~
http://www.FOCUSPortals.com - Local franchises available

 

[smlunatick]

I just wanted to make sure I was not going to get
a BSOD out of it

BSODs can never be truly "discounted."

Also, moving a Vista based to XP, you need to make sure that there are
XP drivers. There are some hardware components that have no XP
driver.

Also, if this PC is a "branded" PC from makers like HP or IBM, then
review the PCs warranty info. Some warranties are "worded" to "VOID"
the warranty if the original Vista is not used on the unit.