How to make Windows XP perfessional support 4GB memory?

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G

Guest

Hi all,

My company just ordered a Dell Workstation Precision 670 with 4GB. But
unfortunately, the system can only recognize 3 GB. I check the BIOS. It shows
me 4 GB here. I use SP1 and we wouldn't update to SP2 for some reason. So any
idea about how to make it find the lost 1GB?

Thank you
 
David said:
Hi all,

My company just ordered a Dell Workstation Precision 670 with 4GB. But
unfortunately, the system can only recognize 3 GB. I check the BIOS.
It shows me 4 GB here. I use SP1 and we wouldn't update to SP2 for
some reason. So any idea about how to make it find the lost 1GB?
Click to expand...

Dell sent you a computer that wasn't set up right? Send it back to
them.

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"
 
David said:
My company just ordered a Dell Workstation Precision 670 with 4GB. But
unfortunately, the system can only recognize 3 GB. I check the BIOS.
It shows me 4 GB here. I use SP1 and we wouldn't update to SP2 for
some reason. So any idea about how to make it find the lost 1GB?
Click to expand...

The 4GB address space offered by the operating system is split in two areas
of 2GB each: the first 2GB is for user mode, and the other 2GB isg reserved
by the kernel. On Windows XP, it is possible to increase the default
allocation capabilities up to 3.0GB (3GB for user mode, 1GB reserved for
kernel). Such capability requires additional tunings in order to be
effective:

A modification of boot.ini file is needed to activate this capability at the
system level. The boot.ini switch /3GB needs to be added in order to make
3GB available for user mode applications. For example:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional 3GB" /fastdetect /3GB
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/d..._de16d3ec-c437-4628-805f-8945ea598a92.xml.asp
 
read this in this weeks langalist.
may be of some help.

4) RAM Present But Unaccounted For

Hi, As a long time reader of your newsletter, I have found much
great information.

I have a new super pc (for me). Athlon 64 x2 4200+ I had 2 GB,
then ordered 2GB more. After installing I find that XP Pro (2)
as I have it set up only can read 3GB. Is there a fix for
this? My check of the MS knowledge base has left me a bit
frustrated.

Should I ask my vendor to exchange the 2 1GB DIMMS, for 2 512 MB
DIMMS? What good is an MB that can hold 4 GB if XP Pro cannot
read that much. Linux? Warm Regards, Lou

First a minute of background: XP can run in 64MB of RAM; but MS recommends
128MB as a minimum. I think 256MB is better for most users, with 512MB or
more better still, if you can swing it. I originally had 1GB in my PC but
found I can do more with 2GB. (But I'm not an "average user;" in fact,
most vendors probably consider me and people like me as "nightmare
scenario users..." <g>

XP can handle up to 4GB of RAM. Yours is probably a hardware/BIOS issue
rather than an OS issue. I'd check the hardware or motherboard site, and
explore the BIOS settings. Once the BIOS can see all the RAM, odds are XP
will too.

Note too that PCs can be fussy about the order in which RAM is installed.
A common black-magic fix for some RAM issues is simply to juggle the RAM
sticks around, trying different sticks in different sockets. With
identical RAM sticks, this shouldn't make any difference--- but sometimes
it does! (It's probably due to very subtle timing differences between and
among the RAM sticks, even if nominally identical.)

Similarly, note that PCs can be finicky about which slots can accept what
types of RAM (they may look the same but be different electrically); and
about even seemingly-small difference in RAM types; and/or mixing RAM
types and speeds. Make sure all your RAM truly is identical, and that it
matches the specs for timing and positioning that the vendor or
motherboard vendor states.
 
Dell sent you a computer that wasn't set up right? Send it back to
them.
Click to expand...

You're kidding, right? Do you want all the shipping terminals in North
America filled up with Dell computers as they are being returned by the
millions, just because they weren't set up right?
 
NoStop said:
You're kidding, right? Do you want all the shipping terminals in North
America filled up with Dell computers as they are being returned by
the millions, just because they weren't set up right?
Click to expand...

Why not?

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"
 
Hi,

Just curious, would this /3GB issue be the same on the 64-bit version of
WinXP?

JV
Denichi Computer Devices
Austin, TX



Shenan Stanley said:
David said:
My company just ordered a Dell Workstation Precision 670 with 4GB. But
unfortunately, the system can only recognize 3 GB. I check the BIOS.
It shows me 4 GB here. I use SP1 and we wouldn't update to SP2 for
some reason. So any idea about how to make it find the lost 1GB?
Click to expand...

The 4GB address space offered by the operating system is split in two areas
of 2GB each: the first 2GB is for user mode, and the other 2GB isg reserved
by the kernel. On Windows XP, it is possible to increase the default
allocation capabilities up to 3.0GB (3GB for user mode, 1GB reserved for
kernel). Such capability requires additional tunings in order to be
effective:

A modification of boot.ini file is needed to activate this capability at the
system level. The boot.ini switch /3GB needs to be added in order to make
3GB available for user mode applications. For example:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional 3GB" /fastdetect /3GB
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/d..._de16d3ec-c437-4628-805f-8945ea598a92.xml.asp
Click to expand...
 
Hello Javier,
The /3GB switch just reallocates memory address space between kernel and
user mode. It doesn't change the amount of memory in the system.
This can constrain your kernel resources.
With 64-bit Windows XP, for 32-bit programs you already get 4GB of address
space for user mode. With 64-bit programs on 64-bit Windows you get 8TB of
address space.
So there is no need to use /3gb on 64-bit Windows.
Thanks,
Darrell Gorter[MSFT]

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights
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<
<Hi,
<
<Just curious, would this /3GB issue be the same on the 64-bit version of
<WinXP?
<
<JV
<Denichi Computer Devices
<Austin, TX
<
<
<
<"Shenan Stanley" wrote:
<
<> David Z wrote:
<> > My company just ordered a Dell Workstation Precision 670 with 4GB. But
<> > unfortunately, the system can only recognize 3 GB. I check the BIOS.
<> > It shows me 4 GB here. I use SP1 and we wouldn't update to SP2 for
<> > some reason. So any idea about how to make it find the lost 1GB?
<>
<> The 4GB address space offered by the operating system is split in two
areas
<> of 2GB each: the first 2GB is for user mode, and the other 2GB isg
reserved
<> by the kernel. On Windows XP, it is possible to increase the default
<> allocation capabilities up to 3.0GB (3GB for user mode, 1GB reserved for
<> kernel). Such capability requires additional tunings in order to be
<> effective:
<>
<> A modification of boot.ini file is needed to activate this capability at
the
<> system level. The boot.ini switch /3GB needs to be added in order to
make
<> 3GB available for user mode applications. For example:
<>
<> [boot loader]
<> timeout=30
<> default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
<> [operating systems]
<> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
<> Professional 3GB" /fastdetect /3GB
<> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
<> Professional" /fastdetect
<>
<>
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/ddtools/hh/
ddtools/BootIni_de16d3ec-c437-4628-805f-8945ea598a92.xml.asp
<>
<> --
<> Shenan Stanley
<> MS-MVP
<> --
<> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
<>
<>
<>
<>
<
 
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