[FridayNightCranks]

NOTE: so far this is only for XP, I am not aware of how to do this in vista as it has boot.ini, ignore the vista options.

I spent a while typing this. I'm going off of memory.

I am not responsible if you kill your computer while doing this.


Note: in MANY versions of windows it will be limited to 8GB or so NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO.
This is perhaps one of the most asked questions about windows operating systems: "Why does my computer only use about 3GB of ram when I have 4[or more] put in?" Well part of it is video memory allocation, part of it is hidden so windows will be guaranteed to have enough memory to maintain it's stable condition, and there are many other reasons I'm not going to tell you. So, how do you make it use 4 or more GB of ram?

With the Physical Address Extension (PAE) boot.ini switch.

WAIT, WHAT?
I won't go into detail besides the fact that it allows you to use more RAM.

To use this you must enable Data Execution Prevention (DEP), in XP go to control panel>system>advanced>under performance press settings

go to the DEP tab, and select the lower option.
In vista do the same but after system, look on the left panel for advanced system settings, and click it.

OK that's the safest part of this 2-part operation.

Be very, very, very careful when doing the next part. Do as I say and as I do.

Now you need to add /PAE to boot.ini. It's easy but slightly dangerous (windows is usually fixable even if you **** this up). In XP open my computer, in vista, computer. From here select your main drive(usually called C: ).
In vista click organize
in XP click view then folder options
then click folder and search options

in XP click folder options
select the view tab

look for 'Hide protected operating system files', uncheck it ignore the warning, it's really not any more dangerous with this off.

Go to your main drive again. Look at all the files and folders in the main drive for BOOT.ini (maybe just called BOOT)
right click it, uncheck read-only. press ok.
double click BOOT.ini and at the very end of it add "/MAXMEM=8192 /PAE" so instead of

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOW S
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Micro soft Windows XP Pro"

it looks like

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOW S
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Micro soft Windows XP Pro" /MAXMEM=8192 /PAE

Save, reboot, profit. I have not tested this but I've heard it works. And it makes sense.
Thanks for reading this, it only took me 57 minutes to write now I'm just a little more than before.

[Osiris]

Memory Limits for Windows Releases (Windows)

Physical Address Extension (Windows)

[kimsland]

I personally do not see the importance of 4Gig of Ram in XP 32bit (or even 3.25Gig)
XP 32Bit can only use 2 Gig at max anyway in each single operation
Keep XP 32Bit at 2gig and save the power and cost wastage on running 4gig of Ram

[FridayNightCranks]

Originally Posted by kimsland

I personally do not see the importance of 4Gig of Ram in XP 32bit (or even 3.25Gig)
XP 32Bit can only use 2 Gig at max anyway in each single operation
Keep XP 32Bit at 2gig and save the power and cost wastage on running 4gig of Ram

My example: compiling a map in source SDK, got to the max ram and I had page file (or w/e) turned off and it froze my computer until I restarted.

[FridayNightCranks]

Originally Posted by Osiris

Memory Limits for Windows Releases (Windows)

Physical Address Extension (Windows)

Well I'm sorry that I put it in an understandable-to-the-average-person format incase some people had more ram and like to multi-task but don't know how to make an operating system use more RAM.

[kimsland]

So you are saying max Ram with PageFile set at zero gave BSOD?
I agree that PageFile should be adjusted for best performance, but not entirely turned off (although really even this is agumentive, as cache Pagefile still exists anyway)
Min and Max the same, possible running around 2gig each (this area is very debatable)
Its a matter of you checking what works best
The ram itself could also have been faulty, as it seems to have faulted. A thorough Memtest scan would be ideal

Back to topic, XP under 32Bit still has no reason having more than 2gig of Ram installed

[carnageX]

Originally Posted by kimsland

I personally do not see the importance of 4Gig of Ram in XP 32bit (or even 3.25Gig)
XP 32Bit can only use 2 Gig at max anyway in each single operation
Keep XP 32Bit at 2gig and save the power and cost wastage on running 4gig of Ram

It's 3-3.5GB limit for 32bit OS's; depending on how much VRAM the user has as well.

http://www.tech-forums.net/pc/f9/onl...-4gigs-166727/

Difference Between 32 Bit (x86) and 64 Bit (x64)

[FridayNightCranks]

Originally Posted by kimsland

So you are saying max Ram with PageFile set at zero gave BSOD?
I agree that PageFile should be adjusted for best performance, but not entirely turned off (although really even this is agumentive, as cache Pagefile still exists anyway)
Min and Max the same, possible running around 2gig each (this area is very debatable)
Its a matter of you checking what works best
The ram itself could also have been faulty, as it seems to have faulted. A thorough Memtest scan would be ideal

Back to topic, XP under 32Bit still has no reason having more than 2gig of Ram installed

Dude, I can tell the difference between BSoD and plain freezing. I just have pagefile off because I'm cutting it close on hard drive space here. I need to order another drive.
Again about the computer illiteracy, I know when RAM is bad.
And you should know pagefile is much slower than real ram.

[kimsland]

Originally Posted by FridayNightCranks

And you should know pagefile is much slower than real ram.

Yes but PageFile will actually help performance, otherwise I'd turn it off too

And carnageX, thanks for the info on "Vista" 32bit, although I agree much that was stated can be used for XP

[Osiris]

Originally Posted by FridayNightCranks

Well I'm sorry that I put it in an understandable-to-the-average-person format incase some people had more ram and like to multi-task but don't know how to make an operating system use more RAM.

You didn't, I just posted those links because the question would have come up sooner or later