Windows does not have a limit other than the mathematical one imposed by
32bits. A 32bit address space is 4GB (more bits are required for additional
addresses above this). The BIOS in a computer can set aside some memory for
memory-mapped IO for your devices, but that is the BIOS, not Windows. The
remaining amount is the memory available for user programs and ranges on
modern computer from about 2.2GB to 3.5GB, depending on the hardware
installed and the defaults set in the BIOS. There is nothing in Windows
itself that limits it to 1.5GB, except that Windows Starter Edition is
limited to 1GB by design. Windows Starter is not available in developed
countries.

You never have said what motherboard you have in your computer, the make and
model of the memory cards, or your video card.

"Aaponline" wrote in message
...
i checked, everything is indeed greyed out.
once again, i would like to know if windows doesn't limit itself to 1,5gb
RAM.
if it still uses the whole 4gb, it's ok with me.
and thanks for all you help btw

"csebas01" wrote:


I had the same problem problem, something you might try is going to
Start type MSCONFIG and press enter
go to BOOT Then Advanced Options Make sure that Maximum Memory
isn't
checked. If it is, uncheck it and reboot.


--
csebas01

Aaponline wrote:
i checked, everything is indeed greyed out.
once again, i would like to know if windows doesn't limit itself to 1,5gb RAM.
if it still uses the whole 4gb, it's ok with me.
and thanks for all you help btw

You can check with msinfo32 to see how the address space is populated.

Colin Barnhorst wrote:
Windows does not have a limit other than the mathematical one imposed by
32bits. A 32bit address space is 4GB (more bits are required for
additional addresses above this).

The 2^32 formula is not always valid. It breaks when you enter pae mode,
which is normal, due to dep support.

PAE is a different issue and does not address the OP's question.

"dennis" wrote in message
...
Colin Barnhorst wrote:
Windows does not have a limit other than the mathematical one imposed by
32bits. A 32bit address space is 4GB (more bits are required for
additional addresses above this).

The 2^32 formula is not always valid. It breaks when you enter pae mode,
which is normal, due to dep support.

Check Bios Make sure Video Memory is Set to 128MB's or less. Veify that Your
memory Modules are Correctly being Reconigzed Whose the manufacture of the
Memory Have you checked there website for any known Anomolies with this type
of ram. Do you have a 2nd computer you could test this ram on?


"csebas01" wrote in message
...

as far as I know there is no option in the BIOS.

to make sure that I understand you correctly, if you look BOOT =
advanced options there is nothing checked now, everything is greyed out.


--
csebas01

there is no limitation to 1.5GB which is caused by the OS, should be the
hardware or some settings in the bios


--
csebas01

there is no limitation to 1.5GB which is caused by the OS, should be the
hardware good luck


--
csebas01

Colin Barnhorst wrote:
PAE is a different issue and does not address the OP's question.

I know, in this case it doesn't, because Microsoft has made it so. It
was to your statement:

"Windows does not have a limit other than the mathematical one imposed
by 32bits"

So it does actually have "another limit".

32bits still cannot address more than 4GB. PAE can change the absolute
addressing.

"dennis" wrote in message
...
Colin Barnhorst wrote:
PAE is a different issue and does not address the OP's question.

I know, in this case it doesn't, because Microsoft has made it so. It was
to your statement:

"Windows does not have a limit other than the mathematical one imposed by
32bits"

So it does actually have "another limit".

Colin Barnhorst wrote:
32bits still cannot address more than 4GB. PAE can change the absolute
addressing.

And the point is, 32 bits are no longer the maximum the CPU can address
when you enter pae mode. Then the maximum is defined by the programmers
at Microsoft.