http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929580

A 32-bit operating system can address memory that is relocated above the 4
GB boundary if the following conditions are true:
• The computer is in Physical Address Extension (PAE) mode.
• The computer has 4 GB of RAM.
In this case, the operating system correctly reports how much memory is
installed.

To enable PAE mode, you have to add PAE to the boot entry in the BCD file.
Open an elevated command prompt. Type BCDEDIT /SET PAE ForceEnable.

I did this and checked to see if pae was set to forceEnable but typing
bcdedit, but it didnt work. any suggestions? why

You did not understand the KB article a 32 bit OS can not address memory
over 4GB period.

"sen" wrote in message
...
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929580

A 32-bit operating system can address memory that is relocated above the 4
GB boundary if the following conditions are true:
• The computer is in Physical Address Extension (PAE) mode.
• The computer has 4 GB of RAM.
In this case, the operating system correctly reports how much memory is
installed.

To enable PAE mode, you have to add PAE to the boot entry in the BCD file.
Open an elevated command prompt. Type BCDEDIT /SET PAE ForceEnable.

I did this and checked to see if pae was set to forceEnable but typing
bcdedit, but it didnt work. any suggestions? why

JW wrote:
You did not understand the KB article a 32 bit OS can not address memory
over 4GB period.

It depends on how the OS implements PAE. PAE allows for more than 32 bit
of physical memory to be addressed

"jorgen" wrote in message
...
JW wrote:
You did not understand the KB article a 32 bit OS can not address memory
over 4GB period.

It depends on how the OS implements PAE. PAE allows for more than 32 bit
of physical memory to be addressed

It also depends on if the motherboard allows it.

Tom Lake

For some reason Windows Vista on my PC is only reading 2558 MBs of ram of the
4GBs that I have installed and the BIOS reads. It is a 32 bit copy and I
know video cards like to use the system memory, but is that possibly what is
going on here? Seems to be a little much missing.

"Tom Lake" wrote:

"jorgen" wrote in message
...
JW wrote:
You did not understand the KB article a 32 bit OS can not address memory
over 4GB period.

It depends on how the OS implements PAE. PAE allows for more than 32 bit
of physical memory to be addressed

It also depends on if the motherboard allows it.

Tom Lake

The sad but true facts:

*You need a x64 processor,
*x64 motherboard with RAM remapping support (anything new or AM2 compatible)
*x64 motherboard must support, not have, 8GB of RAM, but can have 8GB if you
wish,
*x64 vista OS.

Most cases you just need to move up to the x64 OS, this gives you more
performance than a 32bit OS, i personaly gained an extra 294 3D benchmark
points from the switch. Your also pretty much assured to meet the above
requirments if your system is new, but some older systems may work, don't
forget to backup OS BEFORE updating, as to evade any errors or no gos. If you
have the original version of windows XP (no service packs) and the upgrade
pack of vista you can do a full clean install of vista 64bit (if you have
ulitmate).

How many video cards do you have and with how much ram? That will acount for
some of the reduction.

"Derek" wrote:

For some reason Windows Vista on my PC is only reading 2558 MBs of ram of the
4GBs that I have installed and the BIOS reads. It is a 32 bit copy and I
know video cards like to use the system memory, but is that possibly what is
going on here? Seems to be a little much missing.

"Tom Lake" wrote:

"jorgen" wrote in message
...
JW wrote:
You did not understand the KB article a 32 bit OS can not address memory
over 4GB period.

It depends on how the OS implements PAE. PAE allows for more than 32 bit
of physical memory to be addressed

It also depends on if the motherboard allows it.

Tom Lake

This is in fact, very sad. You need a motherboard that supports up to 8GB.
My motherboard is expandable up to 4 gigs. The BIOs reads 4 full GBs of
RAM, But the 64bit OS only reports 3.25gb. I was runnning the 64bit OS with
3 gigs of RAM (2 gigs, 2 512s) and it reported the full 3 gigs. Junk.

"Josh" wrote:

The sad but true facts:

*You need a x64 processor,
*x64 motherboard with RAM remapping support (anything new or AM2 compatible)
*x64 motherboard must support, not have, 8GB of RAM, but can have 8GB if you
wish,
*x64 vista OS.

Most cases you just need to move up to the x64 OS, this gives you more
performance than a 32bit OS, i personaly gained an extra 294 3D benchmark
points from the switch. Your also pretty much assured to meet the above
requirments if your system is new, but some older systems may work, don't
forget to backup OS BEFORE updating, as to evade any errors or no gos. If you
have the original version of windows XP (no service packs) and the upgrade
pack of vista you can do a full clean install of vista 64bit (if you have
ulitmate).