Let's try one more time, but I'll just give instructions:

From elevated cmd prompt:
bcdedit /set PAE forceenable
Reboot

The reboot is required before proceeding.
Most likely, not all RAM is being reported.
That's because on 32-bit OS, DEP is required when PAE is running. (Even
if not supported.)
DEP may cause other problems.

From elevated cmd prompt:
bcdedit /set nx AlwaysOff
bcdedit /set PAE forceenable
Reboot

It is proven that PAE and Creative sound cards won't work together.
There may be other configurations that don't work.

To turn off:
From elevated cmd prompt:
bcedit /set nx AlwaysOn
bcedit /set PAE default
Reboot

If it still doesn't work, it's not supported by your machine.



"Sarah White" wrote in message
...
I upgraded (a so-called "clean install" on same partition... it made xp
pro x64 unusable by renaming various system folders) to windows vista
home basic hoping that PAE would work.

I had assumed that 4GB RAM would be no problem (the intel e6600 core2duo
in this system supports 64bit instructions, and as a result PAE works on
linux just fine) though it is not doing what I expected.

After installing Vista SP1 (came out recently) from windows update, I
decided to try using BCDEDIT.EXE and set PAE to "force enable" mode...
Not working as expected!!!

Well, pressing [windows logo key on keyboard] and [break] at the same
time (you can also bring that up by right clicking what XP called "my
computer" and selecting "properties") ... windows now reports: Memory
(RAM) 4.0 GB ... it was too good to be true:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/283296

--snip--

Article ID : 283296
Last Review : February 28, 2007
Revision : 4.4

""" Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition loads a standard VGA video
driver for NVidia... """

APPLIES TO
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition (32-bit x86)
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition (32-bit x86)

--snip--

Wrong on two counts!!!

A) I'm using nvidia's latest WHQL drivers

Windows is not using "standard VGA video driver" but is using Nvidia's
latest digitally signed vista 32 bit drivers (Version 175.16) Digital
Signer: Microsoft Windows Hardware Compatibility

B) I'm running windows vista (with signed, WHQL drivers) and windows
task manager still reports "physical memory (MB) 2813" on the
performance tab!!!