What is the Switch to Show Maximum RAM?

[Guest razor]

Hello--

 

I have a new PC with Windows XP Pro on it and 4 GB or RAM for when I upgrade

to 64-bit. In Windows 32-bit it is only showing 2.5 GB and I thought 3 or 3.5

was the max.

 

I posted to a different forum and they said there is a switch or something I

can add to show the max RAM. Does anyone here know about that?

 

Many thanks,

 

sd

[Guest R. McCarty]

Re: What is the Switch to Show Maximum RAM?

 

Boot.Ini - add /PAE

However, even without that qualifier XP should natively see more than

2.5 Gigabytes. Was it home built or purchased from an OEM ?

 

"razor" <razor@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:C020041B-346D-40A7-A17B-863A7BD60515@microsoft.com...

> Hello--

>

> I have a new PC with Windows XP Pro on it and 4 GB or RAM for when I

> upgrade

> to 64-bit. In Windows 32-bit it is only showing 2.5 GB and I thought 3 or

> 3.5

> was the max.

>

> I posted to a different forum and they said there is a switch or something

> I

> can add to show the max RAM. Does anyone here know about that?

>

> Many thanks,

>

> sd

[Guest David H. Lipman]

Re: What is the Switch to Show Maximum RAM?

 

From: "R. McCarty" <PcEngWork-NoSpam_@mindspring.com>

 

| Boot.Ini - add /PAE

| However, even without that qualifier XP should natively see more than

| 2.5 Gigabytes. Was it home built or purchased from an OEM ?

|

 

Yes. It could be a motherboard limitation.

 

--

Dave

http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html

Multi-AV - http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp

[Guest Big_Al]

Re: What is the Switch to Show Maximum RAM?

 

R. McCarty wrote:

> Boot.Ini - add /PAE

> However, even without that qualifier XP should natively see more than

> 2.5 Gigabytes. Was it home built or purchased from an OEM ?

>

> "razor" <razor@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> news:C020041B-346D-40A7-A17B-863A7BD60515@microsoft.com...

>> Hello--

>>

>> I have a new PC with Windows XP Pro on it and 4 GB or RAM for when I

>> upgrade

>> to 64-bit. In Windows 32-bit it is only showing 2.5 GB and I thought 3 or

>> 3.5

>> was the max.

>>

>> I posted to a different forum and they said there is a switch or something

>> I

>> can add to show the max RAM. Does anyone here know about that?

>>

>> Many thanks,

>>

>> sd

>

>

Actually its 4 gig less whatever your hardware wants to reserve for

things like the video hardware. Normally its 3.2 - 3.5. I'm

surprised its down to 2.5.

[Guest razor]

Re: What is the Switch to Show Maximum RAM?

 

Wow, you're good. Yes, it is a custom build and they used an OEM version of

Windows XP Pro. I just got the rig yesterday (which was not cheap) and it is

so unstable I could scream. It keeps crashing to either reboot or frozen

screen.

 

I have 30 days to get it stable or I get a full refund, but you know what a

total pain that can be. I just started reading event logs and see system

errors--which is not good. But I have to tackle one issue at a time.

 

If you have any suggestions for how I can stabilize this system, I am all

ears.

 

Thanks for the switch too.

 

 

sd

 

"R. McCarty" wrote:

> Boot.Ini - add /PAE

> However, even without that qualifier XP should natively see more than

> 2.5 Gigabytes. Was it home built or purchased from an OEM ?

>

> "razor" <razor@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> news:C020041B-346D-40A7-A17B-863A7BD60515@microsoft.com...

> > Hello--

> >

> > I have a new PC with Windows XP Pro on it and 4 GB or RAM for when I

> > upgrade

> > to 64-bit. In Windows 32-bit it is only showing 2.5 GB and I thought 3 or

> > 3.5

> > was the max.

> >

> > I posted to a different forum and they said there is a switch or something

> > I

> > can add to show the max RAM. Does anyone here know about that?

> >

> > Many thanks,

> >

> > sd

>

>

>

[Guest R. McCarty]

Re: What is the Switch to Show Maximum RAM?

 

I'd concentrate on resolving the Event Log errors. New & Unstable

isn't a good thing. Your Out-of-Box experience shouldn't require a

detailed review to get things working. I'd be interested to know the

primary hardware ( MB, CPU, Video ) to understand why the RAM

count is below 3.0 Gigabytes. Regardless of the specs, you might

want to install SpeedFan 4.34 to check temps. I've seen lots of new

builds where the CPU heatspreader isn't properly covered in Thermal

paste or the CPU Heatsink is poorly seated. Your instability could be

due to overheating.

SpeedFan page found here:

http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php

 

"razor" <razor@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:1E2ED9AA-2A8F-4F96-A2F8-CA9B005E0FBE@microsoft.com...

> Wow, you're good. Yes, it is a custom build and they used an OEM version

> of

> Windows XP Pro. I just got the rig yesterday (which was not cheap) and it

> is

> so unstable I could scream. It keeps crashing to either reboot or frozen

> screen.

>

> I have 30 days to get it stable or I get a full refund, but you know what

> a

> total pain that can be. I just started reading event logs and see system

> errors--which is not good. But I have to tackle one issue at a time.

>

> If you have any suggestions for how I can stabilize this system, I am all

> ears.

>

> Thanks for the switch too.

>

>

> sd

>

> "R. McCarty" wrote:

>

>> Boot.Ini - add /PAE

>> However, even without that qualifier XP should natively see more than

>> 2.5 Gigabytes. Was it home built or purchased from an OEM ?

>>

>> "razor" <razor@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

>> news:C020041B-346D-40A7-A17B-863A7BD60515@microsoft.com...

>> > Hello--

>> >

>> > I have a new PC with Windows XP Pro on it and 4 GB or RAM for when I

>> > upgrade

>> > to 64-bit. In Windows 32-bit it is only showing 2.5 GB and I thought 3

>> > or

>> > 3.5

>> > was the max.

>> >

>> > I posted to a different forum and they said there is a switch or

>> > something

>> > I

>> > can add to show the max RAM. Does anyone here know about that?

>> >

>> > Many thanks,

>> >

>> > sd

>>

>>

>>

[Guest razor]

Re: What is the Switch to Show Maximum RAM?

 

Yea, I've thrown more stable PCs in the trash. The thing is very well cooled

(in theory) with a huge Asus cooling system as well as 6 other fans in a

Cooler Master well ventilated case. I use speed fan at work though, so I'll

install that and see what is says. I haven't even done any strenuous with the

system. It crashes during Windows security updates...etc.

 

Here are the specs of the rig:

 

NVIDIA 780i SLI nForce mobo and chipset

dual NVIDIA 8800 GT SLI vid cards with 512 memory each

Intel Core 2 Quad 9450 CPU

WD 10,000 SATA HD.

4 GB Corsair 1066 Dominator RAM.

 

Thanks.

 

 

sd

 

BTW. I'm not sure where to apply the switch for the RAM. Can you break down

the config for me?

 

"R. McCarty" wrote:

> I'd concentrate on resolving the Event Log errors. New & Unstable

> isn't a good thing. Your Out-of-Box experience shouldn't require a

> detailed review to get things working. I'd be interested to know the

> primary hardware ( MB, CPU, Video ) to understand why the RAM

> count is below 3.0 Gigabytes. Regardless of the specs, you might

> want to install SpeedFan 4.34 to check temps. I've seen lots of new

> builds where the CPU heatspreader isn't properly covered in Thermal

> paste or the CPU Heatsink is poorly seated. Your instability could be

> due to overheating.

> SpeedFan page found here:

> http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php

>

> "razor" <razor@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> news:1E2ED9AA-2A8F-4F96-A2F8-CA9B005E0FBE@microsoft.com...

> > Wow, you're good. Yes, it is a custom build and they used an OEM version

> > of

> > Windows XP Pro. I just got the rig yesterday (which was not cheap) and it

> > is

> > so unstable I could scream. It keeps crashing to either reboot or frozen

> > screen.

> >

> > I have 30 days to get it stable or I get a full refund, but you know what

> > a

> > total pain that can be. I just started reading event logs and see system

> > errors--which is not good. But I have to tackle one issue at a time.

> >

> > If you have any suggestions for how I can stabilize this system, I am all

> > ears.

> >

> > Thanks for the switch too.

> >

> >

> > sd

> >

> > "R. McCarty" wrote:

> >

> >> Boot.Ini - add /PAE

> >> However, even without that qualifier XP should natively see more than

> >> 2.5 Gigabytes. Was it home built or purchased from an OEM ?

> >>

> >> "razor" <razor@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> >> news:C020041B-346D-40A7-A17B-863A7BD60515@microsoft.com...

> >> > Hello--

> >> >

> >> > I have a new PC with Windows XP Pro on it and 4 GB or RAM for when I

> >> > upgrade

> >> > to 64-bit. In Windows 32-bit it is only showing 2.5 GB and I thought 3

> >> > or

> >> > 3.5

> >> > was the max.

> >> >

> >> > I posted to a different forum and they said there is a switch or

> >> > something

> >> > I

> >> > can add to show the max RAM. Does anyone here know about that?

> >> >

> >> > Many thanks,

> >> >

> >> > sd

> >>

> >>

> >>

>

>

>

[Guest JS]

Re: What is the Switch to Show Maximum RAM?

 

PassMark BurnInTestT is a software tool that allows all the major

sub-systems of a computer to be simultaneously (or independently) stress

tested for endurance, reliability and stability.

http://www.passmark.com/products/bit.htm

 

Try HD Tune, provides drive info and has an option to test your drive.

http://www.hdtune.com/

 

Also SpeedFan has an online analysis feature for hard drives.

http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php

 

JS

 

 

"razor" <razor@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:1E2ED9AA-2A8F-4F96-A2F8-CA9B005E0FBE@microsoft.com...

> Wow, you're good. Yes, it is a custom build and they used an OEM version

> of

> Windows XP Pro. I just got the rig yesterday (which was not cheap) and it

> is

> so unstable I could scream. It keeps crashing to either reboot or frozen

> screen.

>

> I have 30 days to get it stable or I get a full refund, but you know what

> a

> total pain that can be. I just started reading event logs and see system

> errors--which is not good. But I have to tackle one issue at a time.

>

> If you have any suggestions for how I can stabilize this system, I am all

> ears.

>

> Thanks for the switch too.

>

>

> sd

>

> "R. McCarty" wrote:

>

>> Boot.Ini - add /PAE

>> However, even without that qualifier XP should natively see more than

>> 2.5 Gigabytes. Was it home built or purchased from an OEM ?

>>

>> "razor" <razor@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

>> news:C020041B-346D-40A7-A17B-863A7BD60515@microsoft.com...

>> > Hello--

>> >

>> > I have a new PC with Windows XP Pro on it and 4 GB or RAM for when I

>> > upgrade

>> > to 64-bit. In Windows 32-bit it is only showing 2.5 GB and I thought 3

>> > or

>> > 3.5

>> > was the max.

>> >

>> > I posted to a different forum and they said there is a switch or

>> > something

>> > I

>> > can add to show the max RAM. Does anyone here know about that?

>> >

>> > Many thanks,

>> >

>> > sd

>>

>>

>>

[Guest R. McCarty]

Re: What is the Switch to Show Maximum RAM?

 

Edit Boot.Ini, in the [Operating Systems] listing just add the /PAE

to the end of the Windows XP call line.

 

That's very Top-Tier hardware, wouldn't expect there to be stability

issues at all.

 

"razor" <razor@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:EEBD95A5-2302-4C7F-BF73-620DCBCF885E@microsoft.com...

> Yea, I've thrown more stable PCs in the trash. The thing is very well

> cooled

> (in theory) with a huge Asus cooling system as well as 6 other fans in a

> Cooler Master well ventilated case. I use speed fan at work though, so

> I'll

> install that and see what is says. I haven't even done any strenuous with

> the

> system. It crashes during Windows security updates...etc.

>

> Here are the specs of the rig:

>

> NVIDIA 780i SLI nForce mobo and chipset

> dual NVIDIA 8800 GT SLI vid cards with 512 memory each

> Intel Core 2 Quad 9450 CPU

> WD 10,000 SATA HD.

> 4 GB Corsair 1066 Dominator RAM.

>

> Thanks.

>

>

> sd

>

> BTW. I'm not sure where to apply the switch for the RAM. Can you break

> down

> the config for me?

>

> "R. McCarty" wrote:

>

>> I'd concentrate on resolving the Event Log errors. New & Unstable

>> isn't a good thing. Your Out-of-Box experience shouldn't require a

>> detailed review to get things working. I'd be interested to know the

>> primary hardware ( MB, CPU, Video ) to understand why the RAM

>> count is below 3.0 Gigabytes. Regardless of the specs, you might

>> want to install SpeedFan 4.34 to check temps. I've seen lots of new

>> builds where the CPU heatspreader isn't properly covered in Thermal

>> paste or the CPU Heatsink is poorly seated. Your instability could be

>> due to overheating.

>> SpeedFan page found here:

>> http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php

>>

>> "razor" <razor@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

>> news:1E2ED9AA-2A8F-4F96-A2F8-CA9B005E0FBE@microsoft.com...

>> > Wow, you're good. Yes, it is a custom build and they used an OEM

>> > version

>> > of

>> > Windows XP Pro. I just got the rig yesterday (which was not cheap) and

>> > it

>> > is

>> > so unstable I could scream. It keeps crashing to either reboot or

>> > frozen

>> > screen.

>> >

>> > I have 30 days to get it stable or I get a full refund, but you know

>> > what

>> > a

>> > total pain that can be. I just started reading event logs and see

>> > system

>> > errors--which is not good. But I have to tackle one issue at a time.

>> >

>> > If you have any suggestions for how I can stabilize this system, I am

>> > all

>> > ears.

>> >

>> > Thanks for the switch too.

>> >

>> >

>> > sd

>> >

>> > "R. McCarty" wrote:

>> >

>> >> Boot.Ini - add /PAE

>> >> However, even without that qualifier XP should natively see more than

>> >> 2.5 Gigabytes. Was it home built or purchased from an OEM ?

>> >>

>> >> "razor" <razor@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

>> >> news:C020041B-346D-40A7-A17B-863A7BD60515@microsoft.com...

>> >> > Hello--

>> >> >

>> >> > I have a new PC with Windows XP Pro on it and 4 GB or RAM for when I

>> >> > upgrade

>> >> > to 64-bit. In Windows 32-bit it is only showing 2.5 GB and I thought

>> >> > 3

>> >> > or

>> >> > 3.5

>> >> > was the max.

>> >> >

>> >> > I posted to a different forum and they said there is a switch or

>> >> > something

>> >> > I

>> >> > can add to show the max RAM. Does anyone here know about that?

>> >> >

>> >> > Many thanks,

>> >> >

>> >> > sd

>> >>

>> >>

>> >>

>>

>>

>>

[Guest Tim Slattery]

Re: What is the Switch to Show Maximum RAM?

 

razor <razor@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>Hello--

>

>I have a new PC with Windows XP Pro on it and 4 GB or RAM for when I upgrade

>to 64-bit. In Windows 32-bit it is only showing 2.5 GB and I thought 3 or 3.5

>was the max.

 

It depends. Some of your 4GB address space must be used to access your

video RAM, BIOS, etc. That means that you will not be able to access

all 4GB of system RAM. You're right that it usually works out to some

thing like 3 - 3.5GB, so something's taking quite a bit of space. Do

you have multiple video cards with lots of RAM?

 

 

See http://members.cox.net/slatteryt/RAM.html

>I posted to a different forum and they said there is a switch or something I

>can add to show the max RAM. Does anyone here know about that?

 

Don't bother with the PAE switch. XP uses PAE only for the DEP (Data

Execution Prevention) facility, not for the expanded address space. MS

Server systems use PAE for expanded address space, so does Linux. Not

MS client systems. And the /3GB switch affects allocation of virtual

memory and has nothing at all to do with physical RAM.

 

--

Tim Slattery

MS MVP(Shell/User)

Slattery_T@bls.gov

http://members.cox.net/slatteryt

[Guest razor]

Re: What is the Switch to Show Maximum RAM?

 

Well, you're batting 1,000. The cause of the issue became more evident when I

started hearing a strange grinding sound coming out of one of the top fans.

When I removed the siding, I saw that the heat sink brace lever was sticking

into the fan. I barely touched it to get it out of the fan, and the whole

heat sink came loose. The crashing must have been happening due to the lack

of heat sink contact with the CPU.

 

I tried to maneuver around inside the case to re-seat the heat sink, but it

is ginormous and there was not enough room--not to mention it looked like it

needed more thermal grease and I don't have any. The only way I could have

done it myself was to practically dismantle the entire rig--so back to the

manufacturer I go this Friday. It will be an amazing inconvenience, but the

system was over $2k US and there is no way I will tolerate that kind of

instability out of a brand new system.

 

Thanks to all for the help!

 

 

sd

 

"R. McCarty" wrote:

> I'd concentrate on resolving the Event Log errors. New & Unstable

> isn't a good thing. Your Out-of-Box experience shouldn't require a

> detailed review to get things working. I'd be interested to know the

> primary hardware ( MB, CPU, Video ) to understand why the RAM

> count is below 3.0 Gigabytes. Regardless of the specs, you might

> want to install SpeedFan 4.34 to check temps. I've seen lots of new

> builds where the CPU heatspreader isn't properly covered in Thermal

> paste or the CPU Heatsink is poorly seated. Your instability could be

> due to overheating.

> SpeedFan page found here:

> http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php

>

> "razor" <razor@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> news:1E2ED9AA-2A8F-4F96-A2F8-CA9B005E0FBE@microsoft.com...

> > Wow, you're good. Yes, it is a custom build and they used an OEM version

> > of

> > Windows XP Pro. I just got the rig yesterday (which was not cheap) and it

> > is

> > so unstable I could scream. It keeps crashing to either reboot or frozen

> > screen.

> >

> > I have 30 days to get it stable or I get a full refund, but you know what

> > a

> > total pain that can be. I just started reading event logs and see system

> > errors--which is not good. But I have to tackle one issue at a time.

> >

> > If you have any suggestions for how I can stabilize this system, I am all

> > ears.

> >

> > Thanks for the switch too.

> >

> >

> > sd

> >

> > "R. McCarty" wrote:

> >

> >> Boot.Ini - add /PAE

> >> However, even without that qualifier XP should natively see more than

> >> 2.5 Gigabytes. Was it home built or purchased from an OEM ?

> >>

> >> "razor" <razor@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> >> news:C020041B-346D-40A7-A17B-863A7BD60515@microsoft.com...

> >> > Hello--

> >> >

> >> > I have a new PC with Windows XP Pro on it and 4 GB or RAM for when I

> >> > upgrade

> >> > to 64-bit. In Windows 32-bit it is only showing 2.5 GB and I thought 3

> >> > or

> >> > 3.5

> >> > was the max.

> >> >

> >> > I posted to a different forum and they said there is a switch or

> >> > something

> >> > I

> >> > can add to show the max RAM. Does anyone here know about that?

> >> >

> >> > Many thanks,

> >> >

> >> > sd

> >>

> >>

> >>

>

>

>