I recently installed the maximum 4 GB RAM for my Win XP Home computer: four 1024 MB boards in the 4 available memory slots. History: It came with 512 MB RAM (two 256 MB cards in 2 of the 4 slots). I sometimes process large image files or video in a couple applications, and if I do too much without saving the files, I get something like "...not enough memory remaining to complete..." and can't save either, and lose an hour or two of processing work, everything frozen, and once had to shut down the computer by pulling out the power plug (nothing else worked). I later added two 1024 MB boards and moved the two 256 MB ones to the other two slots. The computer detected the RAM properly and showed Total Physical Memory 2,560.00 MB of Available RAM in System Information, and Available Physical Memory 2.00 GB (currently with about 550 MB running processes). I set 4 GB page file. This helped a lot with the processing in those applications, but if not careful, the same "...not enough memory..." thing, and I lose the work. So I added another 2 identical 1 GB boards replacing the two 256 MB boards. The 4 GB RAM I added IS exact correct type for my computer. Set the page file at 1.5 times available RAM, etc., so that's all OK. NOW THE PROBLEM, IF IT IS A PROBLEM: in System Information the RAM is detected OK, showing Total Physical Memory 4,096.00 MB, BUT not much more available memory: Available Physical Memory 2.16 GB!! Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB stays the same in both cases, even if I set 12 GB page file; Page File Space shows what I set plus about 2 GB added.SO THE QUESTION: Is all the 4 GB RAM (essentially) available for use with my high-megabyte operations in the image and video processing apps? Or is Win XP robbing my RAM and making it page file? What's going on here? Sure would like to know if I wasted $120.00 on two more strips of 1 GB memory. Thanks loads, if anyone can tell me.Haven't made a good enough test in image/video apps to know if I've gained anything yet. Still the same 550 MB running processes. And yes, I have spent hours on the forums things online learning about page files and RAM, most of which I already knew, but there is no explanation about System Information not showing more than about 2 GB available RAM. Thanks loads, if anyone can tell me.1 person got this answerI do too

In all that long, difficult to read post (next time consider using white space and numbered points to make your message easier to read), you forgot to tell us what version of Windows XP you are running. I suspect you have XP 32-bit installed which would completely explain why Windows only sees 2+GB. Windows 32-bit operating systems cannot use more. You would need a 64-bit operating system. If your computer supports it, consider purchasing Windows 7 64-bit to use all of your RAM. XP 64 was a bit of a bust since very few hardware mftrs. wrote drivers for it so I don't recommend that OS. 32-Bit or 64-Bit - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827218/en-us Lifehacker Guide to 64-bit vs. 32-bit Operating Systems - http://lifehacker.com/5431284/the-lifehacker-guide-to-64+bit-vs-32+bit-operating-systems Memory Limits for Windows Releases - http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa366778%28VS.85%29.aspx And I don't think XP "robbed" you of anything. If you do in fact have a 32-bit OS it just means that you didn't research what you were buying first. Blaming this on the operating system is not really correct. MS-MVP - Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!

hello have you checked the specs on your computer to make sure the computer will accept 4 gb of memoryIf this post helps to resolve your issue, Please click the Mark as Answered check mark on this page it helps others who need quick access to answers THANK YOU AND GOOD LUCK

To Malkeleah:My OS is Windows XP Home 32-bit. The motherboard is an Intel Augsburg with Pentium 4 dual processor. Here is the relevant information from System Information (I have set pagefile space at 6.144 GB initial and maximum):Item Value OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3 Build 2600 OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation System Manufacturer Gateway System Model 5200S CTO/QS System Type X86-based PC Processor x86 Family 15 Model 4 Stepping 1 GenuineIntel ~3000 Mhz BIOS Version/Date Intel Corp. EV91510A.15A.0123.2004.0927.1517, 9/27/2004 SMBIOS Version 2.3 Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32 Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1 Locale United States Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.1.2600.5512 (xpsp.080413-2111)" Time Zone Central Standard Time Total Physical Memory 4,096.00 MB Available Physical Memory 2.16 GB Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB1. I did, indeed, research. When I bought this Gateway computer they indicated a maximum 4 GB of RAM could be installed in the 4 available slots on the motherboard and used. I long ago downloaded and saved specific information from the Intel site for my exact motherboard, as well, including images and all technical information. So I was NOT operating in the dark by guess and by hope.2. Yes, I roamed around all the msdn, etc., sites for hours and found XP 32-bit can utilize 4 GB RAM. Yes, I noted the inconsistency that either 2 GB could be utilized, or 4 GB could be utilized, but the difference is non-understandable except by IT experts, apparently. I trusted Gateway support. I trusted Microsoft. 3. Yes, I CAN blame Microsoft and its operating system, and Gateway and Gateway support, no doubt all market-driven.4. No, I am not going to mess with the Registry and experiment with "PAE", etc., etc., which I have read about AGAIN today by spending 4-5 hours on the sites through the maze of multiple links and branches up to 9 links deep. The entirety of the information is not consistent enough, and if it did not work the easiest way out is a System Restore (Destructive) during restart, which takes 12 hours by the time I re-install everything, set options/settings in all, etc., etc., and I still don't finish for days with re-installs/updates.5. If there IS a way to utilize up to 3.5 or 4 GB of the installed physical RAM for the processor and setup I have, I would have to have a nice numerical-step "recipe". I've spent longer than two very long work days on this as it is.6. No, I am not and don't consider myself a technical dummy, since I have scored well above 140 on IQ tests, way back there at least (this should be SOME indication) and majored in physics at University of Oklahoma, career in electronics. So I consider your presumptuous reply about not researching arrogant and insulting.7. No, I am not going to purchase Windows 7 64-bit (spent half the cost of it on RAM I apparently can't use already).8. It appears the only solution is at some future time when I purchase an entire new computer setup, and I will surely look at a wider range of operating systems than just Windows. If you have a reply which might shed light on any of this, fine. If not, I will close the thread as answered.

"My OS is Windows XP Home 32-bit.". End of story for ability to use the full 4GB of RAM. No, there is no Magic Way you can force a Windows 32-bit operating system to utilize the full 4GB of RAM. There is a difference between whether a motherboard will support a certain amount of memory and whether an operating system will be able to access said memory. Sorry you missed this fact in your research. Oh, and if you want to try one of the many Linux distros don't forget to use a 64-bit one - after making sure your processor is 64-bit too. Which yours isn't. MS-MVP - Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!

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