Original title: msconfig boot.ini advanced /MAXMEM 2048 ( when 2560MB installed )Hi .. a noob here, system: DELL Dimension 4600 , P4 3Ghz, WinXp-32 SP32560 MB RAM is properly installed ( 2.56 GB RAM reported by "System" ) ( 2.62 GB RAM reported by TaskMgr)but, when I RUN 'msconfig' ... then click : BOOT.INI' tab ... then ... click "Advanced Options" then uncheck/check ... ' /MAXMEM ' 2048 is displayed and CANNOT BE INCREASED ( ? )How can I have this option / feature "properly" set to actual system (Installed / Total ) physical memory (RAM).note : system runs great ,,, this is just an annoyance ... (I think ? ) thnxO T

Hi OldTechy1, The following article will address your query. The RAM reported by the System Properties dialog box and the System Information tool is less than you expect in Windows Vista or in Windows XP Service Pack 2 or later versionhttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/888137 Hope this information is helpful and let me know if you need any further assistance.Mouneshwar R – Microsoft Support-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think

Hi OldTechy1, The following article will address your query. The RAM reported by the System Properties dialog box and the System Information tool is less than you expect in Windows Vista or in Windows XP Service Pack 2 or later versionhttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/888137 Hope this information is helpful and let me know if you need any further assistance.Mouneshwar R – Microsoft Support-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you thinkThanks for reply, but sorry, the article your refer to, does NOT address my posted issue.My system properties are correctly reporting theactual installed/total physicalmemory (RAM).

If you have 2.5GB of RAM, Windows XP will recognize it all (excluding RAM reserved for address space and an onboard graphics card if it exists) without the need to use the maxmem feature.So, just alter your boot.ini and get rid of the maxmem switch. It's not needed and then your annoyance will end. :-)

If you have 2.5GB of RAM, Windows XP will recognize it all (excluding RAM reserved for address space and an onboard graphics card if it exists) without the need to use the maxmem feature.So, just alter your boot.ini and get rid of the maxmem switch. It's not needed and then your annoyance will end. :-)Daavee: Thanks for reply ... ( boot.ini ) follows ... but NO ' /MAXMEM ' switch is listed ...[boot loader]timeout=30default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS[operating systems]multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptInbut still, when I RUN 'msconfig' ... then click : BOOT.INI' tab ... then ... click "Advanced Options" then uncheck/check ... ' /MAXMEM ' 2048 is displayed and CANNOT BE INCREASED ( ? )

just for fun ... I edited BOOT.INI and included : /MAXMEM=2560 switch : [ update BOOT.INI ][boot loader]timeout=30default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS[operating systems]multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /MAXMEM=2560 /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptInAlthough this change DID NOT affect my symptoms, it did NOT hurt anything either ....Apparently , this switch functions much differently than it's implentation in WINDOWS 7 Profession 64-bit

Just highlight and delete the value. Uncheck the box. Click OK.