Can Vista use all 4 MB of RAM?

rmo555 · External Since: Aug 27, 2009 Posts: 3

I read somewhere (in a magazine) that there was a way for 32 bit Vista
to use all 4 MB of RAM - but I can't remember where I saw it. Anybody
know?

Richard G. Harper · External Since: Sep 09, 2006 Posts: 1451

.... and the answer was no in the other newsgroup you asked in. It's still
no, by the way. Smile

<rmo555.TakeThisOut@cox.net> wrote in message
news:olee95p009ocm4l2bboqci2i5fisqb91o1@4ax.com...
> I read somewhere (in a magazine) that there was a way for 32 bit Vista
> to use all 4 MB of RAM - but I can't remember where I saw it. Anybody
> know?

Ian D · External Since: Jul 04, 2009 Posts: 9

<rmo555 DeleteThis @cox.net> wrote in message
news:olee95p009ocm4l2bboqci2i5fisqb91o1@4ax.com...
>I read somewhere (in a magazine) that there was a way for 32 bit Vista
> to use all 4 MB of RAM - but I can't remember where I saw it. Anybody
> know?

Vista x86 can address 4GB, but hardware requirements
reduce the address space available to 3.0GB to 3.5GB.

R. C. White · External Since: May 19, 2006 Posts: 237

Hi, Richard.

"rmo555" reminds me of the definition of the difference between psychotic
and neurotic:
A psychotic thinks that 2 + 2 + 5.
A neurotic KNOWS that 2 + 2 = 4...and he's mad about it!

It sounds like rmo555 already knows the answer, but is mad about it and is
still looking for someone who will confirm the mistake. :>(

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
rc.RemoveThis@grandecom.net
Microsoft Windows MVP
Windows Live Mail 2009 (14.0.8089.0726) in Win7 Ultimate x64

"Richard G. Harper" <rgharper.RemoveThis@email.com> wrote in message
news:2B5C4485-DC53-4A10-AC2D-4A80CF4EEBC3@microsoft.com...
> ... and the answer was no in the other newsgroup you asked in. It's still
> no, by the way. Smile

>
> <rmo555.RemoveThis@cox.net> wrote in message
> news:olee95p009ocm4l2bboqci2i5fisqb91o1@4ax.com...
>> I read somewhere (in a magazine) that there was a way for 32 bit Vista
>> to use all 4 MB of RAM - but I can't remember where I saw it. Anybody
>> know?

gazzoid · External Since: Aug 28, 2009 Posts: 1

the answer is no im afraid,i have 4gb but hardware and other
requirements mean i get 3.25 gb max,changeing the amount of address
space and others tweeks might help??try official windows magazine,theres
some decent speed up/performance tweeks if you have a root

--
gazzoid
Posted via http://www.vistaheads.com

rmo555 · External Since: Aug 27, 2009 Posts: 3

Sorry, I forgot to crosspost.

On Thu, 27 Aug 2009 22:04:04 -0400, rmo555 DeleteThis @cox.net wrote:

>I read somewhere (in a magazine) that there was a way for 32 bit Vista
>to use all 4 MB of RAM - but I can't remember where I saw it. Anybody
>know?

Charlie Tame · External Since: Apr 15, 2007 Posts: 238

rmo555 DeleteThis @cox.net wrote:
> I read somewhere (in a magazine) that there was a way for 32 bit Vista
> to use all 4 MB of RAM - but I can't remember where I saw it. Anybody
> know?

There is a way to use RAM above 4 GB but here's the deal. A 32 bit
binary number can only "Count up to" 4 Gigabytes, and when you get there
and add one it rolls back to zero again. This means that if you have
hardware that only has a 32 bit address bus, or Vista 32 that is a 32
bit operating system, you cannot have a memory address that is bigger
than 4 GB.

What you can do is "Page" memory, in other words you can have like a
book of 4GB "Pages" and swap from one to the next. This is called "PAE"
but is not terribly useful for normal use, you would be much better to
use a 64 bit operating system.

So 4GB is like a limit fixed by hardware or the operating system, and
since your hardware needs some permanent memory addresses to work you
lose those addresses from the maximum available. In short you will get
3.2 or 3.3 GB max, although I would still suggest you install 4 GB
rather than 2GB.

If you upgrade from Vista 32 I strongly suggest you go for Windows 7 64
bit or you could run a Linux 64 bit solution. W7 looks pretty good to me
so far and although I have not had that much time to spend with it MS
have taken a step forward.

rmo555 · External Since: Aug 27, 2009 Posts: 3

On Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:03:58 -0500, Charlie Tame <charlie DeleteThis @tames.net>
wrote:

>rmo555@cox.net wrote:
>> I read somewhere (in a magazine) that there was a way for 32 bit Vista
>> to use all 4 MB of RAM - but I can't remember where I saw it. Anybody
>> know?
>
>There is a way to use RAM above 4 GB but here's the deal. A 32 bit
>binary number can only "Count up to" 4 Gigabytes, and when you get there
> and add one it rolls back to zero again. This means that if you have
>hardware that only has a 32 bit address bus, or Vista 32 that is a 32
>bit operating system, you cannot have a memory address that is bigger
>than 4 GB.
>
>What you can do is "Page" memory, in other words you can have like a
>book of 4GB "Pages" and swap from one to the next. This is called "PAE"
>but is not terribly useful for normal use, you would be much better to
>use a 64 bit operating system.
>
>So 4GB is like a limit fixed by hardware or the operating system, and
>since your hardware needs some permanent memory addresses to work you
>lose those addresses from the maximum available. In short you will get
>3.2 or 3.3 GB max, although I would still suggest you install 4 GB
>rather than 2GB.
>
>If you upgrade from Vista 32 I strongly suggest you go for Windows 7 64
>bit or you could run a Linux 64 bit solution. W7 looks pretty good to me
>so far and although I have not had that much time to spend with it MS
>have taken a step forward.

My concern with 64 bit is driver availability.

f/fgeorge · External Since: Feb 01, 2007 Posts: 62

This message is not archived

Richard G. Harper · External Since: Sep 09, 2006 Posts: 1451

No they won't.

"f/fgeorge" <ffgeorge DeleteThis @yourplace.com> wrote in message
news:h6qq95pbrca6ooghn3q7s3ml59t7od9mka@4ax.com...

> As more and more people move to the 64 bit os's mroe and more 64 bit
> drivers will become available. I have heard, but never personally
> tried, that 32 bit drivers will work with a 64 bit os.

Victek · External Since: Jan 21, 2009 Posts: 4

>>If you upgrade from Vista 32 I strongly suggest you go for Windows 7 64
>>bit or you could run a Linux 64 bit solution. W7 looks pretty good to me
>>so far and although I have not had that much time to spend with it MS
>>have taken a step forward.
>
> My concern with 64 bit is driver availability.
..
If you're concerned about drivers for hardware you already have then it's
easy enough to find out if they are available. It's not generally a problem
with new hardware though it's still good to check to make sure x64 is
supported immediately and not "coming soon".

pasquanel · Joined: Jun 20, 2005 Posts: 507 Location: Maine

I have been running Vista 64 bit for most of a year now with no driver problems
most of the 32 bit apps. run on the 64 bit system. When I installed it on my machine it recognized all my hardware, printer, camera, scanner, DVD recorders, camcorder etc.
Face it 64 bit is here to stay why would you want to be behind the times? Cool