Installed 4GB memory but Windows XP 32 bit only reporting 2GB?

Posted by AnthonyWJones on Super User See other posts from Super User or by AnthonyWJones
Published on 2010-05-15T16:13:48Z Indexed on 2010/05/15 17:14 UTC
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memory

I've just taken an existing XP Pro 32 bit system that had only 0.5GB of memory installed and maxed it out to 4GB.

The BIOS reports the 4GB ram however when XP is booted and I look at the computer properties only 2GB of RAM is reported. Can anyone explain this?

Before we go up any blind allys the /3GB switch is not the answer here, I have no need for a single process to use more the 2GB of memory.

I'm wondering if the the 32 bit XP Pro is deliberately limited to 2GB. I seem to remember seeing an excellent table on a Microsoft site listing all the various SKUs of Windows and what each one was limited to. However I can't seem to find that table now.

Installed 4GB memory but Windows XP 32 bit only reporting 2GB?

Posted by AnthonyWJones on Server Fault See other posts from Server Fault or by AnthonyWJones
Published on 2010-05-15T16:13:48Z Indexed on 2010/05/15 16:24 UTC
Read the original article Hit count: 304

Filed under:

Windows

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windows-xp

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memory

I've just taken an existing XP Pro 32 bit system that had only 0.5GB of memory installed and maxed it out to 4GB.

The BIOS reports the 4GB ram however when XP is booted and I look at the computer properties only 2GB of RAM is reported. Can anyone explain this?

Before we go up any blind allys the /3GB switch is not the answer here, I have no need for a single process to use more the 2GB of memory.

I'm wondering if the the 32 bit XP Pro is deliberately limited to 2GB. I seem to remember seeing an excellent table on a Microsoft site listing all the various SKUs of Windows and what each one was limited to. However I can't seem to find that table now.

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