The Full 4gb in Vista 32bit

|Show| · 23 Apr 2008 at 13:58

Afternoon, i've been told someone around here might know how to unlock all my 4gb of ram under 32bit vista.
It currently only sees about 3.25gb which sucks, but i hear that theres a hack/work around to get the full 4gb.

Any ideas? i couldn't find owt through search

A[L]C · 23 Apr 2008 at 14:01

you cant

swinnie · 23 Apr 2008 at 14:01

|Show| said:
Afternoon, i've been told someone around here might know how to unlock all my 4gb of ram under 32bit vista.
It currently only sees about 3.25gb which sucks, but i hear that theres a hack/work around to get the full 4gb.

Any ideas? i couldn't find owt through search

it would be interesting to know if there was a 32-Bit OS hack to see the full 4Gb of RAM, but I would imagine the only way would be to install a 64-Bit OS.

Brian Stuart · 23 Apr 2008 at 14:02

There is no way that you can use the whole 4GB, that is a limitation of a 32-bit OS. Vista SP1 reports that you have 4GB but you are still restricted to using about 3.25-3.5GB

stoofa · 23 Apr 2008 at 14:02

Well if you install SP1 for Vista32 it will report your RAM as being 4GB - so at least cosmetically it will be OK.

It isn't a matter of doing a "registry hack" it would be a matter of rewriting the way all 32bit OS's address memory - not exactly a quick project.

oddjob62 · 23 Apr 2008 at 14:03

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/946003/

Vista still won't USE 4gb, but it will show it as installed.

|Show| · 23 Apr 2008 at 14:04

fair enough.

thanks anyway

Stonedofmoo · 23 Apr 2008 at 14:05

Get 64bit Vista. There are fewer and fewer reasons to run the 32bit edition now.

|Show| · 23 Apr 2008 at 14:29

what about software compatibility etc?

Mikoyan · 23 Apr 2008 at 14:31

its fine most software now supports 64 bit!

waso_dude · 23 Apr 2008 at 14:32

64bit software will run 32bit software just as 32bit no problems.

Also there is software that can see more than 3.25 GB as 32bit... Look at Server 2003 Enterprise - It sees up to 64gb, i dunno why they havn't allowed this on XP 32bit

Muffin` · 23 Apr 2008 at 14:32

|Show| said:
what about software compatibility etc?

Do you use any specialist software or have old 32 bit hardware Audigy2 etc?

|Show| · 23 Apr 2008 at 14:33

basically i use all the adobe range, 3ds max and then usual web stuff, opera, ff, msn, etc

hardware wise, i've just bought a quad system and have an old audigy 4

Muffin` · 23 Apr 2008 at 14:35

waso_dude said:
Also there is software that can see more than 3.25 GB as 32bit... Look at Server 2003 Enterprise - It sees up to 64gb, i dunno why they havn't allowed this on XP 32bit

Isn't that with Virtual Address Space?

Craig321 · 23 Apr 2008 at 14:36

|Show| said:
Afternoon, i've been told someone around here might know how to unlock all my 4gb of ram under 32bit vista.
It currently only sees about 3.25gb which sucks, but i hear that theres a hack/work around to get the full 4gb.

Any ideas? i couldn't find owt through search

Not under any 32-bit OS.

Get 64-bit if all your motherboard drivers are available for it, there's not much point in Vista 32-bit.

bledd · 23 Apr 2008 at 14:39

vista 64bit flies with 4gb, just download a 64bit sp1 disc and use your current key

|Show| · 23 Apr 2008 at 14:40

cheers bledd, sounds like the easiest way

LeperousDust · 23 Apr 2008 at 16:02

When i formatted i really wish i'd put 64 on here instead, i really can't be bothered going through everything again now though, its all working luuverly,and imaged so when something goes ***s up i can revert back, but none of this effort helps in upgrading to 64bit

I wanna join the club...

|Show| · 23 Apr 2008 at 16:34

aye, well only having installed last night means i don't really mind too much about having to sit through it all again, not really what i want to do, but at least all i'm losing is a few drivers and opera.

Frapple · 23 Apr 2008 at 16:42

Mikoyan said:
its fine most software now supports 64 bit!

Most = 99% btw.

Haven't ran into a single problem on Vista 64.