I'd be grateful if someone could explain what the following means:

"Max Memory Comment -In the case of 4GB, a portion of the system memory over
3GB might not be available to the 32bit operating system"

Found among the specs of a Sony Vaio AW Series.

Many thanks in advance.
M.

In news:mwzvl.33836$k87.26450@newsfe30.ams2,
mariel2 typed on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 21:28:53 -0000:
> I'd be grateful if someone could explain what the following means:
>
> "Max Memory Comment -In the case of 4GB, a portion of the system
> memory over 3GB might not be available to the 32bit operating system"
>
> Found among the specs of a Sony Vaio AW Series.
>
> Many thanks in advance.
> M.

Yes this is true of 32-bit Windows and 64-bit Windows can see it all.
Don't feel bad, my Linux Xandros can't see anything more than 1GB. :-(

--
Bill
Asus EEE PC 701G4 ~ 2GB RAM ~ 16GB-SDHC
Windows XP SP2

Thank you for your time, perhaps I have not explained, I'd like to know what
it actually means.
Regards.
M


"BillW50" <BillW50@aol.kom> wrote in message
news:gpml8e$ele$1@nntp.motzarella.org...
> In news:mwzvl.33836$k87.26450@newsfe30.ams2,
> mariel2 typed on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 21:28:53 -0000:
>> I'd be grateful if someone could explain what the following means:
>>
>> "Max Memory Comment -In the case of 4GB, a portion of the system
>> memory over 3GB might not be available to the 32bit operating system"
>>
>> Found among the specs of a Sony Vaio AW Series.
>>
>> Many thanks in advance.
>> M.
>
> Yes this is true of 32-bit Windows and 64-bit Windows can see it all.
> Don't feel bad, my Linux Xandros can't see anything more than 1GB. :-(
>
> --
> Bill
> Asus EEE PC 701G4 ~ 2GB RAM ~ 16GB-SDHC
> Windows XP SP2
>

mariel2 wrote:
> Thank you for your time, perhaps I have not explained, I'd like to know what
> it actually means.
> Regards.
> M
>
>
> "BillW50" <BillW50@aol.kom> wrote in message
> news:gpml8e$ele$1@nntp.motzarella.org...
>> In news:mwzvl.33836$k87.26450@newsfe30.ams2,
>> mariel2 typed on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 21:28:53 -0000:
>>> I'd be grateful if someone could explain what the following means:
>>>
>>> "Max Memory Comment -In the case of 4GB, a portion of the system
>>> memory over 3GB might not be available to the 32bit operating system"
>>>
>>> Found among the specs of a Sony Vaio AW Series.
>>>
>>> Many thanks in advance.
>>> M.
>> Yes this is true of 32-bit Windows and 64-bit Windows can see it all.
>> Don't feel bad, my Linux Xandros can't see anything more than 1GB. :-(
>>
>> --
>> Bill
>> Asus EEE PC 701G4 ~ 2GB RAM ~ 16GB-SDHC
>> Windows XP SP2
>>
>
>
It means the 32 bit windows operating system uses the memory addresses
above approximately 3.25 GB for itself. Therefore the space is not
available for use by user memory.

Thank you for your time, perhaps I have not explained, I'd like to know what
it actually means.
Regards.
M


"BillW50" <BillW50@aol.kom> wrote in message
news:gpml8e$ele$1@nntp.motzarella.org...
> In news:mwzvl.33836$k87.26450@newsfe30.ams2,
> mariel2 typed on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 21:28:53 -0000:
>> I'd be grateful if someone could explain what the following means:
>>
>> "Max Memory Comment -In the case of 4GB, a portion of the system
>> memory over 3GB might not be available to the 32bit operating system"
>>
>> Found among the specs of a Sony Vaio AW Series.
>>
>> Many thanks in advance.
>> M.
>
> Yes this is true of 32-bit Windows and 64-bit Windows can see it all.
> Don't feel bad, my Linux Xandros can't see anything more than 1GB. :-(
>
> --
> Bill
> Asus EEE PC 701G4 ~ 2GB RAM ~ 16GB-SDHC
> Windows XP SP2
>

You have 4GB of memory (or you have more, but a 32-bit OS can only
address 4GB, and that's all it will see or use).

The HARDWARE uses some of that, however. You have a {128MB, or 256MB or
512MB} video card? Guess what, that video memory, or at least a
"window" into it, gets subtracted from the 4GB. Your computer has a ROM
BIOS. That takes up some of that 4GB and gets subtracted from the RAM
memory available for Windows. And so on .... Further, once hardware
occupies a piece of memory (somewhere in that last gigabyte), Windows
MAY not be able to use any memory that exists BEYOND the piece occupied
by the hardware, because it is "non-contiguous" with the 1st 3GB
(although I'm pretty sure that modern memory management actually
obviates that situation).

The bottom line is that in a system 4GB (or more) of memory, but a
32-bit Operating system, you typically will only be able to use 3.xxGB
of memory (most commonly, somewhere around 3.2 to 3.5 GB, but the number
varies and depends on how the hardware is architected).


mariel2 wrote:
> I'd be grateful if someone could explain what the following means:
>
> "Max Memory Comment -In the case of 4GB, a portion of the system memory over
> 3GB might not be available to the 32bit operating system"
>
> Found among the specs of a Sony Vaio AW Series.
>
> Many thanks in advance.
> M.
>
>

mariel2 wrote:
> Thank you for your time, perhaps I have not explained, I'd like to know what
> it actually means.
> Regards.
> M
>
>
> "BillW50" <BillW50@aol.kom> wrote in message
> news:gpml8e$ele$1@nntp.motzarella.org...
>> In news:mwzvl.33836$k87.26450@newsfe30.ams2,
>> mariel2 typed on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 21:28:53 -0000:
>>> I'd be grateful if someone could explain what the following means:
>>>
>>> "Max Memory Comment -In the case of 4GB, a portion of the system
>>> memory over 3GB might not be available to the 32bit operating system"
>>>
>>> Found among the specs of a Sony Vaio AW Series.
>>>
>>> Many thanks in advance.
>>> M.
>> Yes this is true of 32-bit Windows and 64-bit Windows can see it all.
>> Don't feel bad, my Linux Xandros can't see anything more than 1GB. :-(
>>
>> --
>> Bill
>> Asus EEE PC 701G4 ~ 2GB RAM ~ 16GB-SDHC
>> Windows XP SP2
>>
>
>
It means the 32 bit windows operating system uses the memory addresses
above approximately 3.25 GB for itself. Therefore the space is not
available for use by user memory.

You have 4GB of memory (or you have more, but a 32-bit OS can only
address 4GB, and that's all it will see or use).

The HARDWARE uses some of that, however. You have a {128MB, or 256MB or
512MB} video card? Guess what, that video memory, or at least a
"window" into it, gets subtracted from the 4GB. Your computer has a ROM
BIOS. That takes up some of that 4GB and gets subtracted from the RAM
memory available for Windows. And so on .... Further, once hardware
occupies a piece of memory (somewhere in that last gigabyte), Windows
MAY not be able to use any memory that exists BEYOND the piece occupied
by the hardware, because it is "non-contiguous" with the 1st 3GB
(although I'm pretty sure that modern memory management actually
obviates that situation).

The bottom line is that in a system 4GB (or more) of memory, but a
32-bit Operating system, you typically will only be able to use 3.xxGB
of memory (most commonly, somewhere around 3.2 to 3.5 GB, but the number
varies and depends on how the hardware is architected).


mariel2 wrote:
> I'd be grateful if someone could explain what the following means:
>
> "Max Memory Comment -In the case of 4GB, a portion of the system memory over
> 3GB might not be available to the 32bit operating system"
>
> Found among the specs of a Sony Vaio AW Series.
>
> Many thanks in advance.
> M.
>
>

"BillW50" <BillW50@aol.kom> wrote:

>Don't feel bad, my Linux Xandros can't see anything more than 1GB. :-(

If you're brave, try this...

http://wiki.eeeuser.com/howto:install2gigkernel

"BillW50" <BillW50@aol.kom> wrote:

>Don't feel bad, my Linux Xandros can't see anything more than 1GB. :-(

If you're brave, try this...

http://wiki.eeeuser.com/howto:install2gigkernel

"Barry Watzman" <WatzmanNOSPAM@neo.rr.com> wrote in message
news:41Evl.24361$5t4.11759@newsfe24.iad...
> You have 4GB of memory (or you have more, but a 32-bit OS can only address
> 4GB, and that's all it will see or use).
>
> The HARDWARE uses some of that, however. You have a {128MB, or 256MB or
> 512MB} video card? Guess what, that video memory, or at least a "window"
> into it, gets subtracted from the 4GB. Your computer has a ROM BIOS.
> That takes up some of that 4GB and gets subtracted from the RAM memory
> available for Windows. And so on .... Further, once hardware occupies a
> piece of memory (somewhere in that last gigabyte), Windows MAY not be able
> to use any memory that exists BEYOND the piece occupied by the hardware,
> because it is "non-contiguous" with the 1st 3GB (although I'm pretty sure
> that modern memory management actually obviates that situation).
>
> The bottom line is that in a system 4GB (or more) of memory, but a 32-bit
> Operating system, you typically will only be able to use 3.xxGB of memory
> (most commonly, somewhere around 3.2 to 3.5 GB, but the number varies and
> depends on how the hardware is architected).

And this is why any sensible person will only buy a laptop that has full 64
bit driver support like my HP Pavillion, even my USB TV card has 64 bit
drivers.

"Barry Watzman" <WatzmanNOSPAM@neo.rr.com> wrote in message
news:41Evl.24361$5t4.11759@newsfe24.iad...
> You have 4GB of memory (or you have more, but a 32-bit OS can only address
> 4GB, and that's all it will see or use).
>
> The HARDWARE uses some of that, however. You have a {128MB, or 256MB or
> 512MB} video card? Guess what, that video memory, or at least a "window"
> into it, gets subtracted from the 4GB. Your computer has a ROM BIOS.
> That takes up some of that 4GB and gets subtracted from the RAM memory
> available for Windows. And so on .... Further, once hardware occupies a
> piece of memory (somewhere in that last gigabyte), Windows MAY not be able
> to use any memory that exists BEYOND the piece occupied by the hardware,
> because it is "non-contiguous" with the 1st 3GB (although I'm pretty sure
> that modern memory management actually obviates that situation).
>
> The bottom line is that in a system 4GB (or more) of memory, but a 32-bit
> Operating system, you typically will only be able to use 3.xxGB of memory
> (most commonly, somewhere around 3.2 to 3.5 GB, but the number varies and
> depends on how the hardware is architected).

And this is why any sensible person will only buy a laptop that has full 64
bit driver support like my HP Pavillion, even my USB TV card has 64 bit
drivers.

In news:v5eur4t8ahn5bsesku23lguoodjd40pmn4@4ax.com,
AJL typed on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 21:46:00 -0800:
> "BillW50" <BillW50@aol.kom> wrote:
>
>> Don't feel bad, my Linux Xandros can't see anything more than 1GB.
>> :-(
>
> If you're brave, try this...
>
> http://wiki.eeeuser.com/howto:install2gigkernel

Thanks! Pretty weird they hard coded this in the kernel, ain't it?

--
Bill
Asus EEE PC 701G4 ~ 2GB RAM ~ 16GB-SDHC
Windows XP SP2

"BillW50" <BillW50@aol.kom> wrote:

>In news:v5eur4t8ahn5bsesku23lguoodjd40pmn4@4ax.com,
>AJL typed on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 21:46:00 -0800:
>> "BillW50" <BillW50@aol.kom> wrote:
>>
>>> Don't feel bad, my Linux Xandros can't see anything more than 1GB.
>>> :-(
>>
>> If you're brave, try this...
>>
>> http://wiki.eeeuser.com/howto:install2gigkernel
>
>Thanks! Pretty weird they hard coded this in the kernel, ain't it?

Yes, that appears to be what was done. I've tried other things at
eeeuser.com there where I didn't understand all the commands and all
has worked well so far. I haven't tried this one though because my
Xandros powered eee's (2G Surf) memory is hard wired in so no way of
increasing it. In your case though the worst that can happen is that
you have to use the recovery disk... ;)

It's not that simple ("this is why any sensible person will only buy a
laptop that has full 64 bit driver support")

I have software and peripherals (multiple peripherals) for which there
are no 64-bit drivers. These are not part of, and are not internal to,
the computer. They are things like scanners, printers and other things
that, for various reasons, I can not replace with models that have
64-bit support. Also software that, in some cases, dates to the 1980's.

So the issue goes way beyond the computer itself, and, in fact, I would
say that for most people, a 32-bit OS is still a better choice, all
things considered. Alternatively, "real" dual boot with Windows XP 32
and Vista-64 is probably the next best solution.



Pete D wrote:
> "Barry Watzman" <WatzmanNOSPAM@neo.rr.com> wrote in message
> news:41Evl.24361$5t4.11759@newsfe24.iad...
>> You have 4GB of memory (or you have more, but a 32-bit OS can only address
>> 4GB, and that's all it will see or use).
>>
>> The HARDWARE uses some of that, however. You have a {128MB, or 256MB or
>> 512MB} video card? Guess what, that video memory, or at least a "window"
>> into it, gets subtracted from the 4GB. Your computer has a ROM BIOS.
>> That takes up some of that 4GB and gets subtracted from the RAM memory
>> available for Windows. And so on .... Further, once hardware occupies a
>> piece of memory (somewhere in that last gigabyte), Windows MAY not be able
>> to use any memory that exists BEYOND the piece occupied by the hardware,
>> because it is "non-contiguous" with the 1st 3GB (although I'm pretty sure
>> that modern memory management actually obviates that situation).
>>
>> The bottom line is that in a system 4GB (or more) of memory, but a 32-bit
>> Operating system, you typically will only be able to use 3.xxGB of memory
>> (most commonly, somewhere around 3.2 to 3.5 GB, but the number varies and
>> depends on how the hardware is architected).
>
> And this is why any sensible person will only buy a laptop that has full 64
> bit driver support like my HP Pavillion, even my USB TV card has 64 bit
> drivers.
>
>