Question concerning RAM.

I'm not missing anything. We're talking about the amount of RAM/address space a 32-bit OS can address. And many people actually install 4GB RAM today, and wonder why xp/vista cannot use it all. It is not an impossible barrier to overcome, but Microsoft won't do it for reasons like bad drivers etc.

Application developers don't need to worry much. They don't deal with virtual to physical address translation.
 
Microsoft has had far longer to see that solved with Vista then they did for overcoming the 512mb barrier seen in 98. But there were two ways of getting past that then with one being the simple edit of the autoexec.bat file to see better results by simply adding a line there in the I386Ehn section or the MS way in the System.ini file.

That would go as MaxPhysPage=<30000> that insured better results over the chart seen on that at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/181862 MS held back on releasing an SP1 for 98SE while apparently an independent source has had one out for several years. The rush then was for 2000 and ME with the obvious results seen with the later there.

With any previous version the one thing you did see was the next version in just 2-3yrs. While ME flopped as we all know it did readily recognise amounts of memory over 512mb. Xp replacing that fast a year later offered far more support recognising all the way upto 3gb while no one was running any board that could see over 1gb then.

What most simply ignored was one simple thing. What followed XP? The introduction of the 32/64bit structure seen with 754 and newer Pentiums also called for a need to see an OS that would get past the 3gb barrier and also utilize the 64bit support seen in all new cpus. 4yr.s after XP 32bit Home and Pro editions you not only saw MCE but the XP Pro 64bit version of Windows.

MS has already been focusing on totally moving away from the 32bit architecture in favor of 64bit. Some of the latest news articles point at the next version of Windows being the last to see 32bit editions. That should tell you right there to forget about seeing any special fixes for XP and Vista 32bit editions unless developed by some 3rd party source.
 
Nyhk, you're right. Microsoft has set aside the extra memory for memory map interfaces to ensure driver compatibility. If someone would convince driver manufacturers to get on the ball it might not be an issue anymore, but good luck on that one.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top