4GB on 32-bit Vista by replacing with Server 08 files

I am wondering if anybody has heard of this. I read that it is possible to address all 4GB of my RAM in Vista 32-bit through replacing some files in Vista with some from Server 08. I am concerned about this because I have 4GB of RAM that I would like to use, but I only have a x86 processor therefore I am unable to install any x64 OS on this machine.

I've heard about the PAE 36-bit extension which doesn't always work, plus my processor is only 32-bit anyway, so that idea is out the door.

Here's the link where I've read about this: http://forums.techarena.in/tips-tweaks/979407.htm

P.S. I am a student so MSDN is available to me, therefore if I need a key for Server 08 it would be no problem.

 

There is no way for you to address 4GB of memory without a 64bit processor and 64bit OS. Period.

PAE only works for 4+ GB of RAM in a 32bit OS when the OS is customized for PAE, the drivers are customized for PAE, and the applications are customized for PAE as well. Not going to happen for a consumer.

 

And the memory controller embedded in the chipset is 32-bit as well, so there is basically no way you can have the whole 4GB memory addressed, irrespective of the OS installed.

 

Well what about this article? Maybe I don't understand what he's doing then. I'll probably test this later.. unless you guys think else wise.

http://www.tipandtrick.net/2008/how...-physical-ram-memory-in-32-bit-windows-vista/

 

Your system is based on the Napa Platform. The memory controller embedded in the 945 series chipset is 32-bit. So, even if you install a 64-bit OS, you will still get ~3GB, because of the hardware limitation.

Starting from the Santa Rosa platform, the memory controllers were 64-bit, and 4GB & more is accessible.

You can also checkout the datasheet of the 945 series chipset.

 

Really? I thought that the 945M series did support 64-bit operation with the Core 2 Duos that were released for Socket M.

 

LOL Yep Vista 32bit with 4GB RAM. I'm left with about 3GB of RAM available and 2GB for use on my machine once it's booted Vista but I think it's enough at this moment in time for what I use. Maybe it is more a case of feeling cheated than actually needing the extra RAM.

If you really want to see if the 2008 kernel might make a difference it might be an idea to download and install a 2008 server trial version from MS http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/trial-software.aspx?pf=true and see if it actually does anything for you before attempting any hacks with Vista.

Here is a snapshot of a 32bit system (XP SP1 with PAE 4GT and no swap file) addressing 4GB of RAM and user programs allocating a total of 3.8GiB.

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My system uses 1GB of address space just for hardware memory mapped addressing which is why I'm only left with 3GB of total physical memory using 32bit Vista and if I were to not use PAE under XP SP1 I would also have only 3GB available.

AFAIK with the 32bit version of Vista there is no way to free up that 1GB regardless of PAE unless the kernel itself and parts are changed. Then technically I guess it's no longer a Vista OS. Similar for XP SP2/3.

 

The 943/945 mobile chipsets support 64-bit CPUs, but the chipset is 32-bit. Its kinda similar to a 32-bit OS, in which you don't get the full 4gig RAM but since the limitation is hardware, you can't really mod or use PAE and stuff. And on Napa platforms, even the BIOS shows less than 4gig memory. 64-bit CPUs work fine though.

 

I didn't catch the chipset earlier. No 945 chipset can address more than 4GB of space. You need a 965 chipset or better for that.