Why is 2 GB the maximum RAM size for virtual machines?

Discussions about using Windows guests in VirtualBox.
Post Reply
vviktor
Posts: 1
Joined: 2. May 2022, 12:49

Why is 2 GB the maximum RAM size for virtual machines?

Post by vviktor »

Why is 2 GB the maximum RAM size for virtual machines?


If I allocate more than 2 GB of memory to my WIN 7 virtual machine, the virtual machine will only show 2 GB
I have Win 10, 16Gb and I have already tried all the settings.

Is there any reason for this?

Is this a known limitation? or is it a bug?
mpack
Site Moderator
Posts: 39156
Joined: 4. Sep 2008, 17:09
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Mostly XP

Re: Why is 2 GB the maximum RAM size for virtual machines?

Post by mpack »

vviktor wrote:Why is 2 GB the maximum RAM size for virtual machines?
It isn't. I have 64bit VMs with 2GB, 4GB and 8GB allocations.

4GB is the maximum useful RAM you can give to a 32bit Windows OS, indeed that's probably the main feature that identifies the OS as 32bit.

2GB is the maximum RAM you can typically allocate to any application on a 32bit Windows PC, but VirtualBox stopped supporting 32bit hosts quite some years ago, so that limitation is no longer relevant from a VirtualBox POV, though it will continue to be relevant to any of your own 32bit apps.

I will say nothing more until you provide useful details to pin down the discussion, such as the VirtualBox version, the host OS and a more precise definition of the guest OS (e.g. Windows 7 Pro 32bit), and also what tool are you using to determine how much RAM can be allocated.
scottgus1
Site Moderator
Posts: 20965
Joined: 30. Dec 2009, 20:14
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Windows, Linux

Re: Why is 2 GB the maximum RAM size for virtual machines?

Post by scottgus1 »

One thing to consider, per https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/win ... 19a325327d
Windows 7 "starter" has a 2GB RAM limit.

What version of Widows 7 is being used?
mpack
Site Moderator
Posts: 39156
Joined: 4. Sep 2008, 17:09
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Mostly XP

Re: Why is 2 GB the maximum RAM size for virtual machines?

Post by mpack »

Hmm. I've never heard of "Windows 7 Starter Edition". Checking around, it was apparantly only ever available preinstalled on netbooks and cheap tablets, so it doesn't seem a likely candidate here - unless being a P2V project is another detail the OP neglected to mention!
Post Reply