Ubuntu 9.04 X86_64 WiXP32 Photoshop max memory 1606Mb

[sdinnage]

I have installed virtualbox 2.2.0 under Ubuntu 9.04 x86_64 and windows XP (32) SP3 as guest
I've installed both the guest additions 2.2.0 and wine D3D
when I install Adobe CS3 all works fine however my max memory in photoshop
is only 1606 even though I have set 3.5Gig aside for virtual box and XP which XP reports as available.

Has anyone else seen this is there a work around

[sdinnage]

I have found that windows XP needs to have a 3gb switch added to the boot.ini fot allow applications access to 3gb of ram
which I have done however I then get low res graphics and colour depth any ideas out there?

Boot ini details

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT="????" /3GB

[vbox4me2]

This is only usefull for the Host, the Guest is limited to what you can set as VM value, since this part is part of the virtualization thing.

[sdinnage]

This is only usefull for the Host, the Guest is limited to what you can set as VM value, since this part is part of the virtualization thing.

XP32 is the Guest in this case and this is useful to the guest as I wish to allocate more than 2 GB to an application.
the bug comes that virtualbox only offers a low resolution graphics to the guest when XP has the boot.ini switch active.

I think this is a bug in VirtualBox as many users of photoshop have this setting working without issue on XP32sp3?

Note: I have already successfully allocated 3.5GB to the guest I just want photoshop to be able to see that 3.5Gb.

[vbox4me2]

You can allocate 3.5gb to the Guest (or 16 with vbox 2.2) for more you need to enable PAE for and within the Guest, if the Guest can see the ram(check with taskmanager) then so will photoshop see it.

[sdinnage]

I think you are misunderstanding the scenario.
I have allocated 3.5 Gig of Ram using virtualbox, this is no problem and is available for windows to use as checked in my computer
properties and task manager!

however for applications to be allowed to address >2Gig windows XPsp3 requires a flag set in the boot.ini
see here http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/pl ... AEmem.mspx

When this flag is set XP will boot in virtual box but the only available resolution is 640x480 at 4bit colour depth, this I believe
is a bug in VirtualBox and prevents me from getting photoshop to be able to allocate >2Gb of the 3.5Gig set!

[vbox4me2]

I fail to see the relation between ram and video. The amount of video ram is limited by the VM settings AND the way the Guest Additions VBox video driver communicates with the Host video resources, next to that you have OS ram where a video system could cache video stuff but not display it directly.
On a Host you have unlimited access to the video card and its drivers, on a Guest you don't.
Being stuck at 640x480 at 4bit colour depth means you did not install the Guest Additions.

[sdinnage]

I fail to see the relation between ram and video. The amount of video ram is limited by the VM settings AND the way the Guest Additions VBox video driver communicates with the Host video resources, next to that you have OS ram where a video system could cache video stuff but not display it directly.
On a Host you have unlimited access to the video card and its drivers, on a Guest you don't.
Being stuck at 640x480 at 4bit colour depth means you did not install the Guest Additions.

I'm not sure what the relationship between the 3Gig flag and video under virtual box is but I can demonstratively prove that there is one!

I did install guest additions I can see it in the system tray and able to run in seamless mode, however by either adding or taking away the 3GB flag I mention I can reliably get my system to change from all modes available to restricted to 640x480 4bit colour so there must be a relationship!

[Perryg]

I think that this problem is being produced by providing only half of the fix.

As stated in the article you have provided the Windows part is clear use /3gig, but how do you know that VBox has the other bit set? See below:
<snip>
Executables that can use the 3-GB address space are required to have the bit IMAGE_FILE_LARGE_ADDRESS_AWARE set in their image header. If you are the developer of the executable, you can specify a linker flag (/LARGEADDRESSAWARE).
<snip>

So if the linker flag was not set strange things can happen, and is probably what is causing this issue.

[vbox4me2]

The only clear thing I can see it that video memory mappings are changed by using /3gig, the vbox driver can't handle that since it locks you into a low resolution, you might have to switch to the OSE version and recompile.

[Perryg]

One other thing I must ask. Rereading your post above your boot.ini states "multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT="????" /3GB"

You did state the proper name for the ???? right? Meaning that you just didn't use ????

<snip>
Note: "????" in the previous example can be the programmatic name of any of the following operating system versions:

Windows XP Professional
Windows Server 2003
Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition
Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition
Windows 2000 Advanced Server
Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
Windows NT Server 4.0, Enterprise Edition
<snip>

Not trying to criticize here just sometimes we all make mistakes.

[sdinnage]

One other thing I must ask. Rereading your post above your boot.ini states "multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT="????" /3GB"

You did state the proper name for the ???? right? Meaning that you just didn't use ????

Not trying to criticize here just sometimes we all make mistakes.

No Probs but no I didnt just copy WINNT="????" I set the flag correctly on my boot.ini I think the flag likely fixes the photoshop issue except you cant run photshop in 4bit colour mode

[sdinnage]

Hi Guys
Some news on this issue, I've re installed XP at sp2 (Note: not SP3) and under sp2 windows XP the 3GB boot ini switch works fine and so does virtualBox re video resolutions so it must be something to do with SP3 and the 3GB switch.

For the moment I'm a happy bunny running photoshop using 2.6Gig of my 3.5gig system ram on my winXPsp2

If you got a problem the best way to fix it is do it yourself

I dont know how to file a bug report but someone should let the Devs know about this issue!

[sdinnage]

Further inspection of this issue shows that if you have the 3GB switch set in your boot ini (even on SP2)
Vbox fails (back down to the lower resolution) as soon as you push the video memory allocation up past about 24Mb.
So I'm stuck with either running without the 3Gb switch or running with not much Video Ram.

Odd issue this and one I hope virtualBox sorts as its limiting to people running apps like CS3 that are RAM hungry