Windows XP guest reports less RAM than VirtualBox setting

[el_gallo_azul]

I recently shoved a load more RAM into my computer. I decided to allocate more than 2GB to Windows XP guest in VirtualBox, so I slid Base Memory across to 32876 MB.

If I then start Windows XP, and go

Start > My Computer > right-click > Properties

the General tab says

Code: Select all

Computer:
...
... 3.50 GB of RAM

How do I increase this to the full 32 GB?

[Martin]

Where did you get the idea that Windows XP (32bit) could use more than 4GB?

[frank]

Right. In other words, Windows XP would behave like this on real hardware. See also [https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/librar ... s.85).aspx here] (scroll down to Windows XP). I've googled a bit and saw that even adding the /PAE switch to boot.ini does nothing in Windows XP.

[el_gallo_azul]

Thanks chaps.

@Martin I had obviously completely forgotten about that. I've been using 64-bit (and loads of RAM) for long enough to get used to it, thus setting me up for a blonde moment.

@Frank Mehnert Yes I was hoping that the virtual machine might possibly get around the restriction for real machines, but the 32-bit software doesn't know any different.

So it's back to Base Memory of "4096 MB".

[mpack]

So it's back to Base Memory of "4096 MB".

In fact that's probably overkill for an XP VM too. What are you doing in the VM that requires lots of RAM?