XP Pro won't seem to recognize the 4th gig of RAM

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Guest

I have been running XP Pro (dual AMD Opteron 248 processors) with 2GB RAM (2
single GB sticks) with no troubles. I bought 2 more sticks (same part number;
1 GB each) of the exact same RAM, clipped them in, and the computer thinks
there's only 3GB in there. Please tell me if there's a setting I need to
change or what else I need to do to get the computer to recognize all 4GB.
 
Search Google on boot.ini and you'll get info on the /3Gb switch and other
switches that are available. Also KB291988 A description of the 4 GB RAM
Tuning feature and the Physical Address Extension switch
 
That article was helpful, however, left a question:

If the computer "addresses" some ram to the video card, etc., and therefore
XP doesn't acknowledge all 4GB of RAM, then what about "overloading" the
system with, say 5GB RAM (assuming my board has the slots), and so when XP
steals off the top 1GB for "whatever," it still leaves 4GB free to use?
 
XP and other 32 bit OS's have a 4 GB address RANGE. Nothing is being
stolen. Everything that ocupies the RANGE is addressed. the "extra 1
GB" would be above the address RANGE and would not be seen.
 
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