Modifying the OS to support 3 GB

If Running Windows XP Professional or Windows Server 2003

IMPORTANT: Improper modification of boot.ini can render the operating system inoperable. Use caution

before making changes to the boot.ini file.

Adding the 3 GB Switch

The following technique can be used to add the 3 GB switch to the boot.ini file.

From a command prompt, enter the following to the end of the first line of the operating system

section in the boot.ini file (requires administrative privileges) to add the 3 GB switch:

BOOTCFG /RAW "/3GB" /A /ID 1

where:

/RAW specifies the operating system options for the boot entry. The previous operating system

options will be modified.

"/3GB" specifies the 3 GB switch.

/A specifies that the operating system options entered with the /RAW switch will be appended to the

existing operating system options.

/ID specifies the boot entry ID in the OS Load Options section of the boot.ini file to add the operating

system options to. The boot entry ID number can be obtained from performing the command:

BOOTCFG

/QUERY (this displays the contents of the boot.ini file) at the command prompt.

A reboot is required after editing the boot.ini file for the changes to take effect.

If Running Windows 2008 Server or Windows Vista

IMPORTANT: Improper modification of the operating system boot entry can render the operating system

inoperable. Use caution before making changes to the boot.ini file.

Adding the 3 GB Switch

1. Select Start > All Programs > Accessories

2. Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator

3. Enter the following command to add the 3 GB switch to the current operating system boot entry:

BCDEDIT /SET INCREASEUSERVA 3072

where:

USERVA specifies an alternate amount of user-mode virtual address space for operating

systems.

3072 Specifies 3 GB (3072 MB).

A reboot is required after editing the boot configuration data store for the changes to take effect.