Enabling 3GB switch on Windows XP

[jwilliams]

Can someone please tell me how to enable the 3GB switch on Windows XP.

The readme from patch 1.2 says :-

5.2 Enabling 3GB switch on Windows XP or Windows Vista

Advanced users may know that the virtual address space of processes and applications is still limited to 2 GB unless the /3GB switch is used. Activating this option in Windows greatly enhance Silent Hunter 5 performance.

[vois2]

Below is how you want to make your boot.ini file look.

Add a few lines to your boot file, so that it gives you options when Windows first starts up. In other words, you would select the 3GB line at start up, if you plan to play 3GB switch that session.

Or, you would select one of the other options if you aren't planning to play 3GB that session. You should copy the below into boot.ini . The way I have it set up below it will give you 6 seconds to decide, before the WIndows login screen appears.

Here is what you want. Please copy-and-paste this into boot.ini
below the dots
.
.
.





[boot loader]
timeout=6
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOW S
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windo ws XP Professional SP2" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windo ws XP Professional w/3GB" /fastdetect /3GB /Userva=2560







When you plan to play 3GB switch, restart the machine and during those 6 seconds, you need to select the 3rd option above, the one which says "Windows XP Professional w/3GB "

See if that helps.

[jwilliams]

Thankyou for the clear and fast response.

done and about to reboot to test.

thanks again.

[vois2]

no problem.
I don't know why the extra spaces (spacebar) appear in the code above, but you should remove the extra spaces.

[Arclight]

Just be aware that you're messing with the memory management, shifting kernel space to user space. Simply put, you're taking away reserved memory space from the kernel ("central component of most computer operating systems"), making it more likely for it to run out. More of a concern for servers, but just be aware it's not without it's complications.

If you run into any unexplained issues, first thing I'd try in troubleshooting is disabling that switch.

[Los]

Notice any improvement in SHV with the 3G on?

[Kromus]

Originally Posted by vois2

no problem.
I don't know why the extra spaces (spacebar) appear in the code above, but you should remove the extra spaces.

Well, his bootup procedure is kaput if he copied exactly this:

default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOW S

Lets hope he did not. (text in "...." does not matter since it`s only text to display before bootup sequence to choose from)

I remember funny episode from my school days when I was helping administrator friend setting up win NTs/98s and we forgot to make content (files) of C:\ folder hidden... Luckily, he was left after few days of schooling on them with at least few computers untouched so we had to copy crucial files (like boot.ini NT, IO.sys or msdos.sys 98) back from floppys.

[jwilliams]

Originally Posted by Kromus

Well, his bootup procedure is kaput if he copied exactly this:

default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOW S

Lets hope he did not. (text in "...." does not matter since it`s only text to display before bootup sequence to choose from)

LOL.. Poota booted up fine, I musta done something right.

nah i didnt copy and paste it in.

I just copied this single line:-

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windo ws XP Professional w/3GB" /fastdetect /3GB /Userva=2560

and pasted it to the end of my boot.ini. then deleted the space in the word Wind ows. Prob wouldn't matter to the bootup file as its displayed text (between quotes " ").

PC booted up fine. selected 3gb mode.... about to test if it makes any diferance to SH5.