3GB Switch In Windows XP on A Thinkpad? BSOD City.

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epu
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3GB Switch In Windows XP on A Thinkpad? BSOD City.

#1 Post by epu » Fri Sep 10, 2010 4:04 pm

I've tried this on numerous Thinkpads (X61, X200T) and always get a BSOD. The 3GB switch is what allows programs in XP to utilize more than 2GB per program. One of the main programs I need to use, Pro-Tools, crashes out in the neighborhood of 1.4GB+. On my Non-Lenovo desktops, I am able to set the 3GB switch w/o issue. On the Thinkpad, I get a BSOD before the OS loads. I am using Windows XPSP3. For those who don't know much about it, the following code must be added to the Boot.ini file. Here it is below:

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional - 3GB" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect /3GB /USERVA=2496

I initially set the USERVA to 2900, and lowered it to 2496 to see if it would work. No avail. Upon looking at the SYSTEM component in the Control Panel, it says that my X200T has 2.96GB available (out of 4GB Installed). On my desktop system, I see typically 3-3.25GB.

All of my Lenovo laptops are built like tanks, and at the moment, upgrading to W7 or a 64Bit system is not possible (Pro-Tools is a 32Bit app anyway, and the 64Bit versions are still pretty buggy).

Any suggestions with regards to this 3GB switch? Thanks.

ausmike
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Re: 3GB Switch In Windows XP on A Thinkpad? BSOD City.

#2 Post by ausmike » Sat Sep 11, 2010 7:46 am

Hiya epu*;
I normally would post 'solutions' for your issues of 'software' based on OS. Being bored on a Sat morning ,,,,,,,,,,,, is another thing!

/3GB parameter - in your Boot Parameter = " please read the MS Support page(s)" and AM SURE you will see the solution. I am no expert in these matters; however I have used /3G very often in my past when Windows NT & XP was the prevelant OS for windows - AND NEVER have had issues - even loaded 16GB Plus of RAM etc etc ,,, blah blah ...

here is that link > < note pls read with special attention to ' changes to applications and rhttp://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/platform/ ... quirements mentioned"

cheers
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Marin85
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Re: 3GB Switch In Windows XP on A Thinkpad? BSOD City.

#3 Post by Marin85 » Tue Sep 14, 2010 12:21 pm

epu wrote:I've tried this on numerous Thinkpads (X61, X200T) and always get a BSOD. The 3GB switch is what allows programs in XP to utilize more than 2GB per program. One of the main programs I need to use, Pro-Tools, crashes out in the neighborhood of 1.4GB+. On my Non-Lenovo desktops, I am able to set the 3GB switch w/o issue. On the Thinkpad, I get a BSOD before the OS loads. I am using Windows XPSP3. For those who don't know much about it, the following code must be added to the Boot.ini file. Here it is below:

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional - 3GB" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect /3GB /USERVA=2496

I initially set the USERVA to 2900, and lowered it to 2496 to see if it would work. No avail. Upon looking at the SYSTEM component in the Control Panel, it says that my X200T has 2.96GB available (out of 4GB Installed). On my desktop system, I see typically 3-3.25GB.

All of my Lenovo laptops are built like tanks, and at the moment, upgrading to W7 or a 64Bit system is not possible (Pro-Tools is a 32Bit app anyway, and the 64Bit versions are still pretty buggy).

Any suggestions with regards to this 3GB switch? Thanks.
I can´t help with a solution to your problem. However, from what I have heard and read, this problem is not really specific to Lenovo laptops, but rather to laptops in general. In fact, I am not aware of a single case of successful implementation of the /3GB switch on a laptop. It either crashes or is being ignored by the system... It supposedly has something to do with the way most laptops (=laptop BIOSes) manage memory and memory allocation, in particular with the existence of many prereserved addresses (like for peripherals and such). Maybe, you should try Vista or Windows 7 x86 instead.
IBM Lenovo Z61p | 15.4'' WUXGA | Intel Core 2 Duo T7400 2x 2.16GHz | 4 GB Kingston HyperX | Hitachi 7K500 500 GB + WD 1TB (USB) | ATI Mobility FireGL V5200 | ThinkPad Atheros a/b/g | Analog Devices AD1981HD | Win 7 x86 + ArchLinux 2009.08 x64 (number crunching)

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