Bigger Battles For People With 32 bit Operating Systems

[Marching Thru Georgia]

If your computer has a great CPU and graphics card, but is running a 32 bit version of Windows, you may be able to increase its performance and play bigger battles by making one small change to your boot file. SOW is built so as to allow your computer to use 3GB of memory when running the game. However, by default, 32 bit Windows only allows 2GB of memory to be used with any program.

If your computer has 4GB or more of RAM then making this change may help. Below are instructions for making the change, based on the OS you are using. DO NOT do this if your computer has less than 4GB of RAM.

Windows 2000:
1. In Windows Explorer, navigate to the system partition. This is the partition that holds hardware specific Windows files such as Boot.ini and NTLDR.

2. If you cannot see the Boot.ini file, it could be because the folder options are set to hide protected operating system files. If this is the case, in the Explorer window, click Tools, Folder Options, and then click View. Clear the Hide protected operating system files (Recommended) check box. When prompted, click Yes.

3. After the Boot.ini file is visible in Explorer, right-click the file, click Open With, and then click Notepad to open the file.

4. Add the /3GB switch to the end of the line starting with "multi" under the [Operating Systems] section.

5. Save the changes and close Notepad.

6. Restart the computer for the change to take effect.


Windows XP, Server 2003:
1. Right-click My Computer and select Properties. The System Properties dialog box will appear.

2. Click the Advanced tab.

3. In the Startup and Recovery area, click Settings. The Startup and Recovery dialog box will appear.

4. In the System startup area, click Edit. This will open the Windows boot.ini file in Notepad.

5. In the [Operating Systems] section, add the following switches to the end of the startup line that includes the /fastdetect switch: /3GB

6. Save the changes and close Notepad.

7. Click OK two times to close the open dialog boxes, and then restart the computer for the change to take effect.


Windows Vista, Windows 7, Server 2008:
1. Open command prompt with Adminitrator rights. To do this, go to Programs, Accessories, right-click on Command Prompt and select "Run as Administrator."

2. Enter the following at the prompt and press enter:
Code:

bcdedit /set IncreaseUserVA 3072

3. Close the prompt and restart the computer.

[RebBugler]

Running XP, my line reads:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn /maxmem=2048

Where do I add:
/fastdetect switch: /3GB

I can be dense about this stuff...Thanks

[Michael Slaunwhite]

Hi.

Is this backward compatible meaning once I decide to commit can this be undone?

Later!

[Marching Thru Georgia]

RebBugler wrote:

Running XP, my line reads:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn /maxmem=2048

Your an antique!! Not you, but your computer is. I think my slide rule may be the same age. :laugh: The /maxmem=2048 means that your computer will only use 2GB of RAM. Even if you have 8GB onboard, it will only use 2. Years ago this was necessary because some motherboards could not handle more than 2GB, even though you could install more than that. This was a mainly a problem for boards that had a nVidia graphics chip onboard. The reason for this is beyond my understanding, but nVidia has always been a source of problems. Does Apple own them?

You could try to remove that switch and see what happens. Your computer may very likely freeze. You'll then have to reboot using your original CD into safe mode and put the switch back in. Of course you may completely bollux the job and have an unusable computer. You'll then have no choice but to buy a new one, which is what you should do in the first place. While you're waiting for it, I can loan you my slide rule. :laugh:

Mikesla wrote:

Is this backward compatible meaning once I decide to commit can this be undone?

Yes. You can always remove it.

[Michael Slaunwhite]

Hi.

So the switch of course would be the same but with 2048.

Alright. There is something I THINK I've noticed is that Win7 is using one hell of large cache (1654) since I used the BCedit switch. I don't know if having switched over has done this or not, but hey if it works why not right.

Thanks again MTG.

[Marching Thru Georgia]

Mikesla wrote:

So the switch of course would be the same but with 2048.

I'm not sure what you are referring to here. For Win7 you want to increase it to 3072.

[Michael Slaunwhite]

Hi.

This will be my last post about this. I just want to say thanks MTG. I just loaded Oblivion. It's the only game in which I use upwards to 250 plus mods, and I really am quite pleased. It runs very smooth, and with very few if little hiccups as the monster mod kicks in to populate the wilderness. The monster mod at the highest settings has caused me some trouble in the past, but not now...

Well, off to kill some Orges.

[Michael Slaunwhite]

Mikesla wrote:

So the switch of course would be the same but with 2048.

I'm not sure what you are referring to here. For Win7 you want to increase it to 3072.

Hi.

I meant if I wanted to restore it to it's previous settings only.

Cheers.

[RebBugler]

RebBugler wrote:

Running XP, my line reads:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn /maxmem=2048

Your an antique!! Not you, but your computer is. I think my slide rule may be the same age. :laugh: The /maxmem=2048 means that your computer will only use 2GB of RAM. Even if you have 8GB onboard, it will only use 2. Years ago this was necessary because some motherboards could not handle more than 2GB, even though you could install more than that. This was a mainly a problem for boards that had a nVidia graphics chip onboard. The reason for this is beyond my understanding, but nVidia has always been a source of problems. Does Apple own them?

You could try to remove that switch and see what happens. Your computer may very likely freeze. You'll then have to reboot using your original CD into safe mode and put the switch back in. Of course you may completely bollux the job and have an unusable computer. You'll then have no choice but to buy a new one, which is what you should do in the first place. While you're waiting for it, I can loan you my slide rule. :laugh:

It's fairly new, 3 yrs., VGA(2 in SLI), motherboard, CPU, and RAM-4GB...it's the OS that's old.

I won't risk a freeze up though, thought this might be simple.

[Marching Thru Georgia]

RebBugler wrote:

It's fairly new, 3 yrs., VGA(2 in SLI), motherboard, CPU, and RAM-4GB...it's the OS that's old.

Hmmm, it must have been one of the last computers made with that type of motherboard. As I recall, the last time I read of it being an issue was ~2007. It might be worthwhile for you to check out the forum of your computer maker and see if there is any info concerning the 2GB limit. If you are running XP you're fine. I still use it, the 64 bit variety, and have yet to see a reason to switch to Win7.