My Total physical memory is 6GB, but system information in windows xp shows 1.2GB of available mem,what gives?

The maximum amount of physical memory that XP can utilize is 4G. The address space is usually split so that 2 GB of address space is directly accessible to the application and the other 2 GB is only accessible to the Windows executive software. The /3GB switch in the boot.ini file can allow applications to address 1 GB of additional virtual address space above 2 GB.

1. go to MY COMPUTER PROPERTIES 2. click ADVANCED tab 3. click PERFORMANCE SETTINGS 4. click ADVANCED tab 5. under Virtual Memory click CHANGE 6. type in hom much memory you have (remember that 1024MB = 1GB)

A 32bit system will only recognize upto 3GB of ram, you need to take out 3GB or get a 64bit O/S and dont listen to Mitch D

How did you get 6gb of ram? It just means the system is using 4.8gb of ram. Windows only recognize's 3-3.5mb. so if thats the case your prolly running a game im guessing, and it's using up 1.8gb leaving you with 1.2gb. OR your ram stick have crapped out on you, and they aren't recognizing because they're broken, or you don't have them in the proper slots, or maybe you mixed to types of ram that don't agree with each other. Now if your talking hard drive. 6gb. it means your 4.8gb of hard drive space already used and only have 1.2gig to put more porno on. If your talking a pagefile. than samething as the ram, although i doubt it's the pagefile swapping 4.8gb. unless your running tons of apps. HOW the hell did you get 6gb or ram. Usually it's 2,4,8. You have 2x2gb and 2x1gb stick? WHAT KIND OF RAM, AND SIZE AND MAKE OF EACH STICK

It depends of what type of system board you have. Most boards support upto 4 gb.

make sure it doesn't hav a load of manufacturor crap on it like advertising stuff

No way 6GB of memory. Something is wrong. Memory is located in 3 places in your computer, on the motherboard (aka Ram of board), Hard drive, and video card. What memory are you refering to? To locate Ram on board in Windows XP click "my computer", then click "view systems info", then click "general". It will say___GB of RAM. Average computer has 2 slots to insert RAM on motherboard. Generally, the available capacity is 256K, 512K, 1.2GB, 1.5GB, 1GB or 2GB Ram on mother board? If you already have 1.2GB then you have 1 slot with 1GB and 2nd slot with 256K. So remove the 256k module and replace with 1GB then total is 2GB of RAM memory. When you speak of "available" memory this refers to your hard drive. You permanently store files on hard drive so your 50GB hard drive may have only 20GB of memory available to store additional files. Best place to buy memory on-line is from sweetmemory.com, Kingston, or CiticalMemory.com . All 3 companies are American, been around for 20 years. Websites user friendly, just type in your computer model.

Windows XP is only built to support 4GB, and your hardware probably doesn't support over 3.5GB.