no 4GB RAM for 32bit system

I got a shock awakening today to learn that a 32bit x86 machine cannot use the whole of 4GB of memory. There goes my recent investment for extra 2GB of RAM. I was always under the impression hardware device addressing is taken care of in a completely separate address space altogether.

Something I'd like to try then, is possibly upgrade to Enterprise edition and invoke PAE mode. The risk is of course whether all my hardware is actually compatible with it, so I read.

What are some of the considerations and actions I should undertake in attempt to reclaim that lost 400MB?

UPDATE:
I have confirmed and posted my findings on the matter.
http://icelava.net/forums/thread/1476.aspx

Hi IceLava,

going to Enterprise edition should do your machine good to claim that extra ram.
You can upgrade to Enterprise Edition first. Then use the /PAE switch if need be.

You might also want to look at this. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/291988

 

Actually most articles regarding the PAE switch is focused on the issue of having and utlising more than 4GB. I have not found good material documenting that 400MB region within the first 4GB, and whether PAE can specifically reclaim that.

Did you check if you have the burnmemory param?

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/833721

That is an unusual switch option, which is not there by default. Anyway i upgraded the installation to Enterprise Ed and it still remains at 3.62GB!

I conclude the server motherboard I have (Dell Poweredge SC430) is a cheapo one with the last 4bits of the extra 36-bit addressing pointing to nothing in reality.

Dell systems with 4GB of memory show less memory in Microsoft® Windows®.

Why does my operating system display less than the 4GB of memory I have installed on my system?