Windows XP is not reading all of my ram memory.

Punky is correct. The OS will only address so much RAM. You could put 16gb in a Windows XP 32 bit box and it won't help you.

What you are seeing is normal. With a 32 bit Operatong system some of the address space that would be used to access the RAM has to be used do control system related ii/o etc such as the PCI bus. The upshot of this is that while in theory a 32bit OS can use 4Gb RAM you always loose between 500Mb and 750Mb of usable RAM as the adresss space is unavailable. This results in the real amount usable memory being reduced to between 3.25 and 3.75Gb.

See http://www.brianmadden.com/content/article/The-4GB-Windows-Memory-Limit-What-does-it-really-mean- for a more tecnicla explanation if you need it.

Atleast he can add the 3GB switch in the boot.ini file.  It definetly couldn't hurt.  http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/platform/server/PAE/PAEmem.mspx

geenwilly, what good will that be? am'i going to feel any difference?

Thanks
jdff

You won't feel any difference.  The 3.2 GB limit is a combination of the OS PLUS windows XP.  You can go to a different motherboard, or you can go to windows VISTA and inherit a huge pile of headaches.  Basicaly, 3.2 to 4 GB RAM is MORE than enough ram for any windows XP installation and applications. You can live with it, or go to a new ahrdware architecture and OS.

If I had 4GB of RAM installed on my pc I would atleast utilize the 3GB switch, from the way I see it there is no reason not to.

I have just installed 2GB Ram in my computer but Windows only detects 512mb, why?