Accessing more than 2GB RAM on a 32 bit Windows machine

[SimonWhite]

Dear All,



I am running Pro/MECHANICA (Wildfire 2) on a standard 32 bit machine with
Windows XP Professional SP2, and need to run an analysis that is exceeding
the 2GB RAM limit. Without going into details, I cannot practically reduce
the model complexity and I need a greater level of accuracy than provided by
a simple quick check analysis. I would therefore like to install the 'fix'
detailed in PTC documents TPI 124474 and TPI 111330 which should allow
Pro/MECHANICA to access up to 3GB of RAM.



To this end, I have printed out TPI 124474 and TPI 111330, together with
information from the Microsoft website which is linked to these, and am
attempting to follow the instructions contained therein. While the
instructions provided within TPI 111330 regarding modification of the
boot.ini file seem clear enough, I have, however, been left a bit puzzled by
the following wording in TPI 124474:



2. Modify a local Pro/Mechanica installation with steps corresponding to
those described for Pro/ENGINEER in TPI 111330:
- copy IMAGECFG from a Pro/ENGINEER installation (or a Windows Resource Kit
CD) to the directory <mechanica directory=">\i486_nt\bin
- in the directory <mechanica directory=">\i486_nt\bin create a backup copy of
the engine 'msengine.exe' and run 'Imagecfg -l msengine.exe'



My specific concern is that TPI 111330 does not actually appear to contain
any information on the steps to follow for modifying a Pro/ENGINEER
installation - just how to modify the boot.ini file. Am I correct in
thinking therefore that all I need to do is modify the boot.ini file, copy
the IMAGECFG file from a standard Pro/ENGINEER installation (<pro engineer<br="/>directory>\i486_nt\org\IMAGECFG), save a back-up copy of the engine file and
then run Mechanica via the command line ".run 'Imagecfg -l msengine.exe'." -
or is there more to this??



If someone out there has already successfully installed this fix, I'd be
grateful for any advice that you can provide before I start messing with my
workstation.



Thanks in advance,



Simon White

[ptcuser11]

Hello Simon,

To enable the 3GB switch for windows all really need to do is modify the boot.ini file as follows:

Under the [operating systems] section add the line:

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT="Windows XP 3GB Switch" /3GB

Then reboot the computer. You should now see the boot loader selection screen. Choose the new option "Windows XP 3GB Switch". Once windows loads, individual processes, such as mech.exe (Mechanica's exe file) will now have access to theoretically 3GB of memory. It is theoretical, because the actual memory that any exe process in windows will be able use will be approximately 80%-90% of theoretical. The trade off here is that you may have issues such as video card and networking. The most common problem I have found is the video card performs poorly, especially during the highlighting.

If you run out of memory with the 3GB switch your only solution then would be to run the analysis on a x64 workstation or do some simplification. Perhaps rounds, or shell substitution for large thin regions.

Good Luck,

Stephen Seymour

[ptcuser11]

Simon,

I forgot to mention above the line that you add

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT="Windows XP 3GB Switch" /3GB

the multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT portion of the line needs to match what is currently listed in your boot.ini file. Otherwise, the operating system my try to boot to a partition that doesn't exist.

Post if you still have issues.

Stephen Seymour

[miya]

Simon,

All you need to do are the steps to edit the boot.ini file.

You do not need to edit the Pro/E or Mechanica executables anymore (those are old TPIs).

Mine boot.ini looks like this:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional /3GB" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn /3GB
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional" /fastdetect

All I did was cut and paste to copy the line and add the /3GB switch option.

I have done some jobs in WF 2.0 where the .rpt file reports the Maximum Memory Usage to just over 2.9 Gb!

Here is one that I ran last week:

[miya]

Simon,

All you need to do are the steps to edit the boot.ini file.

You do not need to edit the Pro/E or Mechanica executables anymore (those are old TPIs).

Mine boot.ini looks like this:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional /3GB" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn /3GB
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional" /fastdetect

All I did was cut and paste to copy the line and add the /3GB switch option.

I have done some jobs in WF 2.0 where the .rpt file reports the Maximum Memory Usage to just over 2.9 Gb!

Here is one that I ran last week:

[ben_loosli]

You can also add this switch, /USERVA=2900, to reduce the application
memory from 3GB to 2.9GB. This seems to help if you have OS or graphics
card issues with the /3GB switch.

We only run the switches, /3GB /userva=2900, on machines with 4GB of
physical memory.

Ben Loosli
Sr IS Technologist
Engineering Automation Systems
L-3 Communications/Integrated Systems
Waco, TX 76715

254-867-4069
-

[SimonWhite]

Many thanks to all who replied,



I have added an extra line to my boot.ini file as suggested by Ray and
Stephen, and now get the option to boot up either in standard 2GB mode or
with the 3GB switch enabled. Now to set that analysis running!



Best regards,



Simon.



_____