Should I disable/even worry about this?

[JoeKing]

I just noticed this in my System Properties menu

Notice the PAE. Now it's my understanding that it only works with intel cpus, and even then only needed if you have 4 or more gigs of ram. Should I try to disable this? Or just leave it alone? And if I should disable.... uhh anyone have any idea how to?


anything to speed up XP pro

 

[bsobel]

In order to use DEP/NX the processor needs to be run PAE enabled. Leave it, DEP/NX is a good thing

 

[JoeKing]

thanks, this is my first 64bit processor, can you tell?

 

[bsobel]

 

[Link19]

How is DEP related to the amount of RAM you have in your system? I thought PAE was only good for systems with more than 4GB of RAM for running a 32-bit OS?

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: Link19
How is DEP related to the amount of RAM you have in your system? I thought PAE was only good for systems with more than 4GB of RAM for running a 32-bit OS?

"Beginning with Windows XP Service Pack 2, the 32-bit version of Windows utilizes the no-execute page-protection (NX) processor feature as defined by AMD or the Execute Disable bit feature as defined by Intel. In order to use these processor features, the processor must be running in Physical Address Extension (PAE) mode. The 64-bit versions of Windows XP uses the NX processor feature on 64-bit extensions and certain values of the access rights page table entry (PTE) field on IPF processors."

"To use these processor features, the processor must be running in Physical Address Extension (PAE) mode. However, Windows will automatically enable PAE mode to support DEP. Users do not have to separately enable PAE by using the /PAE boot switch."

In short, the OS needs access to the 64 bit page table, PAE mode makes that available.

Bill

 

[Link19]

"Beginning with Windows XP Service Pack 2, the 32-bit version of Windows utilizes the no-execute page-protection (NX) processor feature as defined by AMD or the Execute Disable bit feature as defined by Intel. In order to use these processor features, the processor must be running in Physical Address Extension (PAE) mode. The 64-bit versions of Windows XP uses the NX processor feature on 64-bit extensions and certain values of the access rights page table entry (PTE) field on IPF processors."

"To use these processor features, the processor must be running in Physical Address Extension (PAE) mode. However, Windows will automatically enable PAE mode to support DEP. Users do not have to separately enable PAE by using the /PAE boot switch."

In short, the OS needs access to the 64 bit page table, PAE mode makes that available.

Bill

I've heard that running a PAE kernel can cause severe incompatibilies with some programs and was a bad idea. Basically, are those incompatibilities the same as they would be with software that has issues with DEP? Are there any other disadvanatges to using DEP? DOes the same also apply to software based DEP for CPUs that don't support hardware based DEP?

 

[bsobel]

I've heard that running a PAE kernel can cause severe incompatibilies with some programs and was a bad idea. Basically, are those incompatibilities the same as they would be with software that has issues with DEP? Are there any other disadvanatges to using DEP? DOes the same also apply to software based DEP for CPUs that don't support hardware based DEP?

Software DEP and hardware DEP are two completely different things. Yes, their are some apps which may not work properly with DEP. Most are quickly being fixed (that one DivX codec is probably the most well known case). However, I disagree running with DEP is a bad idea, it should be (and is becoming) the norm.

Bill

 

[BrokenSpoke]

I am trying to run an old Connectix version of Virtual PC. Unfortunately it will not run when PAE is enabled. How can I disable PAE in XP Pro?