Increase 2GB limit

This FAQ is only valid for 32-bit versions of SCIA Engineer. The more recent 64-bit version of SCIA Engineer automatically deals better with the memory use of the software.

On 32-bit editions of Windows, applications have 4 gigabyte (GB) of virtual address space available.

Normally the virtual address space is divided so that 2 GB is available to the application (SCIA Engineer) and the other 2 GB is available only to the Windows-system.

The 4-gigabyte tuning (4GT) feature increases the virtual address space that is available to SCIA Engineer up to 3 GB, and reduces the amount of virtual address space that is available to the system to between 1 and 2 GB.

So, SCIA Engineer can address more than 2 GB of memory when the following conditions are met:

Condition 1: use a version of SCIA Engineer higher than 2009.0.298
Condition 2: modify the SCIA Engineer executable (esa.exe), and enable it to use more than 2 GB. Download and run the 4gb_patch.exe, and select esa.exe from the C:\Program Files(x86)\SCIA\Engineerxx.x folder. A backup copy of the original esa.exe will be made (remark: this step must be repeated when you install a new patch or version !!)
Condition 3:
- a) for Windows XP 32-bit: to enable 4GT, add the /3GB switch to the Boot.ini file. The /3GB switch is supported on the following systems: Windows Server 2003, Windows XP Professional, Windows 2000 Datacenter Server and Windows 2000 Advanced Server
- b) for Vista 32-bit: Windows Vista no longer uses the BOOT.INI file, so there is a different method for setting 4GT. To enable 4GT, use the BCDedit tool: bcdedit /set IncreaseUserVa 3072
- c) for Windows XP 64-bit: the 4GT feature is automatically enabled
- d) for Vista 64-bit: The 4GT feature is automatically enabled (remark: this step must be done only once on your computer)

For more information, see also:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb613473(VS.85).aspx
http://www.cadforum.cz/cadforum_en/qaID.asp?tip=5551
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa366778(VS.85).aspx