Introduction:

I am releasing this application as I have found that it may help with crashing a
nd performance issues with Fallout 3, particularly when using my larger texture
packs. The utility was originally programmed and released by MadBoris, for the g
ame Supreme Commander. I (NMC) have simply tweaked the program to work with Fall
out 3. Read all about the original utility here: http://forums.gaspowered.com/vi
ewtopic.php?t=2382. .
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Preamble:
It is a good practice to specify large-address-aware for 32-bit applications (su
ch as Fallout 3), by using the linker flag /LARGEADDRESSAWARE, *even if the appl
ication is not intended for a 64-bit platform*, because of the advantages that a
re gained at no cost. (Info From Microsoft)
Enabling this large-address-aware flag for software allows a 32-bit program to a
ccess more memory (with special boot options on a 32-bit OS or on a 64-bit OS- s
ee instructions below)... In general, enabling the /LARGEADDRESSAWARE flag is a
good practice, which is not enabled in Fallout 3.
That is what this utility does; it adds makes Fallout 3 'large-address-aware'. H
owever. you also need to enable the '3gb switch' (except in Vista 64 bit).
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Background info:
Regardless of the amount of physical memory in your system, Windows uses a virtu
al address space of 4 GB, with 2 GB allocated to user-mode processes (for exampl
e, applications) and 2 GB allocated to kernel-mode processes (for example, the o
perating system and kernel-mode drivers).
On systems that have 1 GB or more of physical memory, these two startup switches
(see below), can be used to allocate more memory to applications (3 GB) and les
s memory to the operating system (1 GB). This additional virtual address space h
elps reduce the amount of memory fragmentation in the virtual address space of t
he Exchange information store process.
So, what does this mean? Well...
* Fallout 3 (WITHOUT the 3gb switch and NOT large Address Aware) on 32-bit platf
orms can address up to only 2 GB.
* Fallout 3 with the /LARGEADDRESSAWARE:YES linker flag on 32-bit Windows XP wit
h the special /3gb * boot option can address up to 3 GB, ie an extra 1GB.(This h
owever, limits the kernel to only 1 GB which may cause some drivers and/or servi
ces to fail- but not so much a problem with XP than Vista 32bit).
* Fallout 3 with the /LARGEADDRESSAWARE:YES linker flag on 32-bit versions of Wi
ndows Vista, can address memory up to the number specified by the boot configura
tion data (BCD) element "IncreaseUserVa". IncreaseUserVa can have a value rangin
g from 2048, the default, to 3072 (which matches the amount of memory configured

by the /3gb boot option on Windows XP). I advise using IncreaseUserVa 2900.
(The remainder of 4 GB is allocated to the kernel and can result in failing driv
er and service configurations. This issue has since been addressed by microsoft
via OS updates)
* Fallout 3 on 64-bit platforms can address up to 2 GB, or up to 4 GB with the /
LARGEADDRESSAWARE:YES linker flag. So, 64-bit processors provide a huge leap in
the amount of physical and virtual memory that can be addressed.
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*****So, cut to the chase, what now?*****
1) Make Fallout 3 'large address aware using this utility.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

make a back up copy of 'Fallout 3.exe'.

put Fallout3.exe in the utility folder
double click 'START.BAT'
follow the instruction in the command window
once made 'large Address aware', return the fallout3.exe to your game folder.

2) Enable the /3GB switch on your computer. The switch is entered in the system s
boot.ini file and takes effect after a computer restart. Here's how to do it:
....WARNING: From MADBORIS himself;
"I only suggest this for people that are intermediate to advanced users, so if y
ou don't feel comfortable editing a boot.ini, you may not want to proceed. Editi
ng a boot.ini improperly may render your PC unbootable, which is why I suggest y
ou copy/paste the entry in the boot.ini to make a new additional boot option, le
aving the original intact."
OK, disclaimer over, what next!?
***For Windows XP***
Right-click My Computer and select Properties. The System Properties dialog box
will appear.
a) Click the Advanced tab.
b) In the Startup and Recovery area, click Settings. The Startup and Recovery di
alog box will appear.
c) In the System startup area, click Edit. This will open the Windows boot.ini f
ile in Notepad.
d) In the [Operating Systems] section, add the following switches to the end of
the startup line that includes the /fastdetect switch: " /3GB /Userva=2900" (do
not include the quotes)
e) Save the changes and close Notepad.

f) Click 'OK' two times to close the open dialog boxes, and then restart the com
puter for the change to take effect.

***To turn off the 3GB switch***

Remove: "/3GB /Userva=2900" from the startup line.
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***To enable the 3GB switch on Windows Vista

32bit-

****IMPORTANT: NO NEED TO DO THIS FOR 64bit VISTA!***

a) Right-click Command Prompt in the Accessories program group of the Start menu
.
b) Click Run as Administrator.
c) At the command prompt, enter "bcdedit /set IncreaseUserVa 3072". You should s
ee a message saying this was successful.
d) Restart the computer.
***To turn off the 3GB switch***
a) Right-click on Command Prompt in the Accessories program group of the Start m
enu. Click Run as Administrator.
b) At the command prompt, enter "bcdedit /deletevalue IncreaseUserVa"
c) Restart the computer.
***Important hotfix for Vista Users***
(Vista's handling of video memory mapping was duplicating address space consumpt
ion with an applications private video memory mapping, therefore you may run out
of address space sooner, especially with larger amounts of memory available on
modern video cards):
(IF YOUR OS IS UP TO DATE, YOU WILL ALREADY HAVE THESE FIXES!- but see here if i
n doubt: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/940105)
For more information on the 3GB switch, refer to the following Microsoft MSDN ar
ticle: http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms791558.aspx
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Credits: The genius of MadBoris, for programming this utility. Read about it all
here: http://forums.gaspowered.com/viewtopic.php?t=2382
Me, for tweaking it for use with fallout 3!

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