What does it mean when my computer has 6gigs of ram installed but only 3 usable

[perarn44]

I have 6 gigs installed on my HP desktop 32bit op syst. Im not too knowledgable with computer hardware but i know the basics. After installing the 4gigs on top of the 2gigs it had before, showing only 3 useable. In my system config. should i have my max mem selected or no? And if not what should i look into next?

 

[arkharan]

Wasn't 4gb the max a 32bits OS can use? I think that's your problem.
Hardware and OS uses the 1gb you can't touch, leaves you with 3gb.

 

[perarn44]

Yea as i did some more reading on it i found that is to be correct. How exactly do i improve this 32bit to a 64?

 

[arkharan]

Buy Windows 7 64 bits edition
Here are system requirements:
http://windows.microsoft.com/is-IS/windows7/products/system-requirements

 

[gene_11]

agree with that you are limited with the os installed....
install a 64bit os