Where did my memory go?

[felixtrio]

I am using the Win7 64bit OS. When I went to check out my system it read out that I had 4 GB of memory but 2.5 GB was usable.

I thought that when I first installed Win7 it indicated that I had 3.5 GB usable. Then it dropped to 3.0 GB.

I used the Window Memory Diagnostic Tool and it said my memory was fine.

The only major change I made to my system was the installation of a new video card. It is an Nvidia GeForce 6200 AGP with 512MB DDR2 memory.

Any thoughts?

Felix

[Mr. Apollo]

I am using the Win7 64bit OS. When I went to check out my system it read out that I had 4 GB of memory but 2.5 GB was usable.

I thought that when I first installed Win7 it indicated that I had 3.5 GB usable. Then it dropped to 3.0 GB.

I used the Window Memory Diagnostic Tool and it said my memory was fine.

The only major change I made to my system was the installation of a new video card. It is an Nvidia GeForce 6200 AGP with 512MB DDR2 memory.

Any thoughts?

FelixWhat chipset do you have? The chipset maybe limited to recognizing 4 GB of memory so even if you have a 64-bit OS your chipset will not recognize more than 4 GB of total system memory. Since you have an AGP, and not PCIe, slot this sounds like it may be the case.

[networkguy]

What he said :-)

[felixtrio]

Upon further investigation I found that 1537 MB were in "Hardware Reserved", 1073 MB were "in use" (at the time), and 1456 MB were in "Standby".

The total matches my installed memory of 4gigs.

What kind of hardware would need 1.537 gigs? Would a program such as Open Office grab this amount for its potential useage?

Felix

[glitch]

Go into your bios and look for something called "Memory hole" or "Memory remapping" and enable it.

[felixtrio]

I tried your suggestion but I could not find either Memory Hole or Memory Mapping in my BIOS. My BIOS is by Award and my motherboard is by MSI.

[glitch]

I tried your suggestion but I could not find either Memory Hole or Memory Mapping in my BIOS. My BIOS is by Award and my motherboard is by MSI.

It would be more helpful to get the exact model of the motherboard.

[felixtrio]

My motherboard is an MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum AGP model.

I just used Everest to check my system and it also indicated that I had only 2.5 Gigs of memory.

[felixtrio]

Just Googled "hardware reserved memory" and it came up with many others with the same problem I have. Yes there were referals to your BIOS and memory remaping.

This is what one said on the matter:


If there is no option for memory remapping in your BIOS then you're pretty screwed - I'm in the same situation. 1Gb of my 4Gb RAM on Windows 7 x64 is 'hardware reserved' and the only way to get past this is having a BIOS that enables memory remapping.

[glitch]

Checked under Dram configuration?

[felixtrio]

Looked for Dram Configuration in the BIOS but it was no where to be seen.

[lbjgh]

hmm, I just realized my system has the same problem...

I've got Win7-64bit installed on a Gigabyte EP45-UD3P with a Q9550 and 4GB or memory.

Win7 shows that only 3GB is usable... how do I fix this problem? Vista64 used all 4GB of memory with exactly the same hardware!

[Mouse]

What was the question???

Seriously, it sounds like a software limitation.

[lbjgh]

hey mouse... this relates to the original topic. 64bit OS can use all of the ram installed but for some reason my 64bit OS is acting like a 32bit OS (which is limited to 3gb or ram)

[lbjgh]

K, I found a solution... weird though...

I was using MSCONFIG to make sure windows started with all four cpu cores (i.e. msconfig / Boot / Advanced Options / number of processors).

I guess I also selected use max memory option as well.

In windows Resource Monitor 1026 MB was set aside for "Hardware Reserved"

I unselected the "use max memory" and now Win7 reports the full memory and the Hardware Reserved dropped to zero. :)

Hope it helps someone else.

[felixtrio]

Tried your suggestion but couldn't find "use max memory". Still the same 1.5 gig set aside.

[Glen]

Tried your suggestion but couldn't find "use max memory". Still the same 1.5 gig set aside.

I think he just means for you to uncheck Max Memory.

[lbjgh]

I think he just means for you to uncheck Max Memory.

Correct...

[Law]

I'm having the same problem. Also I cant find how to use Msconfig on win 7

[Limey32]

Hey Law, just type msconfig in the search bar of the start menu.. it will show it :)

[Law]

Hey Law, just type msconfig in the search bar of the start menu.. it will show it :)

Thanks. Thats embarrassing that i couldnt figure that one out.....Got it now, turned on the 4 cores and max memory. restarted and saw a big difference.

[Twan]

Is the implication here that without changing that setting, Windows 7 won't use all the cores in your CPU by default?

[Law]

From what I saw, by default, Windows 7 was only using 1 core and 2 gigs of ram. Now it's using 4 and has access to all 4 gigs.

[Law]

Actually i checked and noticed that windows says I have 4 GB installed RAM (2.0 GB usable) how can I make it use all 4 gigs?

[Limey32]

Uncheck "Use Max memory".

[Mr. Apollo]

Is the implication here that without changing that setting, Windows 7 won't use all the cores in your CPU by default?This is the first I've heard of it. All the RAM and cores show up properly in my quad core with 4 GB of RAM.

[Law]

Uncheck "Use Max memory".

I did uncheck it and thought it was all good , but windows is still saying 2 useable.

[glitch]

^ motherboard?

[Law]

I'll look into that.

[Twan]

This is the first I've heard of it. All the RAM and cores show up properly in my quad core with 4 GB of RAM.

I found a site (and naturally lost the link) that indicates that Windows will use all of your cores without enabling that setting, however there are reports from people that boot times were better when they enabled this option.

[Law]

OK so in my bios it says that I have 2 gigs of ram. Windows says I have 4 installed but 2 useable?

my motherboard is Gigabyte GA-p55M-UD2.

it says it supports up to 16 gigs.