System Not Using All RAM That I Just Installed

[shewillnotdie]

Originally Posted by A1tecice

Yup as stated Above 32-bit OS's are limited to around 3.25GB of RAM minus your shared memory for your on-board graphics will get you to the amount of ram you currently have.

It is worth noting that if you feel up to it you CAN get a 32bit os to take more RAM as the lines of code for it exists in both 32 and 64 bit OS's (Only in 32bit its disabled). through enabling PAE (Physical Address Extension)

Access more memory, even on a 32-bit system

Thanks,
Altie

That all looks interesting and I certainly haven't tried that yet but does it even relate to me in my situation? We're running a 64 bit OS not 32 bit...

Originally Posted by wrench97

The OP installed Win7 64bit, the issue is the bios reserving 1 gig more the the video uses.

Exactly! I mean if we were a tad under 4.00gb because of the 128mb from the video card we'd be happy with that! But 2.80gb is a bit ridiculous considering we have 4x 1gb sticks, a 64 bit os, and the graphics card only eats a max 128mb.

[Tyree]

Have you tried running 1 or 2 stick at a time in each slot to see if the value is reported accurately?

[A1tecice]

My apologies I never saw you say you installed a 64bit OS.

If you haven't already Run msconfig, go to Boot -> Advanced Options, just make sure 'Maximum Memory' is not ticked. and i take it your BIOS sees all your RAM then?

[shewillnotdie]

Originally Posted by Tyree

Have you tried running 1 or 2 stick at a time in each slot to see if the value is reported accurately?

I don't think I've had him try that yet. Should I have him individually insert individuals, see if it reads, shut down, remove power, run next, check, etc. He knows the drill cause I had him do that when he first got the RAM.

Originally Posted by A1tecice

My apologies I never saw you say you installed a 64bit OS.

If you haven't already Run msconfig, go to Boot -> Advanced Options, just make sure 'Maximum Memory' is not ticked. and i take it your BIOS sees all your RAM then?

I appreciate the extra help. I mentioned earlier that I did already check the max memory tick and it wasn't ticked and yeah I think the screen shot that I posted from resource management with like allocated by hardware, used, unused, etc showed it's reading all 4.00gb.

[shewillnotdie]

I'm on the phone with my Dad right now. he did cycle the RAM and went threw them one at a time. here's how it worked.

Plugged in one - 1gb (1gb usable)
Plugged in 2 - 2gb (2gb usable)
Plugged in 3rd - 3gb (2.80gb usable)
Plugged in 4th - 4gb (2.80 usable)

My Dad also brought up a good question that I'm curious about myself. If the video card is using up 128mb of this ram why does it show FULL ram usage and no video card eating the ram when we have 1 and 2 installed?...

Also, of course, any other input on what steps I need to check next because I'm still lost.

[shewillnotdie]

We're just grasping at straws here and looking around stuff on the PC. We just pulled this from everest.

Why does it show two video adapters for the one NVIDIA GeForce card????? I know we previously have a vga splitter in there for dual monitors and no longer have dual monitors however he still has the splitter plugged in. I'm having him remove it now and we're going to continue messing around.

Thoughts?

I just had him remove the VGA splitter and it's still showing two like the screen shot.

[Wrench97]

The Nvidia 8400 card is what's called a dual ramdac card meaning it has 2 distinct video outputs, that's why it shows up twice.
The Intel of course is integrated into the motherboard.

[shewillnotdie]

But it's not using double the RAM is it?...

[Wrench97]

No the 8400 will have it own dedicated ram on the card, not dedicated system ram.

I think the limitation is in the bios code itself, HP looking at only using XP 32 bit on that model may have limited the usable ram to avoid and 32 bit ram limit.

Might be worth a Email to HP support to see if there is a applicable bios update that's not publicly listed(you'd be surprised what have under wraps).

[shewillnotdie]

I'm assuming I can just find an email from HP's website? I'll check it out tomorrow or tonight when I get the spare moment.

[Wrench97]

Contact HP / Customer Service | HP

[shewillnotdie]

Okay. I held off for a few days waiting for my Dad to send me his serial and product number to email HP only to find out all they want to do is check your warranty.

So can I get your opinion on what category to select here? Under email they have:

Question before buying <--Obviously not the case
Tech support after buying <--I select this one but all they do is force you to put in serial and product and check your warranty and there is no opt to email them after that
report a software security issue <-- well this doesn't relate at all
other questions/feedback <--- I tried this one but none of these sub categories even closely relate a non published bios update

Disability/Accessibility resources
Diversity and work/life programs
Environmental information
Financing options
Investor relations
Jobs at HP
Privacy
Report a software security issue
Send a message to the CEO

Think I should maybe just try calling? It's too late to call tonight but I can't seem to find any area to email them that relates to this issue... I certainly don't think my device being under warranty matters for such an inquiry.

[Wrench97]

It didn't use to matter, but any more it's hard to tell. Try the online chat option see if you get anywhere there.

[shewillnotdie]

*sigh* When I go to chat it's the same thing. They ask for the product and then serial and product number and immediately check for warranty. It's like they want to do anything they can NOT to be bothered by you...

I can't seem to get around any of their ridiculous selections to even contact them.

[Wrench97]

Looks like they are getting worse then ever.

[shewillnotdie]

Ridiculous. I hate poor customer service. Seriously. So am I boned here?... Is there anything we haven't tried?

[Wrench97]

Not that I know of.