Windows Task Manager/System P do not recognize a RAM upgrade, but BIOS does?

cfitts · 12-20-2007, 03:41 PM

I recently added 2 gigs of RAM to my PC but Windows Task Manager/System properties do not recognize it, while BIOS and Crucial.com do. What could be causing this issue?

OS: WinXP Professional 5.1 SP2 (Build #2600)
CPU: Intel Pentium D , 2.99 GHz,
1024KB Video: NVIDIA GeForce 7800 GTX (1920x1200)

The computer is Dell XPS 600, it came with 2 gigs of RAM when Dell sent it to me. 4 x 512ram. I took two of the 512 sticks out and installed two 1 gig sticks I recently purchased via crucial.com

For some strange reason, Windows Task Manager/System Properties show that only 2.00gigs as you will see later in the screenshots I provided. However, when I went into my BIOS, it showed that I have 3 gigs of RAM. I also went on crucial.com and used their scanner which also showed 3.0 gigs.

What could be causing the windows task manager/system properties to only show that my system has 2 gigs while crucial.com and bios show that I have 3.

Here are the screenshots:

I appreciate your help in advance!

(I just realized I accidentally posted this in the wrong thread, my apologies to the mods!)

**OldGrayGary** · 12-21-2007, 01:03 AM

Hi cfitts

In the Service Manual for your Dell XPS 600, the maximum installable memory is listed as either 2gb (for 32-bit Windows) or 8gb (for 64-bit Windows). Here's the relevant excerpt:

Quote:

Addressing Memory Configurations
If using a 32-bit operating system such as Microsoft® Windows® XP, your computer will support a maximum of 2 GB of memory. If you are using a 64-bit operating system, your computer will support a maximum of 8 GB (2-GB DIMMs in each of the four slots) of memory.

The actual capacity can vary depending on the abilities of your motherboard. In theory, 32-bit systems can use up to 4gb of system memory --- yet the practical usage for such memory causes the total to be reported as anywhere from 3.2 to 3.5 gb. This limit holds true for 32-bit versions of Vista as well. I'm a little surprised that your system can't use the full 3gb . . . but - for whatever reason, at least Dell was kind enough to put a mention in it's manual.

Best of luck
. . . Gary

12-20-2007, 03:41 PM	#1 (permalink)
cfitts Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1 OS: XP SP2	Windows Task Manager/System P do not recognize a RAM upgrade, but BIOS does? I recently added 2 gigs of RAM to my PC but Windows Task Manager/System properties do not recognize it, while BIOS and Crucial.com do. What could be causing this issue? OS: WinXP Professional 5.1 SP2 (Build #2600) CPU: Intel Pentium D , 2.99 GHz, 1024KB Video: NVIDIA GeForce 7800 GTX (1920x1200) The computer is Dell XPS 600, it came with 2 gigs of RAM when Dell sent it to me. 4 x 512ram. I took two of the 512 sticks out and installed two 1 gig sticks I recently purchased via crucial.com For some strange reason, Windows Task Manager/System Properties show that only 2.00gigs as you will see later in the screenshots I provided. However, when I went into my BIOS, it showed that I have 3 gigs of RAM. I also went on crucial.com and used their scanner which also showed 3.0 gigs. What could be causing the windows task manager/system properties to only show that my system has 2 gigs while crucial.com and bios show that I have 3. Here are the screenshots: I appreciate your help in advance! (I just realized I accidentally posted this in the wrong thread, my apologies to the mods!) Last edited by cfitts; 12-20-2007 at 03:46 PM.