Acer 8942g Windows 7 only 2.43gb out of 8gb usable RAM

Hi,

I updated my BIOS to version v1.3212 and now windows reports that out of the 8gb I have only 2.43 of it is usable. I have read lots of forums about similiar problems with other BIOS's and apparently it is an issue with the BIOS remapping. The advice is always to disable memory remapping in the BIOS b ut I can't find any such feature.

Everything was fine until I updated the BIOS

Has anyone else had this problem and can anyone advise me how to resolve it?

Thanks

Tatty

 

Why did you update the bios?

 

I had upgraded the proc and memory and put a SSD in and thought it might be a good idea to make sure that the BIOS was up to date, more fool me.

The memory was seen ok after all the upgrades and a clean install of windows, it was only after the BIOS update. I've read lots of forums that all say that the memory remapping in the bios needs to be disabled but it looks like the BIOS has hidden menus because I can't find anything important in there.

I just wondered if anyone else had the same problem. I've emailed Acer but if they are the same as most large manufacturers I don't hold out much hope for a reply

 

64bit Windows ?

 

Yes, windows 7 64bit professional.

The system sees all 8gb. It reports 8gb (2.43gb usable). The resource monitor shows over 5gb is reserved for hardware

It is definately something to do with the bios, other people have had the same issue and they resolved it by diabling memory remapping in the bios but that option isn't there because there seems to be hidden menus.

I have seen somewhere else on this site threads about unlocking those hidden menus, has anyone here tried that?

 

Run "msconfig" uncheck Max Memory.
You are the 2nd person this month on this subforum to encounter this issue.
There is no way the BIOS will reserve that much memory for hardware.

 

Thanks for that but no such luck, max memory isn't checked. It was one of the first things I tried.

I've tried putting the oringinal memory back in to see if the new memory could be the problem. I tried putting the original processor back in, reinstalling windows, everything. It was fine until the bios was updated.

On the microsoft site it says that if none of the above work then it is an incorrect setting in the bios and that enabling memory remapping in the bios will resove it but there isn't an option for that. I have looked into the modded bios's on this site but they are all for an older version of bios than the one I installed.

Seeing as this system is under warranty do you think that Acer would look at it for me? If not does anyone know how to clear the bios?

 

cant you flash an older bios version?

 

I didn't think you could flash an older bios over the one you have?

 

Just tried it, it says that the BIOS version I have is the same or newer than I am trying to use and so won't continue doh!

 

Edit the ini file to skip version checking.

 

Do you know how to do that? In the folder with the bios there are 2 exe files, one is the windows bios flash and the other is a dos application for flashing the bios

 

WOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

I fixed it!

I flashed the bios with the previous version 3109 in DOS and when the machine booted back up all 8GB were present, correct and usable.

Thank goodness for that!

Thanks for the help, I wouldn't have tried reflashing the BIOS if you hadn't suggesting it

 

Looks like acer made a cockup and switched the hidden bios remapping feature off >_<

 

I looks like I learnt a lesson too, never update the BIOS unless I have to.

Will have to keep an eye out for that BIOS version again, over 5gb is a lot of RAM to lose