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    m11x with 4gb but only 2gb usable?

    Discussion in 'Alienware M11x' started by snrbobo, Mar 12, 2010.

  1. snrbobo

    snrbobo Notebook Enthusiast

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    W.T.F!
    So I turned on my system and stuff like i normally would...
    opened the task manager...and noticed under idle i'm using 42% (800-900mb)
    not possible, because just the other day it was at 22% (about 800-900mb)
    So i checked my computer properties...
    and it says I have 4.00GB (2.00GB Usable).
    What in gods name would be causing this nonsense!!!
    HELP!
     
    snrbobo, Mar 12, 2010
    #1
  2. AirSinner

    AirSinner Notebook Evangelist

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    32bit OS????????
     
    AirSinner, Mar 12, 2010
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  3. Glzmo

    Glzmo Notebook Deity

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    Either you're using a 32 bit operating system or maybe your system has some memory reserved exclusively for some hardware - an integrated GPU, perhaps? Although 2GB reserved for onboard graphics is quite a lot.
     
    Glzmo, Mar 12, 2010
    #3
  4. Sirhcz0r

    Sirhcz0r Notebook Deity

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    Going down to 2GB is way lower than a 32-bit os would take him.

    Try reseating the ram. Also try each dimm at a time to see if one is messed up and the other isn't.
     
    Sirhcz0r, Mar 12, 2010
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  5. wB`

    wB` Notebook Consultant

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    ya install cpu-z and see if shows up as 2 or 4gb. also check the bios to see the total ram
     
    wB`, Mar 12, 2010
    #5
  6. snrbobo

    snrbobo Notebook Enthusiast

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    i check bios. total ram is 4gb.
    maybe i should update the graphics. cpuz also says 4gb. i'll switch the ram around. i was shocked when i saw this.
     
    snrbobo, Mar 12, 2010
    #6
  7. snrbobo

    snrbobo Notebook Enthusiast

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    and its windows 7 home premium. 64bit
     
    snrbobo, Mar 12, 2010
    #7
  8. snrbobo

    snrbobo Notebook Enthusiast

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    nvm. i just fixed it. went into msconfig the advance settings for boot up. looks like the maximum memory use was 2048. i just unchecked the box. did the trick. now i have all 4gb. back down to 20% of memory usage! Woot!
     
    snrbobo, Mar 12, 2010
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  9. erawneila

    erawneila Company Representative

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    Did it come that way out of the box or did you make changes? Anyone else seeing this issue?
     
    erawneila, Mar 12, 2010
    #9
  10. snrbobo

    snrbobo Notebook Enthusiast

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    well i did a fresh install.
    i didn't ever notice it til today!
    Weird.
    I no i didn't make any changes like that.
    the most i've done is disable aero so windows looks like win 2000 lol
     
    snrbobo, Mar 12, 2010
    #10
  11. phrequencyviii

    phrequencyviii Notebook Guru

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    Why?!?!?! lol good lord, big flashy led lights and then windows 98 look
     
    phrequencyviii, Mar 13, 2010
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  12. digitalprods

    digitalprods Notebook Enthusiast

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    all my laptops whether they are xp, vista or win 7 have the classic look. Just a personal preference i guess but I like simple.
     
    digitalprods, Mar 13, 2010
    #12
  13. phrequencyviii

    phrequencyviii Notebook Guru

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    The normal Windows 7 look is way simpler to me! Break your old computing habits! rofl, just kidding, opinions are opinions! I do get annoyed at times though, I have some buds who know nothing about computers and use the classic look because it saves RAM....and then they have some insane amount of RAM and it's like...what?
     
    phrequencyviii, Mar 13, 2010
    #13
  14. AlienTroll

    AlienTroll Notebook Evangelist

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    Thanks so much for that tip! You need to start another thread sticky about this! I was wondering the same thing why is 2gb only usable.But thanks again! :D :D :D :D :D :D :D ;)
     
    AlienTroll, Aug 2, 2010
    #14