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    4gb memory showing as 2gb

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by daman2k, Feb 9, 2009.

  1. daman2k

    daman2k Notebook Enthusiast

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    Now i know what you lot are gnna say.

    But it shows as 3.5gb in windows 7 which i have dual booted on my machine.
    It shows as 4gb in the bios and in the windows information screen.

    But in task manager only 2gb.

    SP1 installed.

    What gives?
     
    daman2k, Feb 9, 2009
    #1
  2. Wishmaker

    Wishmaker BBQ Expert

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    Os on 32 bits right?
     
    Wishmaker, Feb 9, 2009
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  3. daman2k

    daman2k Notebook Enthusiast

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    yea 32 bit but im still expecting more than 2gb (what i had before)

    windows 7 shows me 3.5gb on a 32 bit
     
    daman2k, Feb 9, 2009
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  4. Wishmaker

    Wishmaker BBQ Expert

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    Open up task manager...go to help--->about and tell me what you have there...Physical memory available to Windows?
     
    Wishmaker, Feb 9, 2009
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  5. daman2k

    daman2k Notebook Enthusiast

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    windows version 6.0 build 6001:service pack 1

    physical memory 2,096,008
     
    daman2k, Feb 9, 2009
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  6. Wishmaker

    Wishmaker BBQ Expert

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    It does not see 1 stick. This is weird. Did you modify shared memory and stuff?

    1. Reinstall chipset drivers.
    2. Is your BIOS up to date?
    3. Run the Windows Memory Tool.
     
    Wishmaker, Feb 9, 2009
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  7. daman2k

    daman2k Notebook Enthusiast

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    i know it is very weird

    I have update chipset driver
    updated bios was running the A06 but download and did it again and it did it.

    Comp is a vostro 1500

    running the memory tool as we speak
     
    daman2k, Feb 9, 2009
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  8. Wishmaker

    Wishmaker BBQ Expert

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    If W7 x86 sees both sticks then it is obvious that there is a problem with your Vista install. Did you upgrade without a full reinstall?
     
    Wishmaker, Feb 9, 2009
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  9. daman2k

    daman2k Notebook Enthusiast

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    I did a fresh install the other day but i think i might just do another one after this memory test if it isnt fixed.
     
    daman2k, Feb 9, 2009
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  10. Wishmaker

    Wishmaker BBQ Expert

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    We are running the memory test to see if Vista finds problems with your current RAM. I advise, swapping the slots before the full install.
     
    Wishmaker, Feb 9, 2009
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  11. daman2k

    daman2k Notebook Enthusiast

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    No errors found gnna swap the memory, check it, if not gnna do the re install
     
    daman2k, Feb 9, 2009
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  12. Wishmaker

    Wishmaker BBQ Expert

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    Okay. How much Video memory do you have?
     
    Wishmaker, Feb 9, 2009
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  13. daman2k

    daman2k Notebook Enthusiast

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    8600m GT 256mb
     
    daman2k, Feb 9, 2009
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  14. Wishmaker

    Wishmaker BBQ Expert

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    Okay...so there is no huge shared memory issue here. Most prolly a weird Vista thing.
     
    Wishmaker, Feb 9, 2009
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  15. daman2k

    daman2k Notebook Enthusiast

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    swapping it has made no difference so gnna do the re install.

    Thanks for all your help so far
     
    daman2k, Feb 9, 2009
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  16. Wishmaker

    Wishmaker BBQ Expert

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    Do you know how to mount an iso disc and run memtest?
     
    Wishmaker, Feb 9, 2009
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  17. daman2k

    daman2k Notebook Enthusiast

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    yes i do i could do that when the installation has finished if it still hasnt worked.
     
    daman2k, Feb 9, 2009
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  18. Wishmaker

    Wishmaker BBQ Expert

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    Perfect. If you are installing Vista without Sp1 from the start, 4 GB will not be seen. You need to install Sp1 and then see if things change.
     
    Wishmaker, Feb 9, 2009
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  19. Wishmaker

    Wishmaker BBQ Expert

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    One more question, which version of Vista are you using?
     
    Wishmaker, Feb 9, 2009
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  20. daman2k

    daman2k Notebook Enthusiast

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    I am running business 32bit.

    After the re install before service pack 1 it is showing as 3.5gb in task manager so it is defo looking promising.
    I have repped you for your help.
     
    daman2k, Feb 9, 2009
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  21. Wishmaker

    Wishmaker BBQ Expert

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    Thanks mate but I wasn't looking for rep ;). I found your issue puzzling because you are the second person with Business to report issues in Vista. Go 64 mate.
     
    Wishmaker, Feb 10, 2009
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  22. daman2k

    daman2k Notebook Enthusiast

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    Nope but im not sure if it would of occured to me to reinstall vista which fixed my problem, i might of got annoyed and did it in the end, but now i have it working. I would of been up till about 4am as i dont like to be defeated so you allowed me to sleep last night, lol.
    I might consider 64.
    Thanks again.
     
    daman2k, Feb 10, 2009
    #22