After all my efforts, still not detecting RAM

My computer still isn't detecting my 2 Gig of ram, I have 2 slots each with a 1 gig stick in them, computer originally came with 2 512's.

What i have checked:
1. Both RAM sticks and slots work
2. Have gone into MSCONFIG > Boot options >Advanced options > Maximum ram, but it wont let me go above 1024, so i unchecked it to no avail
3. Re-seated the ram a million times
4. Upgraded the BIOS
5. Talked to gateway support, they told me to do a full system recovery, wiping it and re-installing vista, No avail (However, before it read as 1.00 gig of ram, now its reading 958MB, if that helps a cure any, kinda odd to me.)

Anything else you guys can come up with?

 

maybe your computer only handles 1gig?

 

Nope, it is able to handle more says the gateway website, I may have to send it in for repair with them but id rather not if i didnt have to

 

How much RAM does it show if you just use a single GB stick?
What happens when you use a 1GB + 512GB configuration?

 

Hold on let me try, Get back to you in 5 with the results.

 

Ran it with 1 gig, Still read 958MB, With 1 1 gig and 1 512 in it reads 958 mb, with 512 in it it reads 446 MB, Now going to check if the top slot went bad, i checked before but i definitly gotta check again. Bb in 5 with this, will edit this post.

Edit1: Top slot is good, it is reading the 512 stick, now the final test to see if i have a bad 512 and a bad 1 gig stick, The ones i know are good are going in together now that both are tested alone and were gonna see what it reads.

Edit2: With a 512 and a 1 gig which i know both are good and the slots are good, still showing up as 958mb, Any ideas?

 

Have you updated your bios to latest version?

 

there is no such setting to tell your computer how much ram you can install. That setting you are using is most likely telling your computer how much ram to allocate to your graphics chip. Integrated gpu's use your systems ram for their memory. "to hard to explain this". Turn that setting down to like 128mb. You won't get full usage of your memory since your gpu uses your systems memory, but your gpu won't ever use 1gb of ram.

 

Wrong.

You can tell your computer to use less ram than you have available in the boot options. The same way you can tell it to use less cpu cores. The option is found exactly where the OP mentioned.

I have no idea what you are talking about regarding shared graphics memory, as that is obviously NOT the issue here. (he gets 1GB memory showing for 2GB, 1.5GB, 1GB installed)

To the OP: it would be helpful if you could identify the RAM showing in your BIOS (for 1GB installed and 2GB installed, using just the 1GB sticks, as you have already ascertained all sticks and all slots are working) rather than in windows vista.
If the BIOS reports 1GB (even when both sticks are in) then it is likely a hardware or BIOS issue/limitation.
If the BIOS reports 2GB then it is likely to be a problem within windows.

 

@OP: Run > MSInfo32 > System Summary > See the RAM details (w/2GB installed).

Also burn a disc of Memtest86+, and load it with the 2GB installed. If Memtest shows 2GB, then its a software issue, otherwise the BIOS is screwed up.

 

@ Andy: Ram details says 958 mb, Memtest showed this http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b40/iamminime2001/1209081519.jpg

@ dseo: BIOS is showing 958mb

 

No ideas? 10 chars

 

Run Memtest86+ again, doing it one stick at a time (run the test twice, testing each module separately) of the new RAM. Make note of how much is detected each time. Both times, let the test complete at least 1 full pass of tests. Be warned, it will take a while to finish the pass.

 

I somehow managed to get it to work, i was running mem checks on the different ram sticks and it turns out one of the 1 gig's is bad... Thanks for all your help =)

 

So, the detection issue is solved ?

(Okk....So why did (1+0.5)GB not work )

 

Now the 1 + .5 works. New problem, after installing the ram, it bluescreens constantly, most of the time right after booting, the only thing that has changed is the ram, any ideas on how to deal with the new threat?

 

Well how did the memtest86+ tests turn out? If it found even one problem then the sticks should be replaced.

 

Given the same specs, not all memory is created equally. This means that a brand that works with one system may not with another. Moreover, chips may contain a flaw that all the testing in the world won't detect.

Take the memory back and buy another brand. They usually carry lifetime warranties.

I'll give you good odds that the new sticks will work.

 

Alright, Ive lost the receipts so im gonna go buy new ram and acutally keep the reciepts this time, i believe one of the 1 gig sticks is fine, gonna run another full mem test on each one to make sure and see which one it is. We'll see i suppose..