RAM issue

I need some help with memory. I have a Toshiba A665-S6094 with a Core i7-740QM that originally came with 4GB of DDR3 memory. I am running Windows 7 64-bit. I replaced the 4GB with 8GB of DDR3 memory. In My Computer properties it shows all 8GB of RAM, but states that only 3.93GB are usable. I have checked all the RAM to see if it is working correctly, checked msconfig, updated my BIOS, (which shows the correct amount), and I cannot adjust memory mapping in the BIOS. Does anyone know of a solution? Thanks for anyones help.



Intel Core™ i7-740QM Processor

Configured with 4GB DDR3 (max 8GB)

Mobile Intel HM55 Express Chipset

640GB (5400 RPM); Serial ATA hard disk drive

NVIDIA GeForce® 310M with 512MB GDDR3

Total Available Graphics memory 2270MB

Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit

 

Did you try reseatting the RAM? That happened to my and my X58 build when I put in 12 GB RAM, only could use 8 GB. Turns out the last stick wasn't seatted in all the way, causing the issue.

 

Tsunade, yeah I tried that and went through an hour long phone call with the RAM manufacture. We tried all sort of configurations, and reseated all the modules.

 

Did you try individually testing each stick and seeing which stick is bad. Also could be a bad DIMM slot on your motherboard.

 

Yeah we tested individual sticks in individual slots. Both tested good as well as the individual slots. I'm stumped.

 

Does anyone have anything? I've tried the manual and no luck with Toshiba. My BIOS doesn't allow any changes. What can I do?

 

Never experienced this; usually from what you described, I would have suspected a faulty RAM stick, as Tsunade_Hime did before. Since the BIOS recognize the memory, it could be a software issue. Have you tried booting a different OS (One of Linux live distros, for example)?

 

No I haven't tried that. Not really looking to go and try and different OS just to see if it helps. Looking to fix the problem. I'm not trying to sound pushy or standoffish but I just want to fix the problem at hand.

 

I understand; however, my suggestion wasn't to try a "workaround" OS, I asked because if you can access the full 8GB in a different OS, it would definitely rule out the possibility of a defective ram slot/stick, or any BIOS problems.

Have you tried Memtest86+?

 

could you run msconfig > boot > advanced options
and uncheck number of processors and Maximum memory ?

if it's unchecked try checking the pins if there's any bent pins when you reseat the ram

 

To dav_jw: I understand now. What OS would you suggest? I've only dealt with the Fedora's and Ubuntu. What is Memtest86+?

To Geekz: Unfortunately, I've tried the msconfig to no avail. I went through a long trouble shooting section with the manufacture of the RAM and he determined based on the results that the wasn't a problem with the RAM or with slots on the motherboard. He said that he had exhausted all of the steps that were available and that it must be with software/OS.

 

To dav_jw: I haven't fooled around with those in a while. Which OS's do you suggest? I played with Fedora and Ubuntu before, but never liked them at all. What is Memtest86+ ?

To Geekz: I've tried msconfig to no avail. I went through a whole bunch of troubleshooting steps with the manufacture and everything checked out ok. RAM and computer slots were both functioning ok.

Thanks to both of you for you imput.

 

I did a quick search; some people had issues with memory upgrades on Toshiba laptops. A suggestion was to disable the "legacy usb support" in bios. You could maybe try that first.

Any live (boot from a cd without installing anything) distro should work, why not Ubuntu, since you are familiar with it? Anyway, the only purpose of this is to verify that the OS detects and can use the full 8GB. If that is the case, the problem is most lkely software (window) related.

Memtest is an utility designed to, well, test memory. Usually one of the firs test in RAM diagnostic, this would also rule out a possibility that the RAM is faulty.

However, given the fact that you already tested the individual RAM slots I wouldn't too expect much from this...

How many RAM slots does your notebook have?
Are your memory sticks matched (identical; capacity, speed, brand)?

 

I'll have to work on the Memtest thing and burn the iso to disc tomorrow. As well as track down a Linux kernal. My notebook has two slots and the ram is identical matches. We tested both slots and both modules independently of one another.

The memtest seems like it might be the way to go to rule out the memory modules.