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    T61/Vista 32 cant make use of 4G RAM?? WHY?

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by TP_FAN, Sep 29, 2009.

  1. TP_FAN

    TP_FAN Notebook Enthusiast

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    I just added an extra 2G RAM module to my T61, its running Vista 32bit business version.

    The thing is both BIOS and Computer information show that I have 4G ram installed, however, the task manager still only can see 2G RAM. Why is this?

    I did some research on google, some said I need to turn off memory mapping in the BIOS, what the heck is memory mapping? I dont even have this option in my BIOS! BTW, my BIOS is the lastest one, and all my things are up to date.

    Does anybody know how to get through this problem? Cuz I dont thing the pc wont be able to use this extra 2G ram if task manager doesnt see it.

    Anyone?
     
    TP_FAN, Sep 29, 2009
    #1
  2. dennisV

    dennisV Notebook Geek

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    A 32-bit OS can only use a maximum of 3GB of RAM. You need to upgrade to Vista 64-bit if you want to use more than that.
     
    dennisV, Sep 29, 2009
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  3. jaredy

    jaredy Notebook Virtuoso

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    ~3gigs but, ya if you want to use the full 4gigs you will need a 64bit operating system that can address all that memory.
     
    jaredy, Sep 29, 2009
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  4. dennisV

    dennisV Notebook Geek

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    dennisV, Sep 29, 2009
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  5. TP_FAN

    TP_FAN Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thx for the answer dennis.

    You mean my laptop is actually using 3G out of my 4G RAM behind the scene even though the task manager cannot report it correct? Is it what happening?
     
    TP_FAN, Sep 29, 2009
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  6. dennisV

    dennisV Notebook Geek

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    From my understanding, you should still see it in Task Manager. If you don't see it, it's probably not used :confused: Does the memory show up correctly when you boot?
     
    dennisV, Sep 29, 2009
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  7. dennisV

    dennisV Notebook Geek

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    dennisV, Sep 29, 2009
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  8. TP_FAN

    TP_FAN Notebook Enthusiast

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    yes, BIOS recognizes it.
    PAE, thats deep, man! These MSDN things make me nuts!!
    Thx, any way.
    I just spent 47 dollars on this RAM and got ed up by this god dame Vista 32! Dame it!
     
    TP_FAN, Sep 29, 2009
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  9. jaredy

    jaredy Notebook Virtuoso

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    Doesn't the T61 only support 3gigs anyways as a hardware limitation? Or maybe I am misinformed and mixing that up.

    Could be hardware if windows doesn't say you have 4 gigs installed when you right click on My Computer and go to properties.
     
    jaredy, Sep 29, 2009
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  10. TP_FAN

    TP_FAN Notebook Enthusiast

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    my Chip is PM965, not too old, less than 2 years. Does this make any sense.

    Windows 7 is coming out soon, can I upgrade to 64bit windows 7 straight from my 32bit vista business.... for salvation?
     
    TP_FAN, Sep 29, 2009
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  11. dennisV

    dennisV Notebook Geek

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    Is the RAM speed correct for your chipset? What RAM speed did you get?
     
    dennisV, Sep 29, 2009
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  12. Renee

    Renee Notebook Virtuoso

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    Jaredy,

    No. the T61p will actually do 8 gb max of physical memory with a 64 bit system.

    Renee
     
    Renee, Sep 29, 2009
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  13. TP_FAN

    TP_FAN Notebook Enthusiast

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    DDR 667 from samsung, its the same one as the old one I've been using.

    I am gonna upgrade this dame 32bit vista to A 64 bit something anyway! u microsoft! u r nothing but a bank rob！
     
    TP_FAN, Sep 29, 2009
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  14. Renee

    Renee Notebook Virtuoso

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    The 3 GB for a 32 bits OS is a Windows Limitation. For real OSs 32 bits will still address 4 GB of physical memory. I'm not sure if windows is leaving the OS space unreported or not.

    Renee
     
    Renee, Sep 29, 2009
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  15. TP_FAN

    TP_FAN Notebook Enthusiast

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    should have ordered the 1GB module...sigh....
    FFFUUUCCCKKK UUU Microsoft!!
     
    TP_FAN, Sep 29, 2009
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  16. Renee

    Renee Notebook Virtuoso

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    "FFFUUUCCCKKK UUU Microsoft!!"

    Microsoft had little to do with it.

    Renee
     
    Renee, Sep 29, 2009
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  17. TP_FAN

    TP_FAN Notebook Enthusiast

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    why not, it was microsoft who released this ty 32bit OS years ago to fool us, which cannot even make fully use of 4G ram. ...Even cant recognize it correctly!
    2^32 = 4G!! Now I have 4G ram but can only use 2G of it and that's it!
     
    TP_FAN, Sep 29, 2009
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  18. jaredy

    jaredy Notebook Virtuoso

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    Oh, my bad. Did the t60 have some memory limitation? I thought some model did...
     
    jaredy, Sep 29, 2009
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  19. TP_FAN

    TP_FAN Notebook Enthusiast

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    TP_FAN, Sep 29, 2009
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  20. StealthTH

    StealthTH Notebook Evangelist

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    Older T4x models had a 2gb limitation.
     
    StealthTH, Sep 29, 2009
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  21. Lithus

    Lithus NBR Janitor

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    The 945GM/PM is the chipset with the 32-bit allocation limit.

    To the OP: if you're only getting 2 GB of memory showing up in the task manager when you have 4 GB installed, then there's an issue with your second stick of RAM or your second slot. Putting in 4 GB should show up as around 3 GB in the task manager.

    Also, blaming Microsoft for this is both stupid and ignorant. The 32-bit limit was a standard in the industry.
     
    Lithus, Sep 29, 2009
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  22. TP_FAN

    TP_FAN Notebook Enthusiast

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    OK, 3G ram. Is that what you've got on your laptop with 4G RAM running Vista 32 or u r running 64bit OS??

    If physical installation failed, plz explain to me why both BIOS and system properties of my laptop CAN recognize my 4G RAM with the only exception of THE GOD DAME TASK MANAGER?? WHY?

    I've tried PAE, I've tried 3G switch, none of them worked for my case.
     
    TP_FAN, Sep 29, 2009
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  23. bananaman

    bananaman Notebook Consultant

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    bananaman, Sep 29, 2009
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  24. TP_FAN

    TP_FAN Notebook Enthusiast

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    Now I got the answer by myself. Hope my experience would help you guys.

    Now I am getting 3069MB in the task manager and I am happy. The trick lies in sys.config. If you ever set advanced boot option in it, plz uncheck the maximum memory option, the max value of which is capped at 2048 MB, after that u r all set to go, just restart the machine and u get extra RAM. Whoohoo~~
     
    TP_FAN, Sep 29, 2009
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  25. dennisV

    dennisV Notebook Geek

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    I didn't realize they removed it :rolleyes: I've been on 64-bit systems for 3 or 4 years now, so thankfully this problem never came up.
     
    dennisV, Sep 29, 2009
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  26. Lithus

    Lithus NBR Janitor

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    Why was that on in the first place? Advanced Boot Options in MSCONFIG is used for debugging a system that has issues booting. All of that should be off by default.
     
    Lithus, Sep 29, 2009
    #26