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    Interesting RAM Problem

    Discussion in 'VAIO / Sony' started by gojcaj, Nov 6, 2008.

  1. gojcaj

    gojcaj Notebook Enthusiast

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    I currently own a Vaio FZ-190 which had a single 1GB DDR2 5300 memory card. Earlier I installed a matching 2GB card in the other slot and can't seem to figure out what is going on. The BIOS, MSINFO32, and CPU-Z all show 3GB RAM installed but only 1.00 GB Total Physical Memory available. I know some memory is allocated for the video card and other things but these numbers seem too far off. On the other hand, CPU usage seems to have gone way down. Vista Home Premium and SP1 is installed. I've been searching all over for a solution but I can't find a solid answer. I even tried to edit the msconfig boot.ini maximum memory but it just resets to 1024.

    Thanks in advance.
     

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    gojcaj, Nov 6, 2008
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  2. outie

    outie Notebook Consultant

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    What if you take out the original 1GB?
     
    outie, Nov 6, 2008
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  3. gojcaj

    gojcaj Notebook Enthusiast

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    Oddly enough, the same result. Everything reports 2GB while Task Manager shows only 1.
     
    gojcaj, Nov 6, 2008
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  4. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Could that be a Vista bug?

    Try tidying up all temporary files.
    Use a registry cleaner if you have before, else, don't!!

    Shut down your laptop, remove battery and press the on switch for 10 to 30 seconds to discharge the mainboard - see if that changes anything.

    (shouldn't though as software gives you the correct value...)
     
    DetlevCM, Nov 6, 2008
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  5. gojcaj

    gojcaj Notebook Enthusiast

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    Tried both recommendations and nothing but thank you anyways. I can't for the life of me figure out what's going on. Going to keep searching.
     
    gojcaj, Nov 6, 2008
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  6. Jim C

    Jim C Notebook Enthusiast

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    Back in the olden days were there not some pieces of software that would choke on too much windows ram, Photoshop comes to mind, and there were some hacks to boot.ini that would limit the amount that Windows would see? There were exe's that folks would run that would change these values and cause similar sounding problems.
    A shot in the dark that only a caveman would know!
     
    Jim C, Nov 6, 2008
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  7. xtrykr

    xtrykr Notebook Geek

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    Check the voltage requirements on your 2GB set, it may be undervolted/timed incorrectly, therefore, it is showing up in the total physical installed (3GB), but not available. Also, I recommend downloading CPU-Z http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php to get more accurate readings on the RAM.
     
    xtrykr, Nov 6, 2008
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  8. TZ300

    TZ300 Notebook Evangelist

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    Maybe you need to change bios to recognize more ram, but Sony does not allow access to Bios. I would call tech support and see what they have to say.
     
    TZ300, Nov 6, 2008
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  9. gojcaj

    gojcaj Notebook Enthusiast

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    @ xtrykr: The RAM I purchased was this from Newegg. Rated at 1.8V, same as my previous 1 GB Stick.

    @TZ300: Yeah Sony has some crippled BIOS that won't allow me to edit anything, but the 3GB reports fine within it.

    I'm running out of ideas. Just might have to call Sony (as much as I hate to).
     
    gojcaj, Nov 6, 2008
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