Vista 64 bit not showing all memory

I have 4 GB memory installed. I was using the 32 bit version of Vista Business which showed 3096 KB of memory. I performed a clean install of Vista Business 64 bit and my total memory still shows 3096 KB. Other utility programs I have show my laptop as having 4096 KB. Toshiba also lists my A105-S4134 as supporting 4 GB. My CPU is a Core 2 Duo T7200. Any thoughts on why Vista doesn't see all the memory?

Thanks

 

The chipset you have is an Intel 945 chipset, which has the 32bit addressing limitation regardless of if you have a 32 or 64 bit OS. In order to see all 4GB, you need a 965 chipset or better. There's a footnote in the RAM Deals thread about it, and maybe a hair more information.

 

According to what you said, does that mean Vista's 64bit OS is limited by the chipset? i have a intel 945pm chipset aswell and i only installed Vista x64 yesterday. OR what you said only applies to the Ram? i have 3GB ram installed.

 

The 945 chipsets only supports 3GB

 

The 945 supports up to 4GB total, including addresses for other system devices. Some laptops will show 3GB, others 3.25, others more 3.5. It just depends...but the rule of thumb is to count on only 3GB as most systems need about 1GB of addressing space for the GPU and other devices.

@tofuboi04: Yes, Vista64's maximum allowed RAM will be limited by the chipset...so you should basically count on only about 3-3.25GB being available. The rest of the laptop does support 64bit instructions, otherwise Vista64 wouldn't work on the laptop. It is just that Intel had not yet built in the necessary extra hardware to have 64bit physical addressing until the 965 chipset.

 

Sure learn the hard way!

Thanks

 

hmm i have this same issue with my 5791...ill double check the chipset

 

So if i upgraded to 4gb ram, vista64 may not see it all due to the chipset but my laptop will still be able to run 64bit instructions apart from the ram.
Damn intel and their old chipets! i want a new laptop now haha but i only got this philips near end of august..thanks again for the reply greg!

 

Technically this is false advertising by Toshiba.
Because they advertise it by "supporting 4Gb of RAM', and this is just absolutely no way to actually get it *used*.

This is the same as putting the, say, a bay for a CD drive with no connections, say that "CD drive supported" and later say "we meant that you can *install* it, not to *use* it". Laughable.

 

I thought all x64 bit compatible chips could support 4GB. I guess I just learned something.

 

I know...it sucks. But, at least you do not lose too much.