Help on memory install

[SteveJ]

Hi,

I wanted to upgrade my system from 2G to 4G. After install and power up it reads 3.5G. Is this a bad modual, or expected?

Thank you,
Steve

[hgm]

I think it is normal that you use a little memory due to memory-mapped video RAM. 512MB seems a lot, though.

[Shaun]

Hi,

I wanted to upgrade my system from 2G to 4G. After install and power up it reads 3.5G. Is this a bad modual, or expected?

Thank you,
Steve

Hi Steve,

If this a windows build I believe there is a setting that has to be changed to allow anything over 3.5gb to be accessed.

We had this problem at work on a number of Windows 2003 32-bit server installs - I will check the resolution and post here tonight if I am not beaten too it.

Shaun

[SteveJ]

Thanks Shaun,

Look forward to your reply!

Steve

[SteveJ]

Thanks H.G.,

FYI ... when I had "only" 2G installed, the "System" folder read 2.0G, with the extra memory installed it read 3.5G.

Steve

[frankp]

memetest (assuming its an x86 system) usually reports accurately; and tests the installed ram quite rigorously.

Small (free) downlaod to burn a boot iso.

Not a windows user, but I seem to recall some issue with bios settings and more than 2GB ram. Google should help.

[Shaun]

Sorry for the delay in getting back.

a couple of links

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/833721

http://www.intel.com/cd/ids/developer/a ... htm?page=4

This is assuming a 32-bit Windows O/S.

Right click My Computer -> Properties

Advanced tab

Startup and Recovery - 'Settings'

then 'Edit'

you will see something like this

Code: Select all

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windows XP Professional x64 Edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

add /PAE to your file and save (should only be required for 32-bit OS).

you might need to add /PAE /3GB

Reboot

Good luck

Shaun

[SteveJ]

Thanks Shaun! I was ready to take back my "bad memory" modules for an exchange.

Steve