Windows only recognizes 2GB of RAM and there is 4GB installed

[JKoros]

Hi.
I've been having some issues with my laptop and RAM ever since I got it, and am really getting tired of being so limited by vista on only 2 gigs of RAM. I have been trying to search for a fix of my problem and haven't yet found a solution so I'm hoping someone might know what to do.

Here's the issue. I have 4GB of RAM physically installed in the computer. I've checked bios, and it confirms the 4GB. When I view system information in windows, it too shows 4GB of RAM installed, but when I view the task manager, my system resource tab shows only 2GB of physical memory (not 2.7 GB just 2). I have tried to see if maybe one of the RAM sticks were bad and so I shutdown and rebooted going through all the possibilities. Each stick in each slot, the computer would always boot no matter what slot was filled with what stick, the only thing that changed was that the bios and windows system info would reflect there being only one stick of 2GB in the system when there was only one installed.

I am really at a loss for what to do here and need some help.

Thanks for your time.

[Shenan Stanley]

Windows Vista is not enough information.

Make/Model of the system?
Windows Vista _____ Edition with Service Pack _, __-bit?

[Tim Slattery]

Something is using up the other 2GB of address space. How much RAM is
on your video board - or, since this is a laptop - how much of your
RAM is being given to the video system?

If you have 64-bit hardware, you might try the 64-bit version of
Vista or Win7. That's drastic, since you have to install from scratch,
there's no upgrade path from 32- to 64-bit systems.

[JKoros]

Here's a screen shot showing system info and task manager, and to answer your post Tim there are dedicated video cards. Twin GeForce 8700M GT in sli (off the top of my head I think it's 256MB each, but it might be 512MB.)

[David H. Lipman]

You didn't answer my question!

However your screen-shot shows of the system properties shows 4GB RAM on a Dell AlienWare
platfiorm.

[Dominic Payer]

You have a 32-bit system, so have a maximum address space of 4GB. The
address space includes graphics memory and system BIOSes.

If you have 2x512MB graphics cards them with system BIOSEs you will only
be able to use 2.5GB of the RAM (or less if the other devices are
demanding) because there is no adress space available to map to it.

You need a 64-bit OS if you want to use all 4GB of RAM.

System Properties for 32-bit Vista reports the amount of RAM fitted, not
what is available for use. The Performance tab in Task Manager shows
what is available for use.

[JKoros]

I'm really confused by what you mean Dave.
For one, I don't see any question you may have posted... and two, the problem is that the system info, bios, and most everything else sees 4 physical GB of RAM, but as you can see in task manager, it (task manager) is only seeing and using 2046MB of RAM... Thus, how can I get windows to use the RAM that it's supposed to?

I'm not trying to leech or anything, I just am really stumped on what I should do...

I guess the first screenshot wasn't clear in the data I was trying to emphasize so I boxed it in red.

[David H. Lipman]

I had previously posted...
"You FAILED to provide both the model and BIOS revision of the un-named laptop. That's
the kind of information that is needed!

So, what is the make and model of the un-named laptop and what is the BIOS revision ?"

The problem is you didn't state the proper information need. Your system sees that you
you have 4GB of RAM (as seen by your Sytem Properies screen-shot) installed but due to
overhead the OS has only 2GB availiable to it (as seen by the Performace Monitor).

[ray]

That's not quite correct. Linux and server versions of MS allow the use
of PAE to offer up to 64gb of RAM on a 32 bit OS - though there is still
a limit of 4gb per process.

[Kevin John Panzke]

JKoros wrote: > Hi. > I've been having some issues with my laptop and
RAM ever since I got it, > and am really getting tired of being so
limited by vista on only 2 gigs > of RAM. I have been trying to search
for a fix of my problem and haven't > yet found a solution so I'm
hoping someone might know what to do. > > Here's the issue. I have 4GB
of RAM physically installed in the > computer. I've checked bios, and
it confirms the 4GB. When I view system > information in windows, it
too shows 4GB of RAM installed, but when I > view the task manager, my
system resource tab shows only 2GB of physical > memory (not 2.7 GB
just 2). I have tried to see if maybe one of the RAM > sticks were bad
and so I shutdown and rebooted going through all the > possibilities.
Each stick in each slot, the computer would always boot > no matter
what slot was filled with what stick, the only thing that > changed
was that the bios and windows system info would reflect there > being
only one stick of 2GB in the system when there w

[Kevin John Panzke]

David H. Lipman wrote: > From: "JKoros" <JKoros.4dhh9b@DoNotSpam.com>
> > > | Hi. > | I've been having some issues with my laptop and RAM
ever since I got it, > | and am really getting tired of being so
limited by vista on only 2 gigs > | of RAM. I have been trying to
search for a fix of my problem and haven't > | yet found a solution so
I'm hoping someone might know what to do. > > | Here's the issue. I
have 4GB of RAM physically installed in the > | computer. I've checked
bios, and it confirms the 4GB. When I view system > | information in
windows, it too shows 4GB of RAM installed, but when I > | view the
task manager, my system resource tab shows only 2GB of physical > |
memory (not 2.7 GB just 2). I have tried to see if maybe one of the
RAM > | sticks were bad and so I shutdown and rebooted going through
all the > | possibilities. Each stick in each slot, the computer would
always boot > | no matter what slot was filled with what stick, the
only thing that > | changed was that the bios and windows

[Corday]

Two 512MB graphics boards would eat up 1GB of memory space, leaving
you with 3GB for everything else. From that subtract space to map your
BIOS and you're getting close to what your system shows.

[Andy]

In correct windows xp or vista or 7 32 bit versions will only see a max of
4GIG'S of ram.
64 bit versions of xp vista or 7 will see up to 64 GIG of ram.
but most system maker's limit it to 16 or less.

[Shenan Stanley]

Did you make the first 'word' two words on purpose? ;-)

Anyway - check this out:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libr...78(VS.85).aspx

Things like, "The following table specifies the limits on physical memory
for Windows Server 2003. Limits over 4 GB for 32-bit Windows assume that PAE
is enabled." and "The following table specifies the limits on physical
memory for Windows Server 2008. Limits greater than 4 GB for 32-bit Windows
assume that PAE is enabled." seem to prove the point of whom you responded
to.

You are correct in what you state *after* the strangely split word
"incorrect" to a point. That is, in your words, "windows xp or vista or 7
32 bit versions will only see a max of 4GIG'S of ram" (as long as we ignore
"starter" editions.) However, the next statement, "64 bit versions of xp
vista or 7 will see up to 64 GIG of ram." is short a bit and your "but most
system maker's limit it to 16 or less" (where I assume you are speaking
about hardware manufacturers/resellers) is missing a key phrase IMHO,
"consumer level". ;-)

The "Incorrect" statement is wrong here because who you are responding to
specified, "server versions of MS " and you went consumer level - but
correct in that they only allowed for 64GB and that number varies wildly and
has a maximum of 128GB in two cases ("Windows Server 2003 R2 Datacenter
Edition 32-bit" and "Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition 32-bit".)

Google. It can be your friend.