Windows 7: Usable RAM optimization?

I have a Dell Laptop running Windows 7 Home Premium with the following specs:

Intel Duo Core T9900 @ 3.06Ghz 3.07 GHz
8 GB Ram (2.96GB Usable)
64 Bit OS

As you can see from the attached resource monitor, I'm only using 1/2 of the RAM. I'm trying to determine how to make the rest of the RAM usable. I've read the forums and done the following changes:



1. Update BIOS (the BIOS recognizes the full 8GB)
2. Increased Page Size

The only other solution I can find is that Windows is not "remapping" the memory. Some posts say you can change this setting in the BIOS...I can't seem to do that.

How would you proceed?

Try reseating the memory. When your computer boots up, do you see 8 GB listed (before Windows loads)?

And your bios is A14? I know you indicated you upgraded.

BIOS is A14 (as of yesterday)

If you mean "reseating" by removing memory and popping it back in, I'm concerned about doing this b/c its a laptop under warranty. Any other way?

Reseating the RAM will not void a Dell warranty. They often recommend doing it when troubleshooting RAM related problems and they have no problem with users doing it on there own.

Source: 10+ years of owning only Dell computers.

You are correct about reseating. This should not void your warranty, but you can check with Dell if you'd like. Take precautions you are grounded, the PC is UNPLUGGED and BATTERY is OUT, and you handle the memory by the edges.

It comes standard with 4 GB, so I wanted to make sure they installed the other memory stick seated firmly in the slot.

So... really I'd like to know when you reboot your notebook if the bios show memory of 8 GB. That will scroll through before the operating system loads.

Afterward, please try this free memory test:

Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool

I don't think the memory is bad, but I wonder what would happen if you took out on stick of RAM for a while.

definitely find out first if the system sees all the memory before booting into windows.. that will help isolate the problem

OK - but before I do this, I want to confirm with you the following facts:

1. Right now BIOS recognizes 8, windows just says it is not usable. All the posts I've read so far say this is a function of windows not remapping the memory properly. Since I didn't install Windows, I'm not sure what the setting was.

2. You are saying that I should pull out 4GB and try booting that way?

First, just for the heck of it, please verify your operating system is 64-bit.

Okay, so you can see 8 GB on the bios screen as the pc boots up (but before Windows boots up).

Please run the memory test I indicated above first.

Then, remove one stick of memory, reboot, and note what you see.
Repeat by putting only the other stick of memory in. PLEASE keep each stick in the slot it originated it. What do you see?

Finally put both sticks back, seated firmly. What do you see now?

Sorry, but this is a process of elimination.

If all the memory tests okay, and each stick shows 4GB (or less) and both sticks show < 4GB,