Not enough RAM for printer driver


  1. flippet
    Posts : 5
    Windows 7 7100
       New #1

    Not enough RAM for printer driver


    I'm running Windows 7 x86 on a very old laptop with 512mb ram (Toshiba Portege R200), which with a little patience is perfectly usable! However I am unable to install drivers for a HP B11a wifi printer because although I meet the system requirement of 512mb memory, only 503mb is stated as 'usable'

    It's very infuriating...I've run memory tests and all is fine so am assuming the 9mb is reserved for the video card or something, but bios options are very limited and I don't seem to have any settings for this. Is there any way to trick windows into thinking it has more memory, or some other ingenious solution I haven't thought of? I tried using ready boost but it must be usb1 because I don't get the option to use it as memory...

    I appreciate any help thrown in my direction!
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  3. Maguscreed
    Posts : 6,668
    Windows 7 x64
       New #2

    Microsoft said:
    If you want to run Windows 7 on your PC, here's what it takes:

    • 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
    • 1 gigabyte (GB) RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit)
    • 16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
    • DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver


    I'm sorry but that about sums up your problem. you are probably getting a low ram message because you are, in fact, low on ram. The above is what microsoft recommends as an absolute minimum. You currently have half that.

    Can windows run in this state? Yes it can, can it use many features in this state. No, it can't.
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  4. flippet
    Posts : 5
    Windows 7 7100
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    You may have misunderstood - my problem is not with windows, I have been running it on this system since RC and it's fine (obviously a little sluggish but really, it's fine) - the problem is with a specific HP printer driver that I'm sure would run perfectly ok if I could just get through the installation check (for which I actually meet the minimum specs, ironically)
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  6. flippet
    Posts : 5
    Windows 7 7100
    Thread Starter
       New #4

    It's ok I've fixed it, just needed to extract the setup file and alter MinRAM=512 lines in Autorun.inf to MinRAM=503

    And FYI, barring Aero effects & MC features, I can't think of one OS function this >6 year-old system has been unable to perform!

    Next step: Crysis?
    Last edited by flippet; 17 Jul 2011 at 03:07.
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  7. Windows i7 920
    Posts : 552
    Windows 8 Pro x64
       New #5

    RAM is cheap relatively. Get it up to 1 GB and you'll be fine. Also you are asking machine to literally load more into the RAM while the OS is already using most of it for its operations... Really your system needs that extra 512 Mb to function properly. My cellphone has as much RAM as your laptop...

    Sent from my SGH-i917 using Board Express
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  8. flippet
    Posts : 5
    Windows 7 7100
    Thread Starter
       New #6

    No need, it's hardly my primary system, I just need it to run the odd document and check emails. Which it does remarkably snappily!
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  10. marsmimar
    Posts : 10,994
    Win 7 Pro 64-bit
       New #7

    One more suggestion to upgrade RAM to 1GB (the max your machine will accomodate according to Crucial.) And the price is only $15.99, maybe cheaper through eBay, Newegg, TigerDirect, etc. Even though it's not your primary computer, the RAM upgrade certainly won't hurt. :)

    Computer memory upgrades for Toshiba Portege R200 Series Laptop/Notebook from Crucial.com
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  11. flippet
    Posts : 5
    Windows 7 7100
    Thread Starter
       New #8

    I'd rather buy £15 worth of beer
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

 

  Related Discussions
From a Windows 7, 64bit PC, I am trying to add an HP LaserJet 5100 printer that is connected to another machine on the network. The other machine's OS is XP home 32 bit. I first try adding a printer from Devices and Printers, choosing 'Add a network ... printer', choosing the printer that I want...
I am trying to install Lexmark's universal drivers for my E323 printer. I get to the bit where the install tries to find a printer to create a queue, and then it gets stuck. If I unplug the printer, delete the Microsoft E323 queue, and then run the Lexmark driver installer again, and if I then...
Hi, I have just installed W7 32 bit on a desktop PC which has a HP deskjet F2180 attached to it via USB. I downloaded the W7 32 bit full feature driver and installed it. I have also enabled the printer to be shared on the network. Now I have also just installed W732 bit on a Laptop. Both...
Printer Driver
in Drivers

I just purchased a laptop with W7 and I want to use my HP printer that is connected to my desktop that uses XP. I have connected to the network and W7 sees the printer but says it can't locate the driver. I connected the printer directly to the laptop and it set it up as the default printer and...
printer driver
in Drivers

Issue with HP Deskjet f2180 after upgrading to win7 my printer no longer works ? Hp do have a driver for this model ;however several attemps to install returns failed driver install:( Anyone else had this issue and if so how was it resolved. Regards
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 7 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 7" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

 © Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 20:50.
Find Us