no start when using only 1 gb of ram

Pedroc1999 · 21 Sep 2012

i have recently bought a laptop to desktop memory adapter. when i installed my 4gb laptop memory my computer didnt start, i tried it in both slots and nothing. but when i put my other 1gb in the other slot, it starts like a dream.when i go into the BIOS i expect to see 5gb of ram but i see 3gb. what i can gather from that is that my desktop is not allowing the full 4gb dimm. if i go on CPUID it states a 2gb dimm ( 4gb) and a 1gb(my old one)

what can i do to solve this?

latecomer · 21 Sep 2012

are they all the same type ram, like ddr ddr2 ddr3.

Pedroc1999 · 22 Sep 2012

yes they are all ddr2

uilymmot · 22 Sep 2012

Well its probably due to your x86/32bit system
32bit systems cannot access more than 4gb of RAM and it usually only shows up as 3.5gb
I think that apparently u have less ram if u have other dedicated stuff so... say if u have a 1gb graphics card and 3.5gb RAM u would only have 2.5gb of RAM available
The only solution for you is probably go buy a 64bit OS

Pedroc1999 · 22 Sep 2012

yes but the bios would still recogonise the 4gb.

latecomer · 22 Sep 2012

uilymmot said:

Well its probably due to your x86/32bit system
32bit systems cannot access more than 4gb of RAM and it usually only shows up as 3.5gb
I think that apparently u have less ram if u have other dedicated stuff so... say if u have a 1gb graphics card and 3.5gb RAM u would only have 2.5gb of RAM available
The only solution for you is probably go buy a 64bit OS

not true nieghbor HP is 32bit 6gb ram.

bobafetthotmail · 22 Sep 2012

By looking at the manual for your mobo, (well, not exactly the manual for your mobo because it's rebranded stuff, but from one that should be the same albeit it's another form factor) it says you can place 2 GB per DIMM slot, up to a TOTAL of 4 GB.

So, unless your mobo's manual says differently, your mobo seems to be too old to work with 4 GB ram sticks. No ways around that.

latecomer · 22 Sep 2012

have you tried upgrading just the 2x512 sticks.

bigmck · 22 Sep 2012

latecomer said:

not true nieghbor HP is 32bit 6gb ram.

All 32-bit systems are limited to 4 GB of RAM.

latecomer · 22 Sep 2012

bigmck said:

latecomer said:

not true nieghbor HP is 32bit 6gb ram.

All 32-bit systems are limited to 4 GB of RAM.

not true, my nieghbor purchased his HP brand new with win7 home premium 32bit, has 6 gb of ram, 320 gb hard drive. he had to buy a external power supply. he hasnt bought anything else, when he has problems he come to me for help. so i know it has a 32 bit OS with 6gb of ram. i asked him if he wanted to trade laptops.

no start when using only 1 gb of ram

no start when using only 1 DIMM of RAM