Need dsome help with RAM

Hi folks. I have a situation that is driving me bugs and I hope you guys can help me figure it out. Here's the deal:

About 3 weeks ago I put 4 2gb sticks of RAM in my machine. Got them from Crucial.com. (I'd had 2gbs before but took those out and gave them away so the 4 new ones would all match.) So here I am with 8gbs and it was fabulous. Right off the bat not only my CS4 but also my Photoshop7 both recognized the 8gbs and everything just flew.

Then a few days ago I noticed that PS7 was sluggish and, sure enough, when I checked I saw that it was only seeing 2gbs again. I know PS7 isn't even supposed to see it but it did and it was great.

The CS4 is still fine but I just don't like it as well as 7, call me crazy but there it is.
Does anybody know how I can get 7 to see the 8gbs again. I have no problem going into the registry but have no clue where to go. I have spent days searching for an answer but haven't found it.

Searching is an art in itself and I am not very skilled at it. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Here is my setup:

Windows 7 Home Premium (x64) (build 7600)
1.87 gigahertz Intel Core 2 Duo
64 kilobyte primary memory cache
4096 kilobyte secondary memory cache
64-bit ready
Multi-core (2 total)
Not hyper-threaded
250.05 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
107.45 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space
Board: Intel Corporation DG965WH AAD41692-306
Bus Clock: 266 megahertz
BIOS: Intel Corp. MQ96510J.86A.1754.2008.1117.0002 11/17/2008
8126 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory
Slot 'J1MY' has 2048 MB (serial number 0xFFFFFFFF)
Slot 'J2MY' has 2048 MB (serial number 0xFFFFFFFF)
Slot 'J3MY' has 2048 MB (serial number 0xFFFFFFFF)
Slot 'J4MY' has 2048 MB (serial number 0xFFFFFFFF)
　
　

Don't have a direct answer for you, but if, when you boot up, the BIOS reports 8GB memory, and CS4 thinks you have 8GB, then it seems to me the problem is isolated to CS7. You set some options unique to CS7 that forces a 2GB limit? I have trouble believing CS4 or CS7 would be worried about installed physical RAM. I would think it just asks for memory from the OS and, if the OS has it to give, it gives it. Sorry, best I can offer.

logicearth said:

Photoshop 7 is a 32bit application it cannot make use of more then 2-3 GB or memory.

I know but that's the whole point of my agony: It did make use of it for 3 weeks. So there has to be a switch some where in the registry or the bios that let it happen and that some how got flipped off. I have searched the registry for anything to do with memory but didn't see anything thst sounded familiar. There are some items in the bios that can be changed with memory management turned off of auto. Does that sound promising? Also, shouldn't a 32bit app see at least 4GBs on a 64bit system? I would be happy with that but I can't get it going.

I'm just a little old cookey-baking grandmother who happens to be a photo shop addict and I can use any help at all to get PS7 moving again. There are those who will think I should stick with CS4 but I just don't like it as well and only use it for a few things I can't do with 7.

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

I tried that but it didn't work.

Control Panel > System and Security > System and show us the displayed panel, should look something like this:

Here you go.

Your OS sees 8GB. Must be a limitation of CS7 or you've accidently set an option that limits useable memory. Search the user's guide.