4GB RAM in place, but only 2GB showing in BIOS

[Patrick4444]

I had laptop I needed to fix from a while back..

I have installed Win7 32bit on it..

I know the laptop came with 2 x 2gb RAM..

Under My Computer and in BIOS it is showing here is only 2GB RAM instead of 4GB.

I tried re seating and swapping the RAM around but still shows the same.

Any advice for me please..

 

[jeffseven]

32 bit software can only recognize 4 GB of ram total. Video ram counts in that number. I installed extra ram in my first PC that was 64 bit capable and it showed some weird number less that the 6 GB (actually a weird number less than 4 GB) I had installed. After doing a bunch of reading I discovered that it was a 32 Bit software issue.

Hope that makes sense.

 

[Patrick4444]

Ok, i see..I assumed this came with 4gb.. Toshiba Satelite C660-10D
I really thought it came with 4gb..

So is one of these sticks no use for this laptop then do you know?

 

[maxie]

Hi there you should check each stick individually .. One at a time in each slot

 

[user31]

64 bits will always show more. You have 32 bits so all you need is 4, i have 4GB and it only shows 2.9. Unless you plan on adding more RAM and 64bits then you're fine.

 

[pbcopter]

64 bits will always show more. You have 32 bits so all you need is 4, i have 4GB and it only shows 2.9. Unless you plan on adding more RAM and 64bits then you're fine.

While a 32 bit operating system will show less that 4GB, the BIOS should show all 4 unless there is a hardware limit and I do not believe that is the case here.

You should do a Maxie suggests and test each stick separately

 

[Layback Bear]

Could you post on of these.

 

[matts6887]

also; generally speaking for the most part; if im not mistaken; 32 bit wont recognize as much ram as 64 bit will. I might also do what maxie mentioned; and test each stick of ram one at a time to see if any one is faulty at all.

 

[user31]

also; generally speaking for the most part; if im not mistaken; 32 bit wont recognize as much ram as 64 bit will. I might also do what maxie mentioned; and test each stick of ram one at a time to see if any one is faulty at all.

That's what I was saying in my post initially. That's a good idea though; check one at a time and rule that out. I use Speccy by Piriform; same people that make CCleaner. This is a txt version of what my RAM specs show. Check out the bold section. I had 64 bits Ultimate on my laptop, however, I reverted back to 32bits because I didn't feel like upgrading the RAM. It will show all 4GB in 64bit.

RAM
Memory slots
Total memory slots 2
Used memory slots 2
Free memory slots 0
Memory
Type DDR2
Size 4096 MBytes
Channels # Dual
DRAM Frequency 399.0 MHz
CAS# Latency (CL) 6 clocks
RAS# to CAS# Delay (tRCD) 6 clocks
RAS# Precharge (tRP) 6 clocks
Cycle Time (tRAS) 18 clocks
Physical Memory
Memory Usage 31 %
Total Physical 2.91 GB
Available Physical 1.98 GB
Total Virtual 5.83 GB
Available Virtual 4.84 GB
SPD
Number Of SPD Modules 2
Slot #1
Type DDR2
Size 2048 MBytes
Manufacturer Elpida
Max Bandwidth PC2-6400 (400 MHz)
Part Number EBE21UE8ACUA-8G-E
Serial Number 25F9EE7B
Week/year 33 / 08
JEDEC #3
Frequency 400.0 MHz
CAS# Latency 6.0
RAS# To CAS# 6
RAS# Precharge 6
tRAS 18
tRC 24
Voltage 1.800 V
JEDEC #2
Frequency 333.3 MHz
CAS# Latency 5.0
RAS# To CAS# 5
RAS# Precharge 5
tRAS 16
tRC 21
Voltage 1.800 V
JEDEC #1
Frequency 266.7 MHz
CAS# Latency 4.0
RAS# To CAS# 4
RAS# Precharge 4
tRAS 12
tRC 16
Voltage 1.800 V
Slot #2
Type DDR2
Size 2048 MBytes
Manufacturer Elpida
Max Bandwidth PC2-6400 (400 MHz)
Part Number EBE21UE8ACUA-8G-E
Serial Number 25F9EE7B
Week/year 33 / 08
JEDEC #3
Frequency 400.0 MHz
CAS# Latency 6.0
RAS# To CAS# 6
RAS# Precharge 6
tRAS 18
tRC 24
Voltage 1.800 V
JEDEC #2
Frequency 333.3 MHz
CAS# Latency 5.0
RAS# To CAS# 5
RAS# Precharge 5
tRAS 16
tRC 21
Voltage 1.800 V
JEDEC #1
Frequency 266.7 MHz
CAS# Latency 4.0
RAS# To CAS# 4
RAS# Precharge 4
tRAS 12
tRC 16
Voltage 1.800 V

 

[carwiz]

I don't put much faith in Speccy unless it's verified. I question the ability of it to analyze the data reported by hardware or if it makes it up. In this case, the serial numbers of the memory modules. (They are the same.)

Post an image of Resource Manager Monitor from the Memory tab as Layback Bear requested so we can see where it's allocated.

 

[user31]

My ram sticks are identical, in both slots, serials and all, I inspected it myself. You can trust Speccy haha

 

[carwiz]

??? Well, then they aren't "Serial Numbers" are they.

 

[LMiller7]

Speccy is doing the job it was designed to do. It tells us of the existence and characteristics of the memory modules, nothing more. It tells us nothing of it's accessibility by Windows, it's compatibility with the system or with other modules, or even that it is functioning. Only that it is there and able to be identified. The same for other utilities of it's type.

Speccy doesn't test the memory because it can't. A meaningful test of memory from within Windows is virtually impossible. At bootup the BIOS is able to do a memory test and this is done to the extent necessary to identify memory that is accessible and functional, but not necessarily that it is reliable.

Speccy is a useful utility but don't expect to be something it is not.

 

[Layback Bear]

Speccy does the job it's designed to do. No more no less.
I would still like to see the picture of Resource Monitor/memory as I requested in post #7.

This tutorial by Brink should help.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-screenshots-files-upload-post-seven-forums.html