Solved 4GB ram installed but only 1 gb usable ???

[guitarfiend]

Win & "Ultimate" I had 2 gb of ram installed.Comp was very slow to respond.So,I installed 4GB.PC seems faster now but,when I look at system properties,it says there is only 1 gb "usable" !!! I noticed that my system is running on 32 bits when my understanding is that this is supposed to be a 64 it system !!!.This is dell latitude D 630 that I bought refurbished.Oh...and before I installed the new ram,I was using in the low 90% of all my ram.Now,I'm using in the upper 80's !!

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hello mate how did you find out it was 32bit? and what makes you think it is supposed to be 64bit? because if the seller told you it was 64bit and in fact it is 32bit then I would be getting my money back.

Personally I have doubts about refurbished gear because I often think it is so often easy for people to be ripped off. Go into the Control Panel > System and the first window should tell you what it is. Plus because of the problems the RAM usage is a worry and I am wondering what processes are running to chew it up like that. To see that see pic

 

[AddRAM]

You do not have to have 64 bit installed to use 4 GB. But windows will only use from about 3.25 to 3.75 GB`s on a 32 bit system.

My belief, If your cpu is 64 bit capable, then always install 64 bit. No matter what amount of memory you have in it at the time. You can always install more memory later.

Please post a shot of Resource Monitor showing the memory tab. Use the snipping tool then in your reply choose Go Advanced and click the small paperclip icon to attach the snip.

That will explain everything.

To open Resource Monitor.... Right click the taskbar>click Task manager>Performance>Resource Monitor>Memory

 

[Eric3742]

Have you consider the RAM is not slotted in properly, hence may not able to read the other 4GB RAM.

Do open the back cover to check the RAM 4GB is slotted and fitted nicely, not loose or easily removed.


Eric.

 

[guitarfiend]

Hello mate how did you find out it was 32bit? and what makes you think it is supposed to be 64bit? because if the seller told you it was 64bit and in fact it is 32bit then I would be getting my money back.

Personally I have doubts about refurbished gear because I often think it is so often easy for people to be ripped off. Go into the Control Panel > System and the first window should tell you what it is. Plus because of the problems the RAM usage is a worry and I am wondering what processes are running to chew it up like that. To see that see pic

Icit2lol-I found out it was 32 bit through the control panel.And,I think at one time I tried to DL something & I couldn't because I had to have a 64 bit OS.I somehow got it into my head that Win7 was a 64 bit OS.

 

[guitarfiend]

You do not have to have 64 bit installed to use 4 GB. But windows will only use from about 3.25 to 3.75 GB`s on a 32 bit system.

My belief, If your cpu is 64 bit capable, then always install 64 bit. No matter what amount of memory you have in it at the time. You can always install more memory later.

Please post a shot of Resource Monitor showing the memory tab. Use the snipping tool then in your reply choose Go Advanced and click the small paperclip icon to attach the snip.

That will explain everything.

To open Resource Monitor.... Right click the taskbar>click Task manager>Performance>Resource Monitor>Memory

Addram-I cannot seem to post a snip of this.I am basically being told that the file is to big.And,I cannot find the "Go Advanced" icon Let's see if this works....

 

[guitarfiend]

Have you consider the RAM is not slotted in properly, hence may not able to read the other 4GB RAM.

Do open the back cover to check the RAM 4GB is slotted and fitted nicely, not loose or easily removed.


Eriic-the ram should be seated properly & snugly.My system is reading both 2gb sticks.

 

[Megahertz07]

Under BIOS, does it show 4G?
Did you replaced the 2G memory by a 4G or did you add another stick?
Is the new memory "new" or used?
Is it the same type and speed?

 

[Ranger4]

The problem seems to be in Hardware Reserved as it's showing 3073 MB.

 

[torchwood]

and according to the HP data sheet thats a 64bit 8GB max machine?
run this see whats there, hwinfo
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjkgLf0iITRAhWBtRoKHRJUAYYQjBAIIDAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hwinfo.com%2Fdownload.php&usg=AFQjCNHtpqZ618O-AznScW2yIHVCBwe0_Q&bvm=bv.142059868,d.amc

Roy

OR is it your Dell refurb???

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Mmm now the Dell has DDR2 and I am just wondering too that it might be better to have 1x4GB stick instead of the two?

Now the chipset in the machine is suppsedly able to run 64bit http://www.intel.com/Assets/PDF/datasheet/316273.pdf the CPU https://ark.intel.com/products/31728/Intel-Core2-Duo-Processor-T7250-2M-Cache-2_00-GHz-800-MHz-FSB also can support 64bit so I am guessing someone has installed a 32bit system on it as I find it hard to believe that the maker would have set it up with a 32bit system

Now do you have a sticker on the bottom of that machine with the OS on it? because it might be a 64bit on it and if you can still read the code then you could reinstall it with a 64bit system using a 64bit ISO.

 

[AddRAM]

As stated 3 GB is hardware reserved, to your graphics.

You posted the snip just fine.

Go Advanced is not an icon, it`s right next to "Post Quick Reply". With Post Quick Reply there`s no paperclip icon to attach a pic, so just use the Go Advanced from now on

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Mate I think things have got a bit confused as I think the OP is referring to the refurbished Dell that I linked some stuff to we shall have to wait to hear from him which it is because that Dell unless I am terribly mistaken (or confused) only supports 4GB RAM and DDR2 at that

 

[AddRAM]

OK, then maybe this is it, and if so then you`re right at 4 GB max

Dell Latitude D630 Specs - CNET

http://www.dell.com/downloads/ap/products/latit/LAT_D630c_SA_0108.pdf


According to the Dell article it is a Vista or XP machne and has a 2.0 GHz cpu, I wouldn't waste any time with it.

The OP will have to confirm the cpu. (Please do this for us)

From the Dell article

Intel® Core™
2 Duo processors 800 MHz Front Side Bus & 2MB Smart L2 Cache: T7250 (2.0GHz) and
Intel® Core™
2 Duo processors 800 MHz Front Side Bus & 4MB Smart L2 Cache T7500 (2.2GHz), T7700 (2.4GHz), T7800 (2.6GHz)


The best thing he could do is install a Samsung 850 Evo 120/250 GB SSD and Windows 7 Home Premium 32 bit, get rid of Ultimate, you don`t need it.

The COA will tell you which Operating System came installed on the PC.

And if the refurbisher installed Ultimate, they had better put a COA with an Ultimate Activation key on it.

 

[RoasterMen]

Home Basic is probably the best edition for your computer.

 

[torchwood]

If the OP,
posts the details from Hwinfo, we'll know for sure.

Roy

 

[Layback Bear]

It's your friendly simple Lay Back bear again.

1. As asked before; we need the exact specs of the computer to give proper guidance.

2. 3073mb of Hardware Reserve is way to high.
That is normally cause by a ram problem of some kind.

Example:
A. Wrong ram
B. Mismatched ram
3. Ram not installed correctly. Recommend using the methods of installing ram in the motherboard manual.
4. Possibly bad ram module slots on motherboard. This is seldom the problem but can be.

Note:
The system in my specs has Hardware Reserve of 61mb.

Jack

 

[guitarfiend]

Under BIOS, does it show 4G?
Did you replaced the 2G memory by a 4G or did you add another stick?
Is the new memory "new" or used?
Is it the same type and speed?

Mega-I replaced (2) 1GB sticks with (2) 2 GB sticks.And,the memory is new.Same type and speed.As far as the bios goes,I didn't check that.But,I did go into the control panels properties and it is indeed recognizing 4GB of ram.BUT ! PROBLEM SOLVED !!!

I found this article on the microsoft support site... https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/978610

Apparently,all I had to do was the following....
Check the system configuration settings

This problem may occur because the Maximum memory option is selected incorrectly. To fix this, follow these steps:

1. Click Start
   
   , type msconfig in the Search programs and files box, and then click msconfig in the Programs list.
2. In the System Configuration window, click Advanced options on the Boot tab.
3. Click to clear the Maximum memory check box, and then click OK.
4. Restart the computer.

PC is MUCH faster now ! Thank you all very,very much !!
(Duckduckgo is your best friend) !! Heh,heh.

 

[Layback Bear]

I presume you have things set as this picture from my computer. Is that correct?



Jack

 

[guitarfiend]

And,folks,I would like to add,I was drinking when I performed this procedure I forgot that when I opened up the first port,there was nothing there ! I've been searching my house for a second memory stick for the last 2-3 days and then realized that ! So,I was originally working with only 1 GB of ram !!! (Grumble,grumble) !!!