8gb Installed Ram - Only 3.74 Usable (HELP!)

I have a Gateway NV53A Laptop.

Windows 7 Home Premium - 64 bit
AMD Turion II P540 Dual-Core 2.40 GHz
8GB installed memory and only 3.74 is usable!

I have updated the bios with the latest release from Gateway, then went in and checked and it shows "memory 8192", meaning it is seeing the full 8 gig.

I go into the resource monitor and it shows 4358MB as Hardware Reserve.

...Why is half of my installed ram going to hardware reserve?

The Ram installed is Patriot 2x4gb, PC3-10600, 1333MHz, CL9. I've triple checked that it is fully inserted.

I went into bios to check about memory remapping, but that is not an option.

In all reality, I have no clue what any of this means...I'm just reading stuff off of other peoples issues. I'm not as technically inclined as I pretend to be...But I'm hoping that one of you fine gentlemen can take the time to help me!

If there is anymore info you need, let me know! I really want this month old machine to be running at peak performance.

Thank you!

DJ

I'm guessing it is reserved for use by the integrated video processor.

http://www.gateway.com/systems/series/529598165.php

4096MB Dual-Channel DDR3 1066MHz Memory4

4 Shared system memory may be allocated to support integrated graphics, depending on system memory size and other factors. Actual system memory available to the operating system will be reduced by the amount of dedicated and/or shared system memory utilized by the graphics solution and resources required by the operating environment.

Where did the extra 4GB memory upgrade come from?

Is it normal for a video processor to use half of the installed ram?

Is it possible for me to limit the amount it uses?

Question is, even if the installed ram is being stolen, I mean reserved for hardware, why is only 3.74 available/useable?

Mike Connor said:

There are various possibilities, the most common one is that the installed RAM is in an unsupported configuration. This means that RAM sticks of a particular type must be installed in a specific configuration, as otherwise Windows can see them, but can't use them, and marks them as "Reserved Hardware"

Wish the guys at tigerdirect would mention that instead of handing it to me and saying, "this is what you need."

Do you know where I an find the correct ram?

Well, I figured out the problem!

I called tigerdirect and asked them if I had bought the correct ram earlier. After a few minutes of searching he said, "No."

Was able to swap it out for the correct ram (I was told/given the 10600 earlier and needed 10666).

Just put it in and now shows 8gb available and 7.75 usable.

Turns out the problem was the sales associate earlier.

Thanks for pointing out the ram might be incorrect, MC.

Damn, my ram came installed on my laptop so its not the wrong ram and I have the same problem, only 1.74gb usable of 4gb, windows 7 64bit HP G62... have tried evrything that anyone in these forums has said to do to get the ram usable again but my system is eating one ram stick and using it as hardware reserved... i ordered 2 new 4gb sticks so I can replace these two 2gb ones but i would rather know why this is happening to me, and no i do not have maximum memory checked, i have no virtual machines running and i have had this problem ever since I reinstalled Windows about a month ago, right from the beginning.. (also had this problem before reinstall as well)
Please help friends..