Solved 4 GB of Physical Memory but 1.74 GB Usable

deepeyes · Nov 8, 2011

Hello All,

I have of course read extensively on this issue and of course there are all sorts of opinions out there about if Windows 7 is using the correct amount of memory. However, it seems to me that my computer is using more than everyone else.

Some specs:
Windows 7 Home Premium x64
Hp Pavilion DV6 3160us laptop
Quad Core AMD CPU
4 GB of installed RAM. Showing 1.74 GB usable. The performance monitor shows that over 2GB is being held for hardware.

Attaching CPU Z screen shots.

I cannot access BIOS settings to enable remapping (its not even available as an option).
The msconfig fix that people are posting has been done.
Any thoughts on how to reduce the usage?

123386761 · Nov 8, 2011

Check your motherboard. It showin the 1.74827362 number because some of that ram is saved for video ram.

carwiz · Nov 9, 2011

The BIOS has reserved the 2.3Gb for hardware use. There should be an option in your BIOS to set the video "aperture" size. Even when set to auto, I've never seen it that large though. There could be a problem with your BIOS recognizing the hardware you have installed. First check to be sure your BIOS is up to date. Then check the options under the System menu for memory mapping. It could be called something else. I'm not familiar with the BIOS used in HPs and they're a little stingy with info but check to see if there's hardware options turned on for things you don't have. (Bluetooth, multiple LAN adapters, touch screen, etc.)

Corazon · Nov 9, 2011

Are you using the onboard video or a separate PCI-E videocard?

stormy13 · Nov 9, 2011

Laptop folks,

HP Pavilion dv6-3160us Entertainment Notebook PC Product Specifications HP Pavilion dv6-3160us Entertainment Notebook PC - HP Customer Care (United States - English)

Start with checking the the memory sticks are inserted properly,

How to Upgrade and Install RAM Memory HP Pavilion dv6-3160us Entertainment Notebook PC - HP Customer Care (United States - English)

sygnus21 · Nov 9, 2011

You might also check your MSCONFIG settings by typing "msconfig" (no quotes) in the search bar and making sure the Maximum memory box is not ticked.

deepeyes · Nov 9, 2011

The only thing in BIOS that I could change is SVM Support which I have. There is no option for changing mapping. Bios is up to date.
Will look at some of the devices that are on the computer. I do know that there is bluetooth adapter that is usually on.

When you say check your mother board... what do you mean?

I'm using the on board video card.

I will look into the memory sticks. But if they are being recognized and used then wouldn't that mean there shouldn't be a problem with them being seated properly?

By the way I LOVE how on the spec page at HP the graphics are "icthable" instead of "switchable"

deepeyes · Nov 9, 2011

sygnus21 said:
You might also check your MSCONFIG settings by typing "msconfig" (no quotes) in the search bar and making sure the Maximum memory box is not ticked.

Yes, did that. Was no turned on. Plus the number of CPU processors was not ticked as well.

stormy13 · Nov 9, 2011

It is possible that one of the sticks moved a bit from a bump or even just every day use. You would think they wouldn't move, but it is possible. It also doesn't take much for a stick to be misaligned in a slot for it not to be read/used corrected. Could even be that there is/was a bit of dust in the slot or on a stick when they were inserted, and that too can cause what you are seeing.

deepeyes · Nov 9, 2011

stormy13 said:
It is possible that one of the sticks moved a bit from a bump or even just every day use. You would think they wouldn't move, but it is possible. It also doesn't take much for a stick to be misaligned in a slot for it not to be read/used corrected. Could even be that there is/was a bit of dust in the slot or on a stick when they were inserted, and that too can cause what you are seeing.

This is a good point. Will check it out right now, post back any results

sygnus21 · Nov 9, 2011

Sorry I missed that you'd already checked MSCONFIG.

Can you show us what your SPD tab in CPU-Z says?

What does the Memory tab say?

And I'm thinking that if your system is showing that you have 4gig of memory installed, which resource manager does show, then the memory sticks are being read. The question then is why is the system reserving so much RAM?

deepeyes · Nov 9, 2011

Alright just pulled both out switched them up. Same thing. 1.74 GB usable.

I thought maybe you had been onto something since I had just recently taken it in to a repair for some maintenance. No avail

deepeyes · Nov 9, 2011

I will have to go here soon, be available maybe by 2 PM Eastern

sygnus21 · Nov 9, 2011

deepeyes said:
I thought maybe you had been onto something since I had just recently taken it in to a repair for some maintenance. No avail

Did you have "RAM" issues before taking it in for maintenance? In other words did the repair shop do something to change your memory values?

And yeah all your installed memory is being detected as shown by Resource Manager, and now CPU-Z. So we know the motherboard is at least seeing all the memory.

Yeah, find out if the shop did something to cause your system to reserve so much RAM.

Let us know.

BTW do you have all Windows updates installed, including SP1?

carwiz · Nov 9, 2011

The next thing to do is see what's running at start-up. Could be the shop loaded tracing or diagnostic software and there's some big hog driver loading.

sygnus21 · Nov 9, 2011

carwiz said:
The next thing to do is see what's running at start-up. Could be the shop loaded tracing or diagnostic software and there's some big hog driver loading.

Yeah but that's probably not going to account for why nearly 2gig of memory is being held in Hardware Reserved.

Hardware Reserved (gray) This is physical memory that is set aside by the BIOS and other hardware drivers (especially graphics adapters). This memory cannot be used for processes or system functions.

Here's a good article explaining Windows 7 memory usage: What's the best way to measure? | ZDNet

Doesn't hurt to check though

deepeyes · Nov 9, 2011

Did you have "RAM" issues before taking it in for maintenance? In other words did the repair shop do something to change your memory values?

If you mean the 1.74 GB as a problem then yes I have always had this problem since purchasing, its just now becoming a bit of a problem because there are programs that are requiring 2 GB or more of RAM than my system is willing to give up.'

Yeah, find out if the shop did something to cause your system to reserve so much RAM.

So I called the guy up who had actually done the work on my computer. He stated that he had not done anything with the memory except do a routine diagnostic on it. He stated that the amount of paging that my system has allocated to it could be a problem. He stated that I could set the paging to what I felt the computer would need.

Do you guys think that would work?

BTW do you have all Windows updates installed, including SP1?

Yes my computer is up to date. This was sort of the reason that I took my computer in because I was getting Blue Screens due to drivers that were incompatible with the system. So this guy went in and took care of the drivers that were causing problems and I would assume updating the ones that need it.

Good article by the way!

carwiz · Nov 9, 2011

I'm aware of the "old" definition of hardware reserved but perhaps you've forgotten about EFI/UEFI and how it can run outside of the OS and use the RAM for anything it wants to. It's part of the Bootstrap procedure and occurs before the OS begins to run. The Reserved RAM has been blocked out by the BIOS for some reason. I'm only suggesting the OP look for unusual start programs (when Windows starts) that may be interfacing with the BIOS. This could also be a root virus. It's just a suggestion as to keep all options for diagnostics open.

Booting

UEFI does not rely on a working boot sector only, but needs a special partition table referring to a special partition containing a specially located file with a standardized name depending on the actual architecture to boot.
Boot loaders are a class of UEFI applications. As such, they are stored as files on a file system that can be accessed by the firmware. Boot variables, stored in NVRAM, indicate the paths to the loaders. Boot loaders can also be auto-detected by firmware, for instance to enable booting on removable devices.
It is common for UEFI firmware to include a boot manager, to allow the user to select and load the operating system among the possible options.

The EFI shell

EFI provides a shell environment The shell can be used to execute other EFI applications.
Extensions to EFI can be loaded from virtually any storage device attached to the computer. For example, an original equipment manufacturer can distribute systems with an EFI partition on the hard drive, which would add additional functions to the standard EFI firmware stored on the motherboard's ROM.

Click to expand...

cyclic · Nov 9, 2011

Win 7 is exceptional at memory management, if\when you start an application or game, much of the now assigned memory will be freed to use for the app. I'ts not a problem and it doesn't need fixing.

carwiz · Nov 9, 2011

cyclic said:
Win 7 is exceptional at memory management, if\when you start an application or game, much of the now assigned memory will be freed to use for the app. I'ts not a problem and it doesn't need fixing.

You're right but I don't think this includes the BIOS "hardware reserved" memory. It's sitting at over 2GB.

Without seeing the BIOS settings or finding any documentation, it's going to be tough finding it.

Perhaps the OP could photograph the BIOS screens?

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