3 GB visible of 4 GB Ram on 64-bit Windows

[Megahertz07]

I always have my BIOS up to date.
BIOS update isn't risky if you do it right.
- Open the case and look on MB for the brand, model and even version.
- Go to the MB manufacture site and download the correct bios file for your MB.
- Don't trust windows to update the BIOS. Most MB has a BIOS application to update BIOS. If it doesn't, do on DOS.
- Never reset or shut down when flashing the EEprom. It won't take more than a minute.
- Once done, reconfigure your BIOS.

More memory is always better. 2+2G is better than 2+0 or 1+1 or 4+0

 

[matharoo]

I always have my BIOS up to date.
BIOS update isn't risky if you do it right.
- Open the case and look on MB for the brand, model and even version.
- Go to the MB manufacture site and download the correct bios file for your MB.
- Don't trust windows to update the BIOS. Most MB has a BIOS application to update BIOS. If it doesn't, do on DOS.
- Never reset or shut down when flashing the EEprom. It won't take more than a minute.
- Once done, reconfigure your BIOS.

More memory is always better. 2+2G is better than 2+0 or 1+1 or 4+0

Umm okay, thanks. I still think that there are risks involved because I'm a noob at this stuff but I'll give it a shot sometime.

 

[MilesAhead]

Umm okay, thanks. I still think that there are risks involved because I'm a noob at this stuff but I'll give it a shot sometime.

Where it is especially risky is if the manufacturer's site gets hacked and bad code is hosted there. The only time it happened to me was flashing a USR external modem to V90. A perfectly working modem was brick-ified. USR made it good but it took them about 2 months to do so. By that time I bought another modem as it was twice as fast as the next fasted dial-up modem. Once you go fast you don't want to go back.

But on the point, I would find out if you can back off to older code before applying a new update. Especially if just doing it to be "current." When I comes to applying BIOS updates I never do it unless I have a problem addressed by the update. Also I have a feeling the update programs vary wildly by manufacturer. One BIOS maker may let you restore to an older version while another may not. Experimenting to find out is likely asking for trouble.

One thing that may save you some headaches, wait until the latest BIOS code has been out for at least a couple of weeks. Search for people complaining that it broke their systems. If there isn't a lot of squawking by then the code itself is probably OK. But of course if the site gets hacked that can happen at any time.

 

[matharoo]

Umm okay, thanks. I still think that there are risks involved because I'm a noob at this stuff but I'll give it a shot sometime.

Where it is especially risky is if the manufacturer's site gets hacked and bad code is hosted there. The only time it happened to me was flashing a USR external modem to V90. A perfectly working modem was brick-ified. USR made it good but it took them about 2 months to do so. By that time I bought another modem as it was twice as fast as the next fasted dial-up modem. Once you go fast you don't want to go back.

But on the point, I would find out if you can back off to older code before applying a new update. Especially if just doing it to be "current." When I comes to applying BIOS updates I never do it unless I have a problem addressed by the update. Also I have a feeling the update programs vary wildly by manufacturer. One BIOS maker may let you restore to an older version while another may not. Experimenting to find out is likely asking for trouble.

One thing that may save you some headaches, wait until the latest BIOS code has been out for at least a couple of weeks. Search for people complaining that it broke their systems. If there isn't a lot of squawking by then the code itself is probably OK. But of course if the site gets hacked that can happen at any time.

Thanks for your insightful reply.

 

[Layback Bear]

Just for verification.
Your computer should look like this.
Msconfig/Boot.

 

[Eric3742]

I always have my BIOS up to date.
BIOS update isn't risky if you do it right.
- Open the case and look on MB for the brand, model and even version.
- Go to the MB manufacture site and download the correct bios file for your MB.
- Don't trust windows to update the BIOS. Most MB has a BIOS application to update BIOS. If it doesn't, do on DOS.
- Never reset or shut down when flashing the EEprom. It won't take more than a minute.
- Once done, reconfigure your BIOS.

More memory is always better. 2+2G is better than 2+0 or 1+1 or 4+0

Umm okay, thanks. I still think that there are risks involved because I'm a noob at this stuff but I'll give it a shot sometime.

You are right not to play around, especially you are noob.

There is nothing wrong with your computer.

For your info.

1. Sony Vaio only use 3GB RAM, no matter if i insert 4GB RAM OR 6GB RAM or 8GB RAM.

2. When you remove the RAM, do use eraser to polish the gold contact and clear the bits.
Do it outside the computer.
Most of the time, this work well, which include any other adapter cards with gold contact.

 

[Daggum]

Ram allocation in Bios?

 

[matharoo]

Ram allocation in Bios?

No such option. I've also uploaded all of my BIOS screens in a post in this thread, so you can look if any other option might help.