4GB RAM Installed - 1.75GB Usable

[Orionolle]

Hey everyone. So, I finally decided, after weeks and weeks of searching for help and a solution to my problem, to join up a forum as ask.

My problem is the following; I have 4GB of RAM installed in my computer (the stock RAM; I have changed no hardware since receiving the laptop), but Windows tells me on 1.75GB of it is usable.

Things I've tried so far, to no avail, include...

Going into msconfig and switching off "Maximum Memory"

Enable Memory Remapping in Bios (Bios has no Memory Remapping option)
Switching RAM Slots
One RAM stick at a time (laptop would not start – tried both sticks in both slots)
Ran Microsoft memory analysis – found no problems
Updated some drivers

Some info on my laptop...

Computer would not start with single stick of RAM
[Video Card Info] – Total Available Graphics Memory: 894 MB
Dedicated Video Memory: 256 MB
System Video Memory: 0 MB
Shared System Memory: 638 MB
BIOS recognizes only 2048MB/2GB of RAM


Attached is a picture of the Windows Task Manager Resource Monitor...it tells me 2307 MB of my RAM is Hardware Reserved. Also attached are several sets of information and specs.

I was told it could possibly be a bent pin on the motherboard. I'm willing to check that out, but I want to leave it as the last option.



If you need to know anything else, just ask.

Thanks in advance.

 

[whs]

Where does it say 1.75GB of it is usable. Have a look in Resource Monitor > Memory tab. The colored bar gives you the story. Post a pic of it.

 

[Orionolle]

Woops, though I had attached pictures to the first post...guess not.

Here they are:

http://oi42.tinypic.com/34odlb5.jpg (Resource Monitor)

http://oi41.tinypic.com/315il8g.jpg

http://oi44.tinypic.com/o7sj61.jpg

http://oi41.tinypic.com/qox7oy.jpg

There you go. Again, if you need any other information/specs, just ask and I'll get you them.

 

[gpost3]

I was told it could possibly be a bent pin on the motherboard. I'm willing to check that out, but I want to leave it as the last option.

Highly unlikely.

BIOS recognizes only 2048MB/2GB of RAM

There is problem #1. Update your BIOS.

Shared System Memory: 638 MB

There is your problem #2. Decrease the shared system memory (likely from BIOS).

It isn't uncommon for Windows to have 15-200 MB in hardware reserved depending on the hardware you have.

Take a look at your memory mapped I/Os for all connected devices.

 

[whs]

Obviously you have 2.3GBs eaten by hardware. Is this a 32bit or 64bit OS and what is your graphics card.

 

[Solarstarshines]

I was told it could possibly be a bent pin on the motherboard. I'm willing to check that out, but I want to leave it as the last option.

Highly unlikely.

BIOS recognizes only 2048MB/2GB of RAM

There is problem #1. Update your BIOS.

Shared System Memory: 638 MB

There is your problem #2. Decrease the shared system memory (likely from BIOS).

It isn't uncommon for Windows to have 15-200 MB in hardware reserved depending on the hardware you have.

Take a look at your memory mapped I/Os for all connected devices.

OS Ubuntu 10.10 64 bit/Window 7 VM - <---------------- Your OS

I might be going out on a Limb here but if you are running Virtual Machines that is where the ram is going hardware acceleration

That is what i gather from the Os you show in your system specs

 

[sk2211]

i'm using toshiba satelllite c660-p5012 laptop, it comes with 2 gb (ddr3)ram , intel dual core processsor..i'd like to upgrade another to 4 gb ram(2+2), is it advisible ? also suggest me some brand i've shortlisted crucial, corsair, gskill, transcend, kingston.. help me in choosing the best.

 

[whs]

I suggest you scan with the Crucial scanning tool. It will tell you what is compatible. Then you can still look at other makes, but the Crucials are very reliable. http://www.crucial.com/store/drammemory.aspx

 

[Chrizl123]

I had the same problem, with windows allocating 4 out of 8 gig ram to system. I just unplugged the ram then put it back in and rebooted and it was fine. Don't know if i got lucky

 

[djmeznyc]

I have similar problem No matter what i do in my HP G62 Windows 7 64 bit 4gb ram installed and only 1.74gb usable...
I also have system reserved memory of 2.26gb which is way too much, I do not have any virtual machines installed, and i have tried almost everything to find out why so much ram is being reserved but no one has been able to answer this or fix the problem.... anybody got good ideas...there are no processes running in the back i checked so its something that is always holding the memory from being available/.

 

[nwcs]

FIX FOR ME - I had the same problem with an acer aspire laptop running windows 7 showed 3gb in windows but only 768mb usable but I thought of the previous answers and thought "why would this start playing up overnight after months of trouble free use with no driver updates?" so I removed the 1 gig stick leaving the 2 gig stick in and there was no POST - replaced the 2 gig with the 1 stick I had removed and post fine DA DA faulty 2 gig stick! - replaced the 2 gb stick and I now have 2.75 usable out of 3 gig
Windows checks the memory for reliability and if it see any problems it will map out the hardware but still show it as installed.

 

[madcratebuilder]

These memory reading are very typical for most lap tops. I have 4gb installed, SysInfo reports total physical as 3.49, that's the 4.0 minus what's used by the gpu. and available is 1.65gb, that means the system uses about 1.8gb as a running OS.

 

[nwcs]

That's sysinfo the original complaint, as I understand it was the windows 7 system screen where it just gives you the basics - mine was reading 3gb (768mb usable) now it reads 3gb (2.75gb usable) - thanks for your input though

 

[LMiller7]

I believe that the memory size as reported in the system info utility and in system properties is obtained by reading the identification of the RAM chips. Many utilities do much the same. It takes no account of whether the RAM is functioning or accessible. Total memory as reported in Task Manager has been tested as functional, although only at a very rudimentary level. A reliable memory test takes considerable time.