i need help. (ram issue)

[gregrocker]

Look for key given on first screen to enter BIOS setup. If not there, google your mobo manual to find it.

In the bottom left corner of your post there is a link to insert your System Specs.

 

[The Howling Wolves]

Follow the snip steps provided.


THW

 

[notbabylonian]

Logged in user: Riah-PC\Riah
Computer Model: Z1-7309
Computer Manufacturer: MSI
OS Name: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional |C:\Windows|\Device\Harddisk0\Partition1
OS Version: 6.1.7601
System Type: X86-based PC
Total Physical Memory: 3071 MB
Windows Directory: C:\Windows
BIOS Version: Default System BIOS
CPU: AMD Athlon(tm) II X2 255 Processor
Video Card: ATI Radeon HD 4600 Series
Resolution: 1920 x 1080 x 4294967296 colors

 

[notbabylonian]

the only thing i have found online is something called PAE but i have no clue how to do it.

 

[DeaconFrost]

the only thing i have found online is something called PAE but i have no clue how to do it.

You want to avoid PAE completely....unless you want an unstable system.

 

[Dwarf]

Since you have a 64-bit processor, your motherboard is also 64-bit capable. You cannot upgrade a 32-bit OS to a 64-bit one (or vice-versa), it has to be a clean-install owing to the differing architecture. As you have an upgrade version, see the following Tutorial for details on how to install it.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

 

[Dave76]

For the explanation of why your 32bit OS can't use all 4GB of RAM, from StalkeR's link in post#2.

The Basics
-The big difference between 32 bit systems and 64 bit systems is the “Addressable Space”. Each device in the system is assigned an address, which takes some of this space. Because the address space is limited, the more hardware you have, the more space is required to address them. Memory (RAM) will get what is left over, and it is this that takes usable memory in a 32 bit system from 4Gb of RAM to around 3.25Gb (Edit: or less).
-Most software today is written and optimized for 32 bit architecture. This means that there will not be a large performance increase by switching. However, for the few pure 64 bit programs out (such as 64 bit Photoshop), there can be a substantial difference.

32 bit OS
-A 32 bit OS can only address 4Gb of memory. Some of this is then allocated to hardware devices, usually dropping the available RAM to 3.25Gb or 3.5 Gb.
-The addressable space also applies to programs, giving a 2Gb limit of RAM to any one process. This means that 32 bit Photoshop can only ever access up to 2Gbs of RAM.
-Drivers are always a concern. Drivers for hardware usually have a 32 bit version, and there is usually not a problem with 32 bit drivers (finding or using).
-A 32 bit OS has a lower memory requirement to run. For Windows 7, the minimum RAM needed is 1Gb

Your 32bit Operating System, has an address space of 4GB. Other things need to use some of this space, hardware mostly, and the RAM gets what is left over.
A 32bit OS will normally be able to use 3.0 - 3.5 GB of RAM.

As mentioned, your system should be able to run the 64bit Windows 7 version.
The 64bit OS will be able to use all 4GB RAM, the processors address space is 18 exabytes (18 billion gigabytes, but Windows 7 64bit max address space is 192Gb), though current motherboards can't accommodate this much address space.

 

[gregrocker]

Also:

check msconfig > Boot tab > Advanced options, the 'Maximum Memory' check box should be un-checked. This will allow the OS to use as much RAM as it can.

 

[Corazon]

the only thing i have found online is something called PAE but i have no clue how to do it.

You want to avoid PAE completely....unless you want an unstable system.

Why? Consider that Windows 7 will usually enable DEP (data execution prevention), for which PAE is a prerequisite. I haven't heard of stability problems based simply on PAE being used.

 

[DeaconFrost]

Why? Many drivers and apps have issues with a PAE-enabled system. I've never actually seen this point questioned or disputed, to be honest. It's always been avoided. I've also never heard of PAE being enabled by Windows 7. I'll admit, I don't know much about PAE, but that's because of the sheer outcry against it from way back in the XP tweaking days up until now. It's always been described as a process to enable...and one that could severely cripple a workstation setup. The answer has always been...if you want to use 4 GB....install a x64 OS.

EDIT: After doing some quick reading, here's my question. If DEP automatically enables PAE...then why aren't most x86 systems able to address 4 GB of memory?

EDIT2: I answered my own question. Apparently, PAE in consumer, aka non-server versions of Windows has nothing to do with physical memory usage...so even enabling it won't change the memory limits...

Which leads back to the advice to run an x64 OS if you need to use more than 3.2-ish GB of system memory.

 

[notbabylonian]

ok i got windows 7 64 bit im going to install it see if that fixes it?

man i love free school software.

 

[notbabylonian]

is this fresh install gonna wipe my HD? i hope not...

 

[gregrocker]

Yes it will overwrite your Win7 32 bit as is necessary to install 64 bit: Clean Install Windows 7

If you have data on the HD you should back it up as saving it on another partition is not wise. Use DVD's, an external HD, another computer on your network, or 15 gb free storage on Skydrive available with each Windows Live ID.

If you must save data on a partition on the same HD just make sure you' don't touch it during install, by choosing carefully by partition size when you get to Custom install>Drive selectxion screen.

Here are tips for getting a perfect clean reinstall of Win7: Reinstalling Windows 7

 

[notbabylonian]

man this sucks it would take me like 50 DVD,s to save all my stuff...is there a way to compress the files and folders?

 

[DeaconFrost]

You could get into compression programs, but honestly, it begs the big question. If the data on your drive is that important...why isn't it backed up?

They may cost a little more now, but you should look into an external hard drive. Anytime you have important data, you need to have it backed up somehow.

 

[notbabylonian]

well the bulk of what i want to save is 250 GB of DVD's. they arent important per se but it would suck to have to download or rip them all again.

 

[gregrocker]

Buy a 500gb-1tb external HD would be ideal.

As stated if you want to store them on a separate partition from the reinstalled OS then this can be done but you have to be very careful when booting the Win7 DVD that you choose only the OS partition for Install and not the storage partition. If you do this, the data should be preserved but no guarantees.