Solved Lost 4Gb memory

[sam49]

Hi I have been using my computer for quite a while now running Windows 7 Professional 64 bit edition with 12GB memory

All ahs been ok for quite a time but after a series of unexplained crashes I decided to format my C drive and reinstall windows as a fresh install

But now I have windows running again Windows only reports 8GB memory and I know there is 12GB installed. CPUZ says there are 12GB but windows only see 8GB

I have not changed anything just reinstalled windows 7

The only thing I did wrong when I reinstalled Windows I mistakenly installed the 32 Bit version and I saw there was only 4Gb of memory available, and I understand the 32bit version can only use 4Gb.

I then formatted the drive again and installed the 64Bit version but now windows can only see 8GB, so there is 4GB missing

Can someone help please

 

[GokAy]

Post a screenshot of Memory tab in Resource Monitor. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-screenshots-files-upload-post-seven-forums.html

Try loading defaults in BIOS.
Take out and reseat the memory modules
Run a memtest for 6-8 passes or overnight http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105647-ram-test-memtest86.html

It shouldn't matter if you reinstalled 64bit.

 

[sam49]

Ok thank you I am not at my computer at the moment but when I am I will look at what you have suggested.

I find it strange that until I reinstalled window I had no problems with the memory, this only happened after I installed the 32 bit version of windows

I will check and post back

Thank you

 

[sam49]

Post a screenshot of Memory tab in Resource Monitor. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-screenshots-files-upload-post-seven-forums.html

Try loading defaults in BIOS.
Take out and reseat the memory modules
Run a memtest for 6-8 passes or overnight http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105647-ram-test-memtest86.html

It shouldn't matter if you reinstalled 64bit.

Hi GoKAy thank you for the advice I loaded all default settings in BIOS and rebooted and I still had the same problem.

So I removed the two memory modules nearest the CPU and then rebooted and it still showed at 8GB so I removed the next two modules and rebooted and then it showed 4GB memory installed so I then replaced the 4 modules I had removed and rebooted

I was surprised to see 12GB again just by removing the modules and replacing them

I do know understand why this happened as the PC is under my desk and it was not moved or opened when this problem happened its never moved for at least a year

So why did I have to remove and replace the memory?

 

[GokAy]

I wouldn't know the exact workings

I believe you can only have 1 timing setting in BIOS even though the 2 RAM sets have different specs. Perhaps by removing the 2 you made those settings auto switch to more compatible numbers. Just a speculation of course.

Maybe someone experienced can shed some light.

 

[CountryBumkin]

Ok thank you I am not at my computer at the moment but when I am I will look at what you have suggested.

I find it strange that until I reinstalled window I had no problems with the memory, this only happened after I installed the 32 bit version of windows

I will check and post back

Thank you

Are you running 32bit Windows? Or was that a typo?

Windows 32 bit can't utilize more than 4GB of RAM. You need to be running Windows x64.

Starting with Vista SP1, Windows now 'reports all of the installed RAM', instead of only what is available to the OS.

However, nothing has changed as far as what is available to the OS. As others have stated, with 4GB RAM installed, around 2.5 to 3.6GB will be available, depending on the system.

 

[derekimo]

Ok thank you I am not at my computer at the moment but when I am I will look at what you have suggested.

I find it strange that until I reinstalled window I had no problems with the memory, this only happened after I installed the 32 bit version of windows

I will check and post back

Thank you

Are you running 32bit Windows? Or was that a typo?

Only for a while...

I have not changed anything just reinstalled windows 7

The only thing I did wrong when I reinstalled Windows I mistakenly installed the 32 Bit version and I saw there was only 4Gb of memory available, and I understand the 32bit version can only use 4Gb.

I then formatted the drive again and installed the 64Bit version but now windows can only see 8GB, so there is 4GB missing

 

[CountryBumkin]

It looks like I scored poorly on Reading Comprehension on this test.

 

[GokAy]

Edit: Oh I see now, I was late to the party!

He installed 32 bit by mistake and later installed 64bit.

The only thing I did wrong when I reinstalled Windows I mistakenly installed the 32 Bit version and I saw there was only 4Gb of memory available, and I understand the 32bit version can only use 4Gb.

I then formatted the drive again and installed the 64Bit version but now windows can only see 8GB, so there is 4GB missing

 

[Layback Bear]

Anything that stops the proper contact of the ram in the motherboard can cause this problem.
Examples I have seen myself.

Spider webs.
Dust or pet hair.
CPU cooler tighten down to much.
High humidity causing corrosion on contacts. Which can't be seen with the naked eye.
Use of a ram cooler causing vibration of ram modules.

Reinstalling the ram allowed proper contact.

 

[GokAy]

Layback: Would this be possible if what you said is the case?

CPUZ says there are 12GB but windows only see 8GB

 

[Layback Bear]

I have had it happen on a Asus P6X58D-E with CPUZ seeing all the ram and Windows 7 not seeing all the ram.

I don't know how or why this happens.
They might get their reading using a different method but I don't know what those methods are.
Most important is what Windows 7 sees and can use.

 

[GokAy]

Interesting, thanks for the clarification.

 

[sam49]

I have had it happen on a Asus P6X58D-E with CPUZ seeing all the ram and Windows 7 not seeing all the ram.

I don't know how or why this happens.
They might get their reading using a different method but I don't know what those methods are.
Most important is what Windows 7 sees and can use.

Hi that's interesting what you say about Asus motherboard as my motherboard is in fact an Asus P6T SE

 

[Layback Bear]

Motherboards are way to complicated for me to understand but I do remember the time I spent trying to figure out the problem when I had such a problem.

The problem that took me the longest to figure out was the cpu cooler. After doing lot of research I tired loosing the cpu cooler mounting screws and reboot. After a couple of times of doing this my ram came back.

It was the two closes ram slot to the cpu. The only thing I can think of is the cooler mounting was to tight warping the motherboard ever so slightly so the two ram slots would not allow proper ram fitting. Temps stayed the same after backing off the mounting screws.

 

[sam49]

Motherboards are way to complicated for me to understand but I do remember the time I spent trying to figure out the problem when I had such a problem.

The problem that took me the longest to figure out was the cpu cooler. After doing lot of research I tired loosing the cpu cooler mounting screws and reboot. After a couple of times of doing this my ram came back.

It was the two closes ram slot to the cpu. The only thing I can think of is the cooler mounting was to tight warping the motherboard ever so slightly so the two ram slots would not allow proper ram fitting. Temps stayed the same after backing off the mounting screws.

Thanks for the info it was the two slots nearest the cpu that was the problem with my ram.