Solved Windows-7 reports using only 3G of the 4GB's installed memory?

[Mike Lynch]

SOLVED: Windows-7 reports using only 3G of the 4GB's installed memory?

My Hardware System is 64 Bit capable.
I use the 64 Bit Version of Windows-7 Pro.
Windows-7 reports only using 3G of the 4GB's installed Memory.
Belarc reports 4GB's installed Memory.
CPU-ID reports 4GB's installed Memory.
Intel lists my E6550 CPU as 64 Bit.

Do I have something set up wrong?

 

[stormy13]

If this is the same laptop as in your specs, then there isn't much you can do unless there is a memory remap option in the bios (doubtful). From what I can see it has the Intel 945 chipset on it and it only supports up to 4 GB of memory, which as a result without the memory remap option is what is happening in your case. This should help explain it some (says for Vista but the same applies to Windows 7),

The system memory that is reported in the System Information dialog box in Windows Vista is less than you expect if 4 GB of RAM is installed

• The chipset must support at least 8 GB of address space. Chipsets that have this capability include the following:
  • Intel 975X
  • Intel P965
  • Intel 955X on Socket 775
  • Chipsets that support AMD processors that use socket F, socket 940, socket 939, or socket AM2. These chipsets include any AMD socket and CPU combination in which the memory controller resides in the CPU.
• The CPU must support the x64 instruction set. The AMD64 CPU and the Intel EM64T CPU support this instruction set.
• The BIOS must support the memory remapping feature. The memory remapping feature allows for the segment of system memory that was previously overwritten by the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) configuration space to be remapped above the 4 GB address line. This feature must be enabled in the BIOS configuration utility on the computer. View your computer product documentation for instructions that explain how to enable this feature. Many consumer-oriented computers may not support the memory remapping feature. No standard terminology is used in documentation or in BIOS configuration utilities for this feature. Therefore, you may have to read the descriptions of the various BIOS configuration settings that are available to determine whether any of the settings enable the memory remapping feature.
• An x64 (64-bit) version of Windows Vista must be used.

 

[Mike Lynch]

Gateway Profile 6.5 All-In-One.

The Profile is an AIO Desktop.

I have looked at those items that I think I know about but I am stymied.

When I ran Vista on the same machine, it used all 4GB's.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Best regards,

Mike Lynch

 

[Mike Lynch]

Just in case I took two 2GB Memory Modules out of my other Profile and installed them in this one.
It did not make any difference, Window-7 still reported only 2.99 usable.
I seated the Modules and restarted the System twice.
I also cleaned the thing you insert them into with Air just in case.
I reran the Windows assessment, no change.
I removed the ReadyBoost Drive, no change.
My System is very generic and there are not a lot of options in the Bios.

Does anyone else have any other Ideas?

Best regards,

Mike Lynch

 

[Mike Lynch]

I do not understand how this applies, please explain!

My System is a Desktop All-In-One.
It only supports 4GB's of memory.
I do not want to use memory beyond 4GB's as the System cannot / does not support that much.
I'd just like to use the 4GB's that is installed.

I want to use Windows-7 NOT Vista.
I have 64-Bit Versions of 7-Pro and Vista Ultimate.

Your feedback is appreciated.

Best regards,

Mike Lynch

If this is the same laptop as in your specs, then there isn't much you can do unless there is a memory remap option in the bios (doubtful). From what I can see it has the Intel 945 chipset on it and it only supports up to 4 GB of memory, which as a result without the memory remap option is what is happening in your case. This should help explain it some (says for Vista but the same applies to Windows 7),

The system memory that is reported in the System Information dialog box in Windows Vista is less than you expect if 4 GB of RAM is installed

• The chipset must support at least 8 GB of address space. Chipsets that have this capability include the following:
  • Intel 975X
  • Intel P965
  • Intel 955X on Socket 775
  • Chipsets that support AMD processors that use socket F, socket 940, socket 939, or socket AM2. These chipsets include any AMD socket and CPU combination in which the memory controller resides in the CPU.
• The CPU must support the x64 instruction set. The AMD64 CPU and the Intel EM64T CPU support this instruction set.
• The BIOS must support the memory remapping feature. The memory remapping feature allows for the segment of system memory that was previously overwritten by the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) configuration space to be remapped above the 4 GB address line. This feature must be enabled in the BIOS configuration utility on the computer. View your computer product documentation for instructions that explain how to enable this feature. Many consumer-oriented computers may not support the memory remapping feature. No standard terminology is used in documentation or in BIOS configuration utilities for this feature. Therefore, you may have to read the descriptions of the various BIOS configuration settings that are available to determine whether any of the settings enable the memory remapping feature.
• An x64 (64-bit) version of Windows Vista must be used.

 

[stormy13]

Are you sure that the full 4 GB was available under Vista? Reason for asking is that when Vista came out it reported 4 GB of memory (on a system that only supported up to 4 GB) the same as what you are seeing in Windows 7. When Service Pack 1 for Vista came out this happened,

Windows Vista SP1 includes reporting of Installed System Memory (RAM)

After you install Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1), the memory (RAM) value reported by Windows Vista may increase if the following conditions are true:

• The system BIOS has reserved physical memory for graphics or for other peripherals.
• Your computer has more than 3 GB of system memory installed.

This change occurs because Windows Vista with SP1 reports how much physical memory installed on your computer. All versions of Windows NT-based operating systems before Windows Vista Service SP1 report how much memory available to the operating system. This change in Windows Vista SP1 is a reporting change only.

I'd be willing to bet that you still only had the same 3 GB available in Vista even though it showed all 4 GB.

As I mentioned previously (and in the first Microsoft link I posted), unless there is a memory remap option in the bios there is nothing you can do.

 

[whs]

Can you post a picture of the colored bar in Resource Monitor > Memory tab. Something like this:

 

[DeaconFrost]

From a quick glance, my guess is you were seeing Vista report how much memory was installed, not what was usable.

 

[joshtheman]

Are you using a dedicated video card? Because if you not, then windows is more than likely using that 1GB of RAM as shared video memory. If you can, borrow someone’s video card to see that lets you have 4GB useable.

Hope that was helpfull

 

[whs]

Are you using a dedicated video card? Because if you not, then windows is more than likely using that 1GB of RAM as shared video memory. If you can, borrow someone’s video card to see that lets you have 4GB useable.

Hope that was helpfull

That's what I suspect too. But that would show up on the Resource Monitor picture as 'Hardware reserved'.

 

[Mike Lynch]

I run Windows-7 Pro on the System in question.

See the Attachment requested.

 

[whs]

Well, here we go. You have 1GB of hardware reserved. Probably your graphics facility.

 

[Mike Lynch]

I went into the Bios twice and made changes.

First, I changed the Memory Size from Max to 256 and tried it, no change at all.
Second I changed DVMT Mode from DVMT to Fixed leaving the Memory Size at 256, no change at all.
I re-took the Resource Snaps you had asked for before.
They are listed as Second and Third below.

Does / could ReadyBoost be involved with the Hardware Reserve?
I do have a Thumb Drive assigned to ReadyBoost.

 

[whs]

I have never seen such a phenomenon with Ready Boost. But then I have not used it since my first Vista PC. Why don't you take it out. At 4GB of RAM, Ready Boost generates nothing but overhead - and that is counterproductive.

 

[Mike Lynch]

Here is what it looks like without ReadyBoost:

This is a dilema!

 

[whs]

Same thing. But I would not worry too much. I was running Windows 7 on 3GB for a long time. Now I have 6 and 8GB and really do not notice any difference. Half of my RAM is always unused (see picture). And that machine was running all day doing a lot of different things.

 

[Mike Lynch]

Is it over?

Can any Forum Member refer me to perhaps another Site with additional expertise in this Hardware related area?

I'd really like to know "how or what is using the Memory" in question and decide for myself if I choose to continue using it (that is the "how or what is using the Memory").

 

[whs]

If you tell us the exact serial number of your mobo, we may be able to find out what graphics facility you have (which is the most likely culprit). Look into the on-line specifications of your system at the manufacturer's site.

But if you think you get better help elsewhere, suit yourself.

 

[Mike Lynch]

The Link below solved my dilemma quickly and effectively.
If you have the same dilemma, ignore other recommendation and try this one first.
The Author of the Solution, “Nana Warp” cut through the fog and NAILED IT!
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7itproperf/thread/9946daa7-6cc7-4c67-b4db-d9bc03c63ea6