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Geek Culture / windows isn't reporting correct memory size

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Phaelax
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Posted: 26th Feb 2009 01:18
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My friend's laptop has us a little stumped. System Properties is reporting 2.25GB, task manager reflects this as well. However, the BIOS shows all 3GB installed minus the 256MB used for the shared video. Already verified that the motherboard will support 3GB. However, if I check System Information, it will show 3GB of total physical memory. The OS is Windows XP 32-bit with all current updates and powered by an AMD 1.8GHz Turion 64 X2.
Current memory usage is 1.12GB according to task manager and System Information reports only 1.28GB free, which would total 2.4GB; roughly about the total amount Windows reports. I checked the boot.ini but didn't find anything that would cause this.

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James H
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Posted: 26th Feb 2009 01:44
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Could be that you have a damaged stick. My mate had this really old machine which had a 2*256mb ram. In the mem test at boot(option is in your bios menu) it only ever reached 480mb but then carried on loading the os. Everything ran fine, but whenever a 3d game was played the system would crash after a short time - replacing the stick fixed it(my mate hardly used the machine but I figure that if it was used for long periods of time running different non 3d stuff, the result would be the same). I suggest running the memory test at boot.
Failing that, just a stab in the dark really, but iirc xp 32 bit only recognises 3.25 gig max. Maybe its the physical slot the memory is in, ie maybe xp 32 bit only ever recognises 0.25 gig of the 4th slot; assuming you have 4 slots to put memory in, maybe your sticks are in the last 3 slots and not the first 3. Just a wild guess though.
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Phaelax
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Posted: 26th Feb 2009 02:14
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We ran memtest twice, took about an hour or so each time, everything came back fine. I did forget to mention that 1 stick is 667mhz and the other is only 533mhz, but both should be compatible. It's a laptop, so I'm assuming he's only got 2 slots available.

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Lazlazlaz 1
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Posted: 26th Feb 2009 02:27
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Quote: "but iirc xp 32 bit only recognises 3.25 gig max"


it's 3.5GB to be exact

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NeX the Fairly Fast Ferret
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Posted: 26th Feb 2009 21:24
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It's all dependant upon what hardware is in.

RAM - VRAM - address spaces for ALL hardware

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Phaelax
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Posted: 26th Feb 2009 22:37
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Quote: "it's 3.5GB to be exact"


Mine only shows 3.25 of the 4gb installed and there was a discussion about this before. I don't know anyone who's gotten 3.5gb to show in XP-32.

Nex, you know any programs that would show me the exact memory allocations being used by the system? Just seems weird half a gig would be missing.

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NeX the Fairly Fast Ferret
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Posted: 26th Feb 2009 22:47
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The resources tab for devices that use up some of the address space in control panel->system->hardware->device manager gives the precise addresses used. Although there seems to be two types. I'm no expert so I don't know what's relevant and what's not...

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bitJericho
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Posted: 28th Feb 2009 23:55
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How much dedicated video ram is on-board?

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Quirkyjim
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Posted: 1st Mar 2009 00:06
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I think I read in PC Mag that it's just that it's how it's counted differently. 1024 mb vs 1000 mb for 1 gb. OS usually counts it differently that manufacturer. My Vista says I have just under 4gb when I actually have 4gb

~QJ
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