Windows showing less than actual RAM

Discussion in 'Computer Science & Culture' started by Avatar, Jul 17, 2007.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. Avatar smoking revolver Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    19,083
    Hi,
    I purchased a computer for video editing that has 4gb RAM, but under My Computer->Properties it shows only 3,25gb

    Haven't been using Windows in years, so maybe there's some obvious thing I haven't done. I have Windows XP Prof Sp2

    Any suggestions?

    Thanks
     
  2. Google AdSense Guest Advertisement



    to hide all adverts.
  3. mikenostic Stop pretending you're smart! Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    4,624
  4. Google AdSense Guest Advertisement



    to hide all adverts.
  5. Xelios We're setting you adrift idiot Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    2,447
    XP can only "see" 4gb of RAM at a time, and that includes the page file. So what's happening is it sees 3.2 gigs of RAM plus 800 mb in the page file, and that's all it can use. You can either upgrade to Windows XP 64 bit (if you have a 64 bit processor) or downgrade to Vista. The other option is to turn off the page file so XP uses the entire 4gb of RAM.
     
  6. Google AdSense Guest Advertisement



    to hide all adverts.
  7. mikenostic Stop pretending you're smart! Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    4,624
    If that's the case, then I also recommend turning off the page file. You'd much rather the system use memory from the actual memory and not virtual memory from a page file (which it draws from the actual hard drive). Any hard drive problems will cause problems with virtual memory as well.
     
  8. Avatar smoking revolver Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    19,083
    stupid windblows...
     
  9. Avatar smoking revolver Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    19,083
    I turned off the paging file and it is still showing me 3,25gb of RAM...
     
  10. nietzschefan Thread Killer Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    7,721
    Do you have a screaming 756Meg video card by chance? Video memory counts in the limit for a 32bit OS(4 megs of memory for both win xp 32bit and vista 32 bit).
     
  11. Avatar smoking revolver Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    19,083
    No, only 256mb geforce.
     
  12. nietzschefan Thread Killer Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    7,721
    Then you have somehow allocated 512 to do "something" else. Check BIOS.
     
  13. Avatar smoking revolver Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    19,083
    hmmmmmmmm........
     
  14. Xelios We're setting you adrift idiot Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    2,447
    Does the BIOS show 4GB of memory installed?
     
  15. Avatar smoking revolver Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    19,083
    It's too quick to boot! Can't really see.
     
  16. Avatar smoking revolver Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    19,083
    Yes, saw, 4096 RAM
     
  17. Stryder Keeper of "good" ideas. Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    13,105
    Okay heres a couple of things you can try (But don't hold any hope for them):

    First open the Start button, and the the Run box and type MSCONFIG

    You need to go to the SYSTEM.INI tab and make sure that MaxPhysPage= doesn't exist under [386Enh].

    You then need to go to BOOT.INI and the Advanced Options button to make sure that /MAXMEM isn't ticked.

    If neither of these two are of any help, then lets see what a spin of the search engines turns up...

    http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/platform/server/PAE/PAEmem.mspx

    Answered by a previous post, you'll need to have XP 64-bit to enjoy the Look of 4Gb being present. Suggestibly though other programs are fine realising their is RAM available it's just windows being pant's with how it reserves RAM.
     
  18. Avatar smoking revolver Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    19,083
    Thanks, I'll try later.
     
  19. MacGyver1968 Fixin' Shit that Ain't Broke Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    7,028
    THAT was funny...I'm wiping Coke-cola off my monitor screen.
     
  20. Avatar smoking revolver Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    19,083
    Funny and true,
    alas maybe I will, if I don't find a way on how to install RAID drivers during WXP install if I don't even have that damn antique piece of useless junk - floppy drive.
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.

Share This Page