I have just received my HP Pavillion with Vista Home Premium and I was
checking the system to see if everything was installed as I requested. I'm
confused about the RAM. In System Properties, the Memory (RAM) = 3071 MB,
but I ordered 4 GB. Why is only 3 GB listed in the stats? When I questioned
tech support, they said that the proper way to check total amount of RAM
would be when you start up the computer and tap F(10) for "set-up". When I
did that, it showed 4 GB. Tech support said that when you look up the RAM on
the OS, you dont get the total amount installed b/c some is being used. Is
this correct? I've had horrible experiences with HP tech support so I'm a
little sceptical.

Thank you for peace of mind you're about to give me with the answer to my
question.

This is normal. To use the entire 4 GB memory, you need Windows Vista 64-bit editions AND there are some hardware requirements as well. This is documented in the following KB article:

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:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929605

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com
Winhelponline.com blog http://www.winhelponline.com/blog


"Spring" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:BAA13B2D-E3A6-466F-A3A7-(E-Mail Removed)...
I have just received my HP Pavillion with Vista Home Premium and I was
checking the system to see if everything was installed as I requested. I'm
confused about the RAM. In System Properties, the Memory (RAM) = 3071 MB,
but I ordered 4 GB. Why is only 3 GB listed in the stats? When I questioned
tech support, they said that the proper way to check total amount of RAM
would be when you start up the computer and tap F(10) for "set-up". When I
did that, it showed 4 GB. Tech support said that when you look up the RAM on
the OS, you dont get the total amount installed b/c some is being used. Is
this correct? I've had horrible experiences with HP tech support so I'm a
little sceptical.

Thank you for peace of mind you're about to give me with the answer to my
question.

On Wed, 26 Mar 2008 20:50:00 -0700, Spring
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> I have just received my HP Pavillion with Vista Home Premium and I was
> checking the system to see if everything was installed as I requested. I'm
> confused about the RAM. In System Properties, the Memory (RAM) = 3071 MB,
> but I ordered 4 GB. Why is only 3 GB listed in the stats?


All 32-bit versions of Windows (not just Vista) have a 4GB address
space. That's the theoretical upper limit beyond which you can not go.
But you can't use the entire 4GB of address space. Even though you
have a 4GB address space, you can only use *around* 3.1GB of RAM.
That's because some of that space is used by hardware and not
available to the operating system and applications. The amount you can
use varies, depending on what hardware you have installed, but is
usually around 3.1GB.

Note that the hardware is using the address *space*, not the actual
RAM itself. The rest of the RAM goes unused because there is no
address space to map it too.



> When I questioned
> tech support, they said that the proper way to check total amount of RAM
> would be when you start up the computer and tap F(10) for "set-up". When I
> did that, it showed 4 GB. Tech support said that when you look up the RAM on
> the OS, you dont get the total amount installed b/c some is being used. Is
> this correct?


Close, but not exactly. Note my last paragraph above.


> I've had horrible experiences with HP tech support so I'm a
> little sceptical.
>
> Thank you for peace of mind you're about to give me with the answer to my
> question.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

"Spring" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:BAA13B2D-E3A6-466F-A3A7-(E-Mail Removed)...
>I have just received my HP Pavillion with Vista Home Premium and I was
> checking the system to see if everything was installed as I requested.
> I'm
> confused about the RAM. In System Properties, the Memory (RAM) = 3071 MB,
> but I ordered 4 GB. Why is only 3 GB listed in the stats? When I
> questioned
> tech support, they said that the proper way to check total amount of RAM
> would be when you start up the computer and tap F(10) for "set-up". When
> I
> did that, it showed 4 GB. Tech support said that when you look up the RAM
> on
> the OS, you dont get the total amount installed b/c some is being used.
> Is
> this correct? I've had horrible experiences with HP tech support so I'm a
> little sceptical.
>
> Thank you for peace of mind you're about to give me with the answer to my
> question.


Well first go to "My Computer" located on the desktop or in the start
menu.... then right click and click properties and in one of the columns it
will show your processor speed and RAM installed on your system