Memory Problems with SP2

[Guest]

I have a system that I built with a Supermicro X6DA8-G MB, Dual Zeon
processors, and 4GB of DDR 333MHz RAM. The OS is Windows XP Pro SP2. It is
only showing 2.5GB of RAM. The MB BIOS shows all 4GB, the OS shows all 4GB in
the "Total physical memory" section of the System information, but shows only
2.5GB in the "total available memory" section. How can I get it to show all
4GB available.

P.S. I have a PCIex video card (ATI Radeon X850XT) and a PCI video card (ATI
Radeon 9250) installed, along with a Adaptec FireConnect 8300 firewire card.

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP\)]

As soon as you boot your system, various processes come into play. When you
reach the desktop, even if you have opened no applications, there will
always be some running in the background and that is in addition to the
physical memory occupied by the operating system itself.

Short answer, you can't as explained above, you wouldn't want to because it
essentially means you don't boot your system. Boot the system, after
getting tot he desktop, hit ctrl-alt-delete, go to the processes tab, you
will see just the number of processes loaded when you boot the system. Go
to the applications tab and you will see some of what is loading at bootup.
You might see others in the notification area, that's the area to the
immediate left of the clock and date. All those things, the OS and various
demands by some of your hardware, depending upon drivers and software
installed on the system, all occupy a portion of physical memory.

--
In memory of our dear friend, MVP Alex Nichol.

Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/communities/mvp.aspx
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/

 

[Mike Hall \(MS-MVP\)]

Sheldon

The last thing that you want is loads of free memory.. free memory is
useless, is doing nothing.. when memory is required, XP will free up
whatever it needs..

 

[Ron Martell]

I have a system that I built with a Supermicro X6DA8-G MB, Dual Zeon
processors, and 4GB of DDR 333MHz RAM. The OS is Windows XP Pro SP2. It is
only showing 2.5GB of RAM. The MB BIOS shows all 4GB, the OS shows all 4GB in
the "Total physical memory" section of the System information, but shows only
2.5GB in the "total available memory" section. How can I get it to show all
4GB available.

P.S. I have a PCIex video card (ATI Radeon X850XT) and a PCI video card (ATI
Radeon 9250) installed, along with a Adaptec FireConnect 8300 firewire card.

The "available physical memory" is the portion that is curently unused
and is therefore available.

Given the way that Windows memory management works it should really be
listed as "useless physical memory" because that is what it actually
represents - memory for which Windows has so far been totally unable
to find any potentially beneficial use for.

Hope this explains the situation.

Good luck


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

In memory of a dear friend Alex Nichol MVP
http://aumha.org/alex.htm

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP\)]

ROFLOL, I love that description!!!

--
In memory of our dear friend, MVP Alex Nichol.

Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/communities/mvp.aspx
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/

 

[Mike Hall \(MS-MVP\)]

Ron

Put it in a wish list..

--
Mike Hall
MVP - Windows Shell/user