Problem: XP does not see all installed RAM

[MK]

I have 4GB of RAM installed in my system (4x1GB DDR
DIMM), and XP Professional only reports 3GB installed.
All indicators are that there is no problem with the RAM
itself - XP just is not 'seeing' it. How can I correct
this problem?

 

[John Dingley]

Are you sure your motherboard can see it?

Does the bios detect the ram when you boot up?

 

[Petra]

Ron Says:

The System Information utility in Windows XP is known to
report an
incorrect figure for RAM in some instances.

Open Control Panel - System. What does it say at the
bottom of the
General tab for total RAM? If it is 1 gb then all is
well.

If not the use Start - Run - MSCONFIG.
Go to the BOOT.INI tab and click on the Advanced Options
button.

If there is a checkmark on the /MAXMEM= line then clear
the quantity
field on that line and also click on the checkbox to clear
it.

Click on Apply and OK as needed to exit.

Reboot to put the changes into effect.

Good luck


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

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't
eat much."

 

[John Dingley]

How does 4GB of RAM get reported as 1GB and all is well?

 

[Petra]

Thanks, John. That is the problem with cut and paste.
Meant 4 gig.

 

[Alex Nichol]

I have 4GB of RAM installed in my system (4x1GB DDR
DIMM), and XP Professional only reports 3GB installed.
All indicators are that there is no problem with the RAM
itself - XP just is not 'seeing' it. How can I correct
this problem?

Use of 4GB needs a switch added to the line in the [Operating Systems]
section of boot.ini (unhide it and edit with Notepad). After the
/fastdetect add a space and /3GB