Vista shows only 3 of 4 RAM GB

[Ken Blake, MVP]

This kind of statement causes the confusion shown in other posts.
The obvious question following the above is: why does this not apply
if I have 2GB installed?

That question arises if you misunderstand that the hardware uses some
of the RAM. It doesn't; it uses some of the *address space* (note that
in my message you quoted above, it says "space," not "RAM").

Everything has to fit inside that 4GB address space. With 1GB of RAM
and (for example) 512mb video, the total is only 1.5GBm, which easily
fits into the address space. But with 4GB of RAM and 512MB video, the
4.5GB total doesn't fit, so part of the RAM doesn't get address space
to map to and can't be used.

The point seems to be that this is a memory
mapping space issue for 32-bit systems, the lost memory is not used
as such, after all the video memory is on the video card (or should
be)!

That's correct.

 

[non flammable on XP]

hey stupidor.. why dont you remove some ram then and do the test?

You know you lack every sign of logic.. keep away from computers..

being a farmer suites you best!

smart, so if you have only 512 mb ram, then suddenly you see the vid card
using mora ram than you have? LOL

you are stupid.. well you wouldnt be lovin vista if you were not!

I have 2GB , so your little made up lie isn't applicable.
Stop basing what you "know" on the latest article you've read.

Here is my shared mem:

NVIDIA System Information report
System name:

[Display]
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) D CPU 3.20GHz (3193 MHz)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista
DirectX version: 10.0
GPU processor: GeForce 6800
ForceWare version: 169.25
Total available graphics memory: 1012 MB
Dedicated video memory: 256 MB
System video memory: 0 MB
Shared system memory: 756 MB <-------------------------------!@#$%
Video BIOS version: 5.41.02.34.15
IRQ: 0
Bus: PCI Express x16
GPU processor: GeForce 6800
ForceWare version: 169.25
Total available graphics memory: 1012 MB
Dedicated video memory: 256 MB
System video memory: 0 MB
Shared system memory: 756 MB<--------------------------------!@#$%
Video BIOS version: 5.41.02.34.15
IRQ: 16
Bus: PCI Express x16

 

[non flammable on XP]

I bet you and frank would make a great couple...


GESH you are stupid

 

[forty-nine]

I live on a property the size of a farm.
Hmm...wonder what a couple hundred acres are worth...a lot more than a geek
on a PC !

hey stupidor.. why dont you remove some ram then and do the test?

You know you lack every sign of logic.. keep away from computers..

being a farmer suites you best!

smart, so if you have only 512 mb ram, then suddenly you see the vid
card using mora ram than you have? LOL

you are stupid.. well you wouldnt be lovin vista if you were not!

I have 2GB , so your little made up lie isn't applicable.
Stop basing what you "know" on the latest article you've read.

Here is my shared mem:

NVIDIA System Information report
System name:

[Display]
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) D CPU 3.20GHz (3193 MHz)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista
DirectX version: 10.0
GPU processor: GeForce 6800
ForceWare version: 169.25
Total available graphics memory: 1012 MB
Dedicated video memory: 256 MB
System video memory: 0 MB
Shared system memory: 756 MB <-------------------------------!@#$%
Video BIOS version: 5.41.02.34.15
IRQ: 0
Bus: PCI Express x16
GPU processor: GeForce 6800
ForceWare version: 169.25
Total available graphics memory: 1012 MB
Dedicated video memory: 256 MB
System video memory: 0 MB
Shared system memory: 756 MB<--------------------------------!@#$%
Video BIOS version: 5.41.02.34.15
IRQ: 16
Bus: PCI Express x16

 

[Tim Slattery]

I just bought a new Vista Ultimate HP desktop PC (HP a6385l). Upgraded RAM
from 2 to 4GB (there are four slots) but Vista shows only 3GB.

http://members.cox.net/slatteryt/RAM.html

 

[XS11E]

I just bought a new Vista Ultimate HP desktop PC (HP a6385l).
Upgraded RAM from 2 to 4GB (there are four slots) but Vista shows
only 3GB. Took the PC back to the dealer where they tried all
permutations possible (one by one, two by two, three, four, etc)
of the 4 memory sticks, including putting new, other brand ones.
To no avail. Is this a Vista bug?
No.

Is the PC defective?
No.

I called HP Customer Service but they offered no help. It's on a
one-year HP warranty so I intend to try again though I fear HP
will blame Vista and vice-versa (the PC is sold blank of O/S,
Vista is bought separately). Vista and the additional 2GB RAM
where installed at the dealer but the PC was delivered home where
I only found out about the problem. And, yes, the four 1GB RAM
show up in the basic equipment list on the black screen (they
showed it to me, I don't know how to summon it). Any comments?

Learn how to help yourself, step one, read this newsgroup. Your
question is asked and answered almost every day here. Step two, learn
how to use the resources HP provides such as:

http://welcome.hp.com/country/us/en/support.html?pageDisplay=support

Type in the model number and look at the options, your question is
answered under FAQs.

Your question is answered elsewhere but you need to learn how to find
your own answers, it's much faster so you'll have your answers with no
waiting!

 

[Jay Cee]

Thanks for the reply but...I did try hard to help myself before posting
here, didn't I? I talked to a tech rep at HP Customer Service (and thus
used HP resources!!) and then physically took the PC back to the dealer
where the memory sticks and the slots were checked thoroughly.... None of
these two sources came up with the memory address 4GB limitation that
explains it all now for me. And if this memory quirk has already been
addressed here before, well, it ain't no Armageddon if I've reduxed this,
for us non-pro, puzzling problem .

 

[XS11E]

Thanks for the reply but...I did try hard to help myself before
posting here, didn't I?

Yes you did and you learned that the tech rep is a not too
knowledgeable minimum wage person (I don't know what minimum wage in
Calcutta is now?) and you learned that PC dealers don't know much about
the products they sell you. It's too bad but that's how it is.

Now you've found GREAT sources of help for your HP computer, here and
the HP website, I'll suggest one other and that's the forums at GRC.

Go to http://www.grc.com/intro.htm

Scroll down to the VERY BOTTOM of the page, click on "Discussions" and
be sure to read the entire page before going on. The TechTalk group
might be the most helpful.

 

[Daze N. Knights]

Not a good time to be pointing folks to GRC, as it has been down (at
least here) since yesterday morning. Newsgroups, Home Page, everything.

 

[Dave]

Seems to be working ok here... just DL'd some news posts...

 

[Daze N. Knights]

I see some posts over at news.securecomp.org complaining of the same
problems that I'm seeing here, so I know that I'm not alone. But I'm
glad to hear that not everyone is being so affected.

 

[XS11E]

Not a good time to be pointing folks to GRC, as it has been down
(at least here) since yesterday morning. Newsgroups, Home Page,
everything.

So I found out but it's up today, Tuesday, January 8, 2007 here after
and for all eternity to be a day of mourning for Ohio State fans! ;-)

How about them LSU Tigers!