Win XP not showing total memory

[Troy]

For about 2 weeks or so now, my laptop has been performing
poorly... When I got back to the office today I noticed
that the memory showing in system properties is 488mb. I
have 2 512mb sticks of memory, and have had for the better
part of 6 months... Tried swapping, replacing, all that
and even with only 1 stick, I still only show 488mb.

Any ideas??

 

[Bryan]

Some laptops used shared memory. Meaning system and video
memory share the RAM. You can change the amount ram the
video card can use in BIOS.

Bryan

 

[Guest]

Yeah, good try, but not 512mb +. It is set at 32mb...
So I understand only seeing 488 if I only had 512
installed, but I have 1gb installed.

 

[cimex]

Remove one of the RAM sticks and see if you even have a functioning system.
If you do, switch RAM sticks and check again.

 

[Plato]

For about 2 weeks or so now, my laptop has been performing
poorly... When I got back to the office today I noticed
that the memory showing in system properties is 488mb. I
have 2 512mb sticks of memory, and have had for the better
part of 6 months... Tried swapping, replacing, all that
and even with only 1 stick, I still only show 488mb.

I wonder if it _EVER_ showed 2X512, or if you just noticed it as your PC
was running slow so you took a look around. ie 512 should be enough as
to NOT let your laptop run slow unless of course you're full of junk,
background apps, etc. and swapping like mad.

 

[Alex Nichol]

For about 2 weeks or so now, my laptop has been performing
poorly... When I got back to the office today I noticed
that the memory showing in system properties is 488mb. I
have 2 512mb sticks of memory, and have had for the better
part of 6 months... Tried swapping, replacing, all that
and even with only 1 stick, I still only show 488mb.

The 488 as opposed to 512 would be because the video memory is being
taken from the motherboard, and is set at 24 MB in BIOS setup.

The missing second stick may be a matter in the BIOS, or might be a
setting made in boot.ini for troubleshooting - Start - Run -
MSConfig.exe and look on the Boot.ini page. Click Advanced and see if
/MAXMEM has got checked (to limit the memory used).

I presume it does count all 1024 in the course of power up, and show
that in BIOS setup?

Also - the actual plugging in of these cards so they get a good seating
is not that easy!

 

[Michael Hawes]

-----Original Message-----

For about 2 weeks or so now, my laptop has been performing
poorly... When I got back to the office today I noticed
that the memory showing in system properties is 488mb. I
have 2 512mb sticks of memory, and have had for the better
part of 6 months... Tried swapping, replacing, all that
and even with only 1 stick, I still only show 488mb.

Any ideas??
.

Sounds like one memory socket has failed. what happens if you remove one
module, then replace it and remove the second module? If you go into the
BIOS setup what does it report?

Mike.