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Windows doesnt detected all 4GB RAM
| Posted by TenFu, 06-15-2007, 10:00 PM |
| I am using Windows 2003 Enterprise Edition SP1 and i have recently set the computer up to 4GB RAM. I notice a problem occur error :
When I start the computer, Bios detected all 4GB Ram. However, i have checked Total physical memory in General (My Computer-> Properties) doesnot detect all 4GB Ram. it only detect 3GB Ram.
I have checked that this OS support up to 32GB . Why it doesn't detect all 4GB ?
What happen to it?
Mainboard : Intel chipset 915GL
I did following the instruction in internet (exactly is Microsoft) is /PAE in boot.ini file. But, it doesnt work.
Plz...help me to resolve this problem
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| Posted by tanfwc, 06-15-2007, 11:33 PM |
| You might want to run memtest to check whether all your memory is in working condition.
http://www.memtest.org/
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| Posted by dotRoot, 06-15-2007, 11:34 PM |
| Yeah. That's "normal". When I last researched this, it was because the 1 GB was "reserved for the OS specifically". And that doesn't mean the desktop. That means the actual memory ranges for devices installed.
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| Posted by VistaHistorian, 06-15-2007, 11:56 PM |
| If you are running a 32-bit version of Windows 2003, I think the max that any 32-bit system can recognize is like 3.2 GB of RAM.
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| Posted by TenFu, 06-16-2007, 12:05 AM |
| So, how to resolve it to windows can recongnize 4GB ram?
Windows 2003 (32bit-version)
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| Posted by kerplunk, 06-17-2007, 01:23 AM |
| Install a 64-bit OS.
If your applications aren't Windows-specific, go with Linux. (CentOS 5.0 64-bit is amazing, easy, and free.)
If you are stuck with Windows, I'm pretty sure they make a Windows 2003 64-bit edition, but I am not sure of the compatibility of your apps, the price, or your availability.
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| Posted by dotRoot, 06-17-2007, 02:07 AM |
| Just for technical FYI, 4 GB is the limit for 32 bit OS', not 3.2 GB. However, the rest is reserved for memory addresses for devices in Windows. So I believe a 32 bit distribution of say Linux should still show 4 GB.
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| Posted by WALoeIII, 06-17-2007, 06:32 PM |
| A 32 bit system (like your windows system) does not have enough address space to address 4GB of memory while also addressing the rest of your hardware, it caps out at about ~3.2GB of usable memory. If you want to use more memory than this you need to move to a 64 bit solution (Windows x64, any of the many Linux distributions etc).
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| Posted by maxknight, 06-18-2007, 06:47 AM |
| In 32-bit Windows, each application has its own “virtual” 4GB memory space. This also means that each application functions as if it has a full flat 4GB of memory. The system's memory manager keeps track of memory mapping, which applications are using which memory, page file management, etc.
This 4GB space is evenly divided into two parts, with 2GB dedicated for kernel usage, and 2GB left for application usage. Each application gets its own 2GB, but all applications have to share the same 2GB kernel space.
Check out this article to get a better understanding:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/291988
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