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| Welcome to Windows Vista Forums. Our forum is dedicated to helping you find solutions with any problems, errors or issues you are experiencing with Windows Vista. The Vista forum also covers news and updates and has an extensive Windows Vista tutorial section that covers a wide range of tips and tricks. |
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| | #1 (permalink) |
| | Vista wont recognise memory ?? Hello all, - I've recently bought a new computer with 4 Gb of RAM. I notice that windows only seems to recognise 3 Gb, and have been led to believe that this is becase i am using Vis a Home Premium 32-bit Edition. My queries are: 1) Is this just a "recognition" problem, or is the o/s not utilising all the RAM available ? 2) I have heard that this will be fixed in the (upcoming) Service Pack. Can anyone confirm this, or should i "bite the bullet" and upgrade to a 64-bit version? I primarily use the hi -end spec for gaming, and wont mind adding more RAM (Vista seems to be a bit of a "memory hog"), but dont particularly want to upgrade Vista if i dont have to. Thanking you all in advance for any adice that you can offer. Regards. |
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| | #2 (permalink) |
| | Re: Vista wont recognise memory ?? Recognizing only 3 of your 4 gigs is expected behavior. The rest is allocated to other things. If you are wondering about your ram, you should run the Memory Utility included in Vista (in admin tools) -- Was this helpful? Then click the "Yes" Ratings button. Voting helps the web interface. http://www.microsoft.com/wn3/locales....htm#RateAPost Mark L. Ferguson .. "Neil 261161" <Neil261161@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:B9F5D44E-05E5-4949-A2A4-02F4D6B7CD7A@xxxxxx Quote: > Hello all, - I've recently bought a new computer with 4 Gb of RAM. I > notice > that windows only seems to recognise 3 Gb, and have been led to believe > that > this is becase i am using Vis a Home Premium 32-bit Edition. My queries > are: > > 1) Is this just a "recognition" problem, or is the o/s not utilising all > the > RAM available ? > > 2) I have heard that this will be fixed in the (upcoming) Service Pack. > Can > anyone confirm this, or should i "bite the bullet" and upgrade to a 64-bit > version? > > I primarily use the hi -end spec for gaming, and wont mind adding more RAM > (Vista seems to be a bit of a "memory hog"), but dont particularly want to > upgrade Vista if i dont have to. > > Thanking you all in advance for any adice that you can offer. > > Regards. > > |
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| | #3 (permalink) |
| | Re: Vista wont recognise memory ?? this is normal with 32 bit OS's since it can address only chuncks of 4 gb ram or virtual memory theoretically.. however the 1 gb is wasted with 32 bit because various hardware you have needs to use some memory space addresses for their own function.. since 4 gb is the limit and the hardware needs some for its own memory addresses you are left with less... This is especially true with modern graphic cards that need to address lots of memory space. The only solution to this is to go to 64 bit.. .. but you will run into other problems then, probably with drivers and programs that dont like 64 bit.. for example there is no flash player stil for 64 bit browsers... sad but true. -- 50 Ways to leave your Vista.... CHORUS: You just format the drive , Clive Get a New Mac , Jack Y'don't need that crap toy, Roy Just get yourself free Boot from a *nix, Jix You don't need to discuss much Install XP, Lee And get yourself free "Neil 261161" <Neil261161@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:B9F5D44E-05E5-4949-A2A4-02F4D6B7CD7A@xxxxxx Quote: > Hello all, - I've recently bought a new computer with 4 Gb of RAM. I > notice > that windows only seems to recognise 3 Gb, and have been led to believe > that > this is becase i am using Vis a Home Premium 32-bit Edition. My queries > are: > > 1) Is this just a "recognition" problem, or is the o/s not utilising all > the > RAM available ? > > 2) I have heard that this will be fixed in the (upcoming) Service Pack. > Can > anyone confirm this, or should i "bite the bullet" and upgrade to a 64-bit > version? > > I primarily use the hi -end spec for gaming, and wont mind adding more RAM > (Vista seems to be a bit of a "memory hog"), but dont particularly want to > upgrade Vista if i dont have to. > > Thanking you all in advance for any adice that you can offer. > > Regards. > > |
My System Specs![]() |
| | #4 (permalink) |
| | Re: Vista wont recognise memory ?? I'm not a real techie person but it may be worth your while getting a 4 Gb USB2 thumb drive and using that as a ReadyBoost drive. Read about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ReadyBoost LesleyO "Neil 261161" <Neil261161@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:B9F5D44E-05E5-4949-A2A4-02F4D6B7CD7A@xxxxxx Quote: > Hello all, - I've recently bought a new computer with 4 Gb of RAM. I > notice > that windows only seems to recognise 3 Gb, and have been led to believe > that > this is becase i am using Vis a Home Premium 32-bit Edition. My queries > are: > > 1) Is this just a "recognition" problem, or is the o/s not utilising all > the > RAM available ? > > 2) I have heard that this will be fixed in the (upcoming) Service Pack. > Can > anyone confirm this, or should i "bite the bullet" and upgrade to a 64-bit > version? > > I primarily use the hi -end spec for gaming, and wont mind adding more RAM > (Vista seems to be a bit of a "memory hog"), but dont particularly want to > upgrade Vista if i dont have to. > > Thanking you all in advance for any adice that you can offer. > > Regards. > > |
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| | #5 (permalink) |
| | Re: Vista wont recognise memory ?? Neil 261161 <Neil261161@xxxxxx> wrote: Quote: >Hello all, - I've recently bought a new computer with 4 Gb of RAM. I notice >that windows only seems to recognise 3 Gb, http://members.cox.net/slatteryt/RAM.html for an explanation. -- Tim Slattery MS MVP(Shell/User) Slattery_T@xxxxxx http://members.cox.net/slatteryt |
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| | #6 (permalink) |
| | Re: Vista wont recognise memory ?? Hello, An 32bit Windows XP or Windows Vista has a maximum of 3gb ram. If you want to use more then 3gb, then you should get an 64bit Windows (and motherboard + processor, etc) I dont know anything about the next SP can get 32bit to use more then 3gb ram (try to look into a changelog?) Hope this awnser helps you out! Regarts, Nick "Neil 261161" <Neil261161@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:B9F5D44E-05E5-4949-A2A4-02F4D6B7CD7A@xxxxxx Quote: > Hello all, - I've recently bought a new computer with 4 Gb of RAM. I > notice > that windows only seems to recognise 3 Gb, and have been led to believe > that > this is becase i am using Vis a Home Premium 32-bit Edition. My queries > are: > > 1) Is this just a "recognition" problem, or is the o/s not utilising all > the > RAM available ? > > 2) I have heard that this will be fixed in the (upcoming) Service Pack. > Can > anyone confirm this, or should i "bite the bullet" and upgrade to a 64-bit > version? > > I primarily use the hi -end spec for gaming, and wont mind adding more RAM > (Vista seems to be a bit of a "memory hog"), but dont particularly want to > upgrade Vista if i dont have to. > > Thanking you all in advance for any adice that you can offer. > > Regards. > > |
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| | #7 (permalink) |
| | Re: Vista wont recognise memory ?? "Nick Middel" <nickmiddel@xxxxxx> wrote: Quote: >An 32bit Windows XP or Windows Vista has a maximum of 3gb ram. video card and other things attached to the system. My computer gets about 3.5GB, some get only 3.0GB. -- Tim Slattery MS MVP(Shell/User) Slattery_T@xxxxxx http://members.cox.net/slatteryt |
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| | #8 (permalink) |
| | Re: Vista wont recognise memory ?? > Quote: > "Neil 261161" <Neil261161@xxxxxx> wrote in message > news:B9F5D44E-05E5-4949-A2A4-02F4D6B7CD7A@xxxxxx Quote: >> Hello all, - I've recently bought a new computer with 4 Gb of RAM. I >> notice >> that windows only seems to recognise 3 Gb, and have been led to believe >> that >> this is becase i am using Vis a Home Premium 32-bit Edition. My queries >> are: >> >> 1) Is this just a "recognition" problem, or is the o/s not utilising all >> the >> RAM available ? >> >> 2) I have heard that this will be fixed in the (upcoming) Service Pack. >> Can >> anyone confirm this, or should i "bite the bullet" and upgrade to a >> 64-bit >> version? >> >> I primarily use the hi -end spec for gaming, and wont mind adding more >> RAM >> (Vista seems to be a bit of a "memory hog"), but dont particularly want >> to >> upgrade Vista if i dont have to. >> >> Thanking you all in advance for any adice that you can offer. >> >> Regards. >> The system memory that is reported in the System Information dialog box in Windows Vista is less than you expect if 4 GB of RAM is installed. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929605 |
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| | #9 (permalink) |
| | Re: Vista wont recognise memory ?? I have the same problem with my PC. 4 GB of RAM but only 3 GB recognized. If the 1 GB is wasted could I remove it and put it in another PC and not see any difference in performance? -- Mad Mike "On the Bridge!" <On@xxxxxx,Bridge> wrote in message news:47c4a86f$1@xxxxxx-privat.org... Quote: > this is normal with 32 bit OS's since it can address only chuncks of 4 gb > ram or virtual memory theoretically.. > > however the 1 gb is wasted with 32 bit because various hardware you have > needs to use some memory space addresses for their own function.. > > since 4 gb is the limit and the hardware needs some for its own memory > addresses you are left with less... > > This is especially true with modern graphic cards that need to address > lots of memory space. > > The only solution to this is to go to 64 bit.. .. but you will run into > other problems then, probably with drivers > and programs that dont like 64 bit.. > > for example there is no flash player stil for 64 bit browsers... sad but > true. > > -- > 50 Ways to leave your Vista.... > > CHORUS: > > You just format the drive , Clive > Get a New Mac , Jack > Y'don't need that crap toy, Roy > Just get yourself free > Boot from a *nix, Jix > You don't need to discuss much > Install XP, Lee > And get yourself free > > > > "Neil 261161" <Neil261161@xxxxxx> wrote in message > news:B9F5D44E-05E5-4949-A2A4-02F4D6B7CD7A@xxxxxx Quote: >> Hello all, - I've recently bought a new computer with 4 Gb of RAM. I >> notice >> that windows only seems to recognise 3 Gb, and have been led to believe >> that >> this is becase i am using Vis a Home Premium 32-bit Edition. My queries >> are: >> >> 1) Is this just a "recognition" problem, or is the o/s not utilising all >> the >> RAM available ? >> >> 2) I have heard that this will be fixed in the (upcoming) Service Pack. >> Can >> anyone confirm this, or should i "bite the bullet" and upgrade to a >> 64-bit >> version? >> >> I primarily use the hi -end spec for gaming, and wont mind adding more >> RAM >> (Vista seems to be a bit of a "memory hog"), but dont particularly want >> to >> upgrade Vista if i dont have to. >> >> Thanking you all in advance for any adice that you can offer. >> >> Regards. >> >> > |
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| | #10 (permalink) |
| | Re: Vista wont recognise memory ?? "Mad Mike" <framyr@xxxxxx> wrote: Quote: >I have the same problem with my PC. 4 GB of RAM but only 3 GB recognized. > >If the 1 GB is wasted could I remove it and put it in another PC and not see >any difference in performance? your current PC. Many machines have four RAM slots arranged into two "banks". They insist that the two slots making up each bank have the same amount of RAM plugged into them. So if you had a 1GB stick in each slot, you could remove both sticks from one bank, but you could not remove only one stick. You'll have to read your system or motherboard manual to find out just what your motherboard wants, then open the box and see what's actually plugged in. -- Tim Slattery MS MVP(Shell/User) Slattery_T@xxxxxx http://members.cox.net/slatteryt |
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