Can't reduce hardware reserve RAM windows 8.1 pro.

[malcx3000]

Sorry, I know this question has been asked before, but none of the solutions have worked. I have about 750MB that is hardware reserved out of my total of 4GB. I've tried running msconfig>boot>Advanced options and then unchecking maximum memory as well as regedit>...>memory management and changing the value of 'clear page file at shutdown' from 0 to 1. None of the above have worked for me. I've also heard something about entering the bios and disabling on board graphics, but for the life of me I can't find the UEFI settings. Neither do I get them by pressing the F1 key at boot up.
I'm running windows on a laptop. My specs are amd a8 7410 and a 2 gig dedicated graphics card (don't know the mobo).
Anyone got any suggestions? Any help would be really appreciated!
Oh, and I don't know if this is relevant, but my windows got de-activated for some reason (server blocked my product key...?). I have no clue about this, but is that somehow not letting me change the reserve?
Thanks for listening!

 

[Colif]

it sounds like your board has an integrated gpu and its reserving it for that, it should show in your bios but without knowing what motherboard you have, its just a guess

can you download the free version of speccy: https://www.piriform.com/speccy
open it up and have a look on the motherboard tab, it should show you what you have in the right hand column

activation: would need to contact Microsoft - if you go to settings/update & security/activation there should be a number you can ring to contact MS

 

[VincentP]

Are you seeing this in task manager?
Do you have a 32-bit or 64-bit OS?
A 32-bit OS will only show about 3.5 GB available.

Hardware reserve memory will be related to a driver.
The graphics adapter in your CPU should be disabled with a discrete GPU, but try to manually disable in the BIOS.
Update to the latest drivers for all hardware devices.

 

[malcx3000]

Are you seeing this in task manager?
Do you have a 32-bit or 64-bit OS?
A 32-bit OS will only show about 3.5 GB available.

Hardware reserve memory will be related to a driver.
The graphics adapter in your CPU should be disabled with a discrete GPU, but try to manually disable in the BIOS.
Update to the latest drivers for all hardware devices.

Sorry for the late reply, didn't expect a response so soon.
No, I have a 64 bit OS.
I would disable it, but I can't reach the system bios. As I've said before, UEFI settings aren't in advanced settings nor can I get them during boot up (and I've also tried the 'special' boot up where you hold down the shift key while restarting.) Any other tips for entering my bios?

 

[malcx3000]

it sounds like your board has an integrated gpu and its reserving it for that, it should show in your bios but without knowing what motherboard you have, its just a guess

can you download the free version of speccy: https://www.piriform.com/speccy
open it up and have a look on the motherboard tab, it should show you what you have in the right hand column

activation: would need to contact Microsoft - if you go to settings/update & security/activation there should be a number you can ring to contact MS

Wow, thanks a bunch for the reply and sorry for being late, didn't expect an answer so soon
Anyways, I ran speccy and this is what came up :
Operating System
Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit
CPU
AMD A8-7410
Mullins 28nm Technology
RAM
3.00GB Single-Channel DDR3 @ 798MHz (11-11-12-28)
Motherboard
Hewlett-Packard 80CC (Socket FT3b)
Graphics
Generic PnP Monitor (1366x768@60Hz)
512MB ATI AMD Radeon R5 Graphics (HP)
2048MB ATI AMD Radeon R5 M330 (HP)
CrossFire Disabled
Storage
465GB Hitachi HGST HTS545050A7E680 (SATA)
Optical Drives
DTSOFT Virtual CdRom Device
DTSOFT Virtual CdRom Device
hp DVDRW GUB0N
Audio
Realtek High Definition Audio.

Also, I contacted MS for activation but they told me to go contact my retailer... and I have no clue who it was 😛

 

[Colif]

since you said you only have a 2gb card in PC, I have to assume that is this one: 2048MB ATI AMD Radeon R5 M330 (HP)
If you look at back of box, you should find an output for the 512MB ATI AMD Radeon R5 Graphics (HP) that is built onto the motherboard.

That is probably where the ram is being allocated to, you might be able to disable it in your bios, there should be settings for the igpu (integrated GPU)

 

[malcx3000]

since you said you only have a 2gb card in PC, I have to assume that is this one: 2048MB ATI AMD Radeon R5 M330 (HP)
If you look at back of box, you should find an output for the 512MB ATI AMD Radeon R5 Graphics (HP) that is built onto the motherboard.

That is probably where the ram is being allocated to, you might be able to disable it in your bios, there should be settings for the igpu (integrated GPU)

Yup that's my ded GPU, but I can't reach the system bios. As I've said before, UEFI settings aren't in advanced settings nor can I get them during boot up (and I've also tried the 'special' boot up where you hold down the shift key while restarting.) Any other tips for entering my bios?

 

[Colif]

i didn't notice it was a laptop, I would have just asked what model.

this might just be PC, not laptops:

To reset the boot order to the default settings, follow the steps below.
Turn on or restart the computer.
While the display is blank, press the f10 key to enter the BIOS settings menu.
Press the f9 key to reset the BIOS to the default settings.
Press the f10 key to save the changes and exit the BIOS settings menu.

http://support.hp.com/au-en/document/c00364979

seems F10 should work on laptops too:

With the computer turned Off, press the power button to turn On the computer, and repeatedly press the F10 key. Normally, the Compaq or HP splash screen will display a message to press F10 to enter the BIOS just before the BIOS menu is displayed.

http://support.hp.com/au-en/document/c00034791

I wonder how hard it is to get to cmos battery in the laptop, removing it and battery for 20 minutes would reset bios and in most cases that opens it on 1st boot as you need to set defaults again.

 

[malcx3000]

i didn't notice it was a laptop, I would have just asked what model.

this might just be PC, not laptops:

To reset the boot order to the default settings, follow the steps below.
Turn on or restart the computer.
While the display is blank, press the f10 key to enter the BIOS settings menu.
Press the f9 key to reset the BIOS to the default settings.
Press the f10 key to save the changes and exit the BIOS settings menu.

http://support.hp.com/au-en/document/c00364979

seems F10 should work on laptops too:

With the computer turned Off, press the power button to turn On the computer, and repeatedly press the F10 key. Normally, the Compaq or HP splash screen will display a message to press F10 to enter the BIOS just before the BIOS menu is displayed.

http://support.hp.com/au-en/document/c00034791

I wonder how hard it is to get to cmos battery in the laptop, removing it and battery for 20 minutes would reset bios and in most cases that opens it on 1st boot as you need to set defaults again.

Aargh this is so frustrating
I found my bios. I'd found it a long time ago.
However, the advanced tab in my bios is 'missing'. I looked up a few posts for related laptops and a user said it's been 'locked'.
Wtf why the hell would they lock my bios?
Anyways, is there any other way to disable IGPUs apart from the bios?
I should've given this earlier, but my laptop model is HP af006ax
Sorry for the trouble, I can generally work my way around my pc, but I'm scared of ruining my mobo if I do something wrong in my bios.

 

[Colif]

i found your post on hp forums (or there is a massive coincidence and someone else wants to do same thing) - http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Operating-System-and-Recovery/No-advanced-tab-in-Bios/m-p/5874977

If a system administrator or an IT department maintains the computer, some of the standard BIOS options might be locked out and might not display on the BIOS Setup window. If the computer is an HP or Compaq business model, it might have HP Protect Tools installed. This is a utility that allows you to password protect access to the BIOS, or examine and alter the BIOS setup.

Are you the only ever owner of the laptop?

 

[malcx3000]

i found your post on hp forums (or there is a massive coincidence and someone else wants to do same thing) - http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Operating-System-and-Recovery/No-advanced-tab-in-Bios/m-p/5874977

If a system administrator or an IT department maintains the computer, some of the standard BIOS options might be locked out and might not display on the BIOS Setup window. If the computer is an HP or Compaq business model, it might have HP Protect Tools installed. This is a utility that allows you to password protect access to the BIOS, or examine and alter the BIOS setup.

Are you the only ever owner of the laptop?

Yeah, I',m the sole owner/user of the laptop. And since this is HP's fault, I thought of picking their brains too for a solution, so I posted that question on their forum. Btw, this laptop isn't used for business or anything; just a bit of gaming and animation is about all I do with this, apart from the usual study sessions and prep work.
I know this 'rig' isn't all that special, and that is why I don't want to spend more on ram. If I could just free up that hardware reserve, it'd make things a lot more smoother for me on both fronts.

 

[Colif]

I wonder if this helps: http://h20564.www2.hp.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docId=emr_na-c03767649

 

[malcx3000]

I wonder if this helps: http://h20564.www2.hp.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docId=emr_na-c03767649

Step 4 doesn't work. I had to change the first command a bit as well, but the second one gives me

C:\Program Files (x86)\Hewlett-Packard\HP SoftPaq Download Manager > biosconfigutility/nspwd:"new password"
'biosconfigutility' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.

 

[Colif]

OK, i would add something to your hp post mentioning you tried that and the asnwer, and see if anyone answers it. It being a weekend might slow the response down.

 

[malcx3000]

OK, i would add something to your hp post mentioning you tried that and the asnwer, and see if anyone answers it. It being a weekend might slow the response down.

Dude this is crazy. No matter what I tell them, the guy at HP support centre just isn't getting it. Wth should I tell him to make him understand?
http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Operating-System-and-Recovery/No-advanced-tab-in-Bios/m-p/5874977#M465409

 

[Colif]

I don't suppose you can put more ram into the laptop? Are you on 32 or 64bit version?

Looks like you can't unlock the bios and remove the integrated from usage, so it would be better to try to add more ram unless you using a 32bit version?