Windows 7 - only 3.98GB usable of 8GB

Maxikq

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Mar 24, 2013
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Hello!

I've got a problem: my windows 7 uses only 3.98GB out of 8GB.
Applications, bios and system recognize 8GB correctly, but can't use it, i don't know why.

Only one thing helps - msconfig -> boot -> advanced options -> maximum memory 8192, but after turn off the computer for night it comes back and again only 3.98GB available.

I've tried to change memory slots, but it didn't help.
 

hero1

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May 9, 2012
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32-bit version is limited to just 4GB of RAM. So if that's what you have then windows is displaying it correctly. And if you have the 64-bit version then try to resit the sticks on different slots. If that doesn't work then you might have faulty ram.
 

Maxikq

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Mar 24, 2013
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I use 64bit version! :p Now I turned off that option in msconfig and it uses full 8GB, so I must do some experiment with restarts, because I'm sure that it will go back to 3.98GB again...
 

Maxikq

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Mar 24, 2013
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I've done reboot, but now everything is OK- full 8GB, but I know that if I turn off my computer for longer time (for example whole night) then it will show again 3.98GB.
Maybe something is wrong with CMOS battery?
Now I can't check it, so tomorrow if this problem shows up again, then I'll take a screenshot and let you know ;-).
 

BwwwJ1st

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Nov 3, 2012
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I have an Asus CM1740 that shows up as 3.98GB of RAM some boots and as 8GB other times. I have not taken the time to fully figure out why, as it is only my media server. The memory size is reported diferently in two different menu's in the BIOS. I have not checked for a BIOS update yet, but think my problem is hardware vice software. Not sure if this helps, but maybe....
 

Maxikq

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Mar 24, 2013
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Thank you for information. Maybe tomorrow I'll check for some bios update.

-------------

As I thought, it went back to 3.98GB.
Screenshot:
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/105509493/Przechwytywanie3.PNG

Grey area is reserved by hardware... but what takes 4GB of memory?



EDIT:
I changed in BIOS memory frequency from AUTO to 1333MHz(as my memory) and full 8GB now :))).
if it stops working, I'll let you know.
 

Maxikq

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Mar 24, 2013
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Strange thing, after the night it went back to 3.98GB, but this setting is still in BIOS (so it's not a battery).
Even more strange is what I discovered - that saving changes in BIOS fixes memory problem (even without any changes).
I don't know what's going on, maybe I'll try to find BIOS update.
 

hero1

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May 9, 2012
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very weird. bios update should help.i hope.
 

Maxikq

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Mar 24, 2013
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New discover: it's not bios. Now I know what exactly fixes that problem. First start up of my computer causes that 4GB are reserved for hardware (don't know why), but simple reboot makes that full 8 GB are available. Any ideas what's going on?