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Windows not detecting proper ram amount

Discussion in 'PC Hardware' started by poetink, 2009/02/08.

  1. 2009/02/08
    poetink

    poetink Inactive Thread Starter

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    Hi,

    I'm running windows xp home edition on a computer that a friend of mine recently gave me. He gave it to me mainly because he had gotten a laptop and prefers using that, also he gave it to me because he was having speed problems with it. When I first hooked it up and booted it up, it did boot up severely slow and opening windows and programs were dragging like crazy.

    I basically fixed the general speed problem by uninstalling programs, downloading and running anti spyware and anti virus programs (both of which found quite a bit).

    After doing all of this, the computer boots up a bit faster than it did at first, but it still seems a little slow. after it boots up, everything loads very much faster.

    What I'm wondering is, could the problem I'm about to tell you have anything to do at least with the slow boot up?

    I checked the amount of ram installed, and according to windows (via right clicking my computer), it's telling me that there is only 192 MB of ram installed. But I took the computer apart and looked at the ram card, and it's a 256 MB card. I also went to crucial.com and used their detection utility, and it's telling me that I indeed have 256 MB of installed ram.

    I tried switching the card from slot 1 to slot 2 but it still detects only 192 MB.

    The paging file size was set for 192 MB. (I changed it to the settings for 256 MB of ram) it even recommends a paging file size for 192 MB (which is 286, I switched it to 384 for initial size and 1152 for maximum size)

    I also checked the BIOS settings and it shows 256 MB

    All in all the computer (especially on the internet), is running like it has 256 MB of speed, mainly because my previous computer was running with 192 MB of ram, and sites I go to now definitely run allot faster than they did on my previous computer. (meaning sites with big flash animations and things like that).

    Any idea what could be going on?

    One problem this caused is a piece of software I tried to install that required 256 MB of ram. the installation was halted telling me it wouldn't install because I didn't have at least 256 MB of ram.

    One last thing..I currently ordered another 256 MB ram card from crucial.com which is on it's way. So hopefully adding this new card (to make 512 MB) will improve things. But I'd still like to know why windows isn't detecting the ram properly.

    Thanks
     
    Last edited: 2009/02/08
  2. 2009/02/08
    visionof

    visionof Inactive

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    Onboard Video card

    My guess is that you have an onboard video card rather than an add on (AGP or PCI express ) video card
    The system has allocated ram from the system ram for the onboard video card
    You have two options:

    1) go into the bios and change the allocation of ram for the video card
    2) add a video card

    or I guess install more ram modules
     

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  4. 2009/02/08
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Yep - almost certainly a 64Mb on board graphics chip using system RAM. With 512 Mb installed Windows should report 448 Mb.
     
  5. 2009/02/08
    poetink

    poetink Inactive Thread Starter

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    Ok, how do I change the allocation of ram for the video card?

    Thanks guys :)
     
  6. 2009/02/08
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Not always possible , but if it is possible you will find means of setting it in under Display Properties.
     
  7. 2009/02/08
    poetink

    poetink Inactive Thread Starter

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    If I can do it, what would I set it to exactly? (or is the answer obvious?)

    Thanks Pete.
     
  8. 2009/02/08
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    32 Mb would be more than adequate - clearly you won't be playing high end games with an onboard graphics chip :) Try less and if your colour depth won't reach 32 bit increase it - unless you are happy with 16 bit colour.
     
  9. 2009/02/08
    poetink

    poetink Inactive Thread Starter

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    Thanks Pete. It was set on auto in the BIOS. So I set it to 32MB and windows now says I have 224MB of ram instead of 192MB.

    I didn't try the 16MB setting though. But it seems good for the time being. I'll try the 16MB setting later. But at least it's showing a closer amount of ram that I actually have now. :)
     
  10. 2009/02/08
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Glad you got that sorted :)
    The amount of RAM that is installed is not necessarily the amount of RAM accessible by Windows. As previously stated some of the RAM is assigned to the onboard graphics - now 32Mb - Windows cannot use that RAM.

    If you had a plug in graphics card that would have it's own RAM on board and the full amount of the installed RAM would be available to Windows - up to a limit, but that's another story :)
     
  11. 2009/02/08
    poetink

    poetink Inactive Thread Starter

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    I see what you mean Pete.

    Well, to give you an update, I set the BIOS for 16MB and this time windows showed 240MB of ram. So for the heck of it I went back and set it to the last setting before auto, 8MB and now windows shows 248MB of ram. And I'm still able to have 32bits of color so everything's good. :)

    So with what you just said about windows not always having access to all the installed ram unless there's a plug in graphics card with it's own ram, then what I have it set on now is the most I'll get, and that's fine. :) The boot up also seems to have improved too.

    Thanks again Pete. I wouldn't have known what to do without your help! This is the best place to get help at, everybody here is great! :D
     
  12. 2009/02/08
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    You're welcome :) You should see a noticeable increase in performance with the additional 256Mb installed
     
  13. 2009/02/08
    poetink

    poetink Inactive Thread Starter

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    Yes..I definitely am seeing an improvement in performance right now, and I know I'll see more with the new ram card. :)

    Now I just need help with my other problem with windows update over at the the windows xp forum and I should be good all around! LOL :)
     
    Last edited: 2009/02/08
  14. 2009/02/10
    poetink

    poetink Inactive Thread Starter

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    Just an update to let you know that my new 256MB RAM card arrived today and I popped it in, hooked my computer back up, and now the computer is booting up allot faster, and everything else is zooming around like mad. :)

    And windows is saying that I now have 504MB of RAM installed. Close enough for me! :D

    Thanks again for your help everyone!
     

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