Installed new RAM, XP not recognizing it all!

Hi,

I recently purchased some more memory (RAM) for my PC. My PC had 512MB
already, and I installed an additional 1GB of RAM in the second RAM slot. In
the Bios it says I have 1536MB, and it says in the help and support center, I
have a memory capacity of 1.50 GB. However, in My Computer, System
Information it reads: 2.41GHz, 1.00 GB of RAM, and in PC-Doctor (A program
used for fixing problems) it says:
Total Physical Memory: 1.024 GB
Free Physical Memory: 629MB

I don’t understand why this is happening, as my PC supports up to 1GB of RAM
in each of the two memory slots. Obviously both modules are working and
installed correctly, but the OS is not reading them all. My Compaq Presario
uses Windows XP SP2, and has an NVIDIA graphics card. Also it is a desktop
computer.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Swap the memory sticks around and put the 1Gb stick in #1 and the 512 in #2.

"Data" <Data@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:7823401A-3B03-4319-8E37-DDA844E76F68@microsoft.com...
> Hi,
>
> I recently purchased some more memory (RAM) for my PC. My PC had 512MB
> already, and I installed an additional 1GB of RAM in the second RAM slot.
> In
> the Bios it says I have 1536MB, and it says in the help and support
> center, I
> have a memory capacity of 1.50 GB. However, in My Computer, System
> Information it reads: 2.41GHz, 1.00 GB of RAM, and in PC-Doctor (A program
> used for fixing problems) it says:
> Total Physical Memory: 1.024 GB
> Free Physical Memory: 629MB
>
> I don't understand why this is happening, as my PC supports up to 1GB of
> RAM
> in each of the two memory slots. Obviously both modules are working and
> installed correctly, but the OS is not reading them all. My Compaq
> Presario
> uses Windows XP SP2, and has an NVIDIA graphics card. Also it is a desktop
> computer.
>
> Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
>
>
>

Data wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I recently purchased some more memory (RAM) for my PC. My PC had 512MB
> already, and I installed an additional 1GB of RAM in the second RAM slot. In
> the Bios it says I have 1536MB, and it says in the help and support center, I
> have a memory capacity of 1.50 GB. However, in My Computer, System
> Information it reads: 2.41GHz, 1.00 GB of RAM, and in PC-Doctor (A program
> used for fixing problems) it says:
> Total Physical Memory: 1.024 GB
> Free Physical Memory: 629MB
>
> I don’t understand why this is happening, as my PC supports up to 1GB of RAM
> in each of the two memory slots. Obviously both modules are working and
> installed correctly, but the OS is not reading them all. My Compaq Presario
> uses Windows XP SP2, and has an NVIDIA graphics card. Also it is a desktop
> computer.
>
> Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Check boot.ini ? Maxmem ?

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/s.../bb963892.aspx

For issue testing like this, I like to keep a second OS handy.
Like Knoppix from knopper.net, or Ubuntu from ubuntu.com . You
can boot either CD, and don't have to install Linux on the hard
drive to use it. A hard drive doesn't even have to be on the
machine, to use one of those CDs.

I boot the alternate OS, and then see if the same symptoms are
present. For example, if I booted Linux, and found 1.5GB memory
free, then I'd know the hardware was working. And I had a settings
issue on WinXP. If Linux only saw 1GB of memory, then I'd suspect
I had a real hardware problem.

Paul

Thanks, I checked the maxmem and it's empty, and wouldn't exceed 1024MB, so
no solution there. As for switching the sticks around, I'll try tomorrow.
Hope it works!

Thanks again.

Try running Memtest86+, this runs from a boot disk or CD
and should eliminate or confirm if your ram is bad.
Let it run for as long as you can, 2,4,6,8 or more hours,
if no errors by then your ram is OK.
See: http://www.memtest.org/

JS


"Data" <Data@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:7823401A-3B03-4319-8E37-DDA844E76F68@microsoft.com...
> Hi,
>
> I recently purchased some more memory (RAM) for my PC. My PC had 512MB
> already, and I installed an additional 1GB of RAM in the second RAM slot.
> In
> the Bios it says I have 1536MB, and it says in the help and support
> center, I
> have a memory capacity of 1.50 GB. However, in My Computer, System
> Information it reads: 2.41GHz, 1.00 GB of RAM, and in PC-Doctor (A program
> used for fixing problems) it says:
> Total Physical Memory: 1.024 GB
> Free Physical Memory: 629MB
>
> I don't understand why this is happening, as my PC supports up to 1GB of
> RAM
> in each of the two memory slots. Obviously both modules are working and
> installed correctly, but the OS is not reading them all. My Compaq
> Presario
> uses Windows XP SP2, and has an NVIDIA graphics card. Also it is a desktop
> computer.
>
> Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
>
>
>

Thanks, I tried the memtest 86+ website, but I don't have a floppy drive, and
the CD option won't work after I download it. Also, I don't believe the RAM
to be faulty, as the original 512MB worked fine before, and the fact that the
capacity of my RAM went up means the new module must be working too. I'm
guessing, XP is only reading the new module now, and not the old one.
Hopefully this will correct itself when I switch the modules around tomorrow.

Thanks for the input.

Hi again,

I just wanted to inform you, that I ran a computer scan from crucial.com and
it says I have 1536MB of memory (The correct amount). I don't know if this is
significant, but I thought I'd post it.

Thanks.

Thank you for the feedback.

JS

"Data" <Data@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:B1A96C41-6F31-4BD6-8DCE-6DAB1C230453@microsoft.com...
> Hi again,
>
> I just wanted to inform you, that I ran a computer scan from crucial.com
> and
> it says I have 1536MB of memory (The correct amount). I don't know if this
> is
> significant, but I thought I'd post it.
>
> Thanks.
>

Hi,

I just wanted to clarify my previous post. My problem is not yet resolved,
but crucial did report the correct amount in my system. System information on
Windows XP still reports only 1.00GB of RAM. Sorry if my previous post gave
the impression of everything working properly. Tomorrow I will try switching
the modules around if I get the time.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Data wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I recently purchased some more memory (RAM) for my PC. My PC had 512MB
> already, and I installed an additional 1GB of RAM in the second RAM slot. In
> the Bios it says I have 1536MB, and it says in the help and support center, I
> have a memory capacity of 1.50 GB. However, in My Computer, System
> Information it reads: 2.41GHz, 1.00 GB of RAM, and in PC-Doctor (A program
> used for fixing problems) it says:
> Total Physical Memory: 1.024 GB
> Free Physical Memory: 629MB
>
> I don’t understand why this is happening, as my PC supports up to 1GB of RAM
> in each of the two memory slots. Obviously both modules are working and
> installed correctly, but the OS is not reading them all. My Compaq Presario
> uses Windows XP SP2, and has an NVIDIA graphics card. Also it is a desktop
> computer.
>
> Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
>
>
>


You can't just buy any ole RAM module, stick it in, and expect it to work.

It is absolutely essential that any new RAM module(s) be fully
compatible with both the motherboard and/or any other RAM module(s)
already in the system. Additionally, there are sometimes jumper
switches on older motherboards that need to be reset for new RAM
configurations. Consult your motherboard's manual or the manufacturer's
web site for specific instructions and compatibility requirements.

If you cannot lay your hands upon the computer's manual and the
manufacturer doesn't provide a support web site, you can use these
utilities to help determine the correct type of RAM needed:

SiSoft's Sandra
http://www.sisoftware.co.uk/index.ph...are_dl&lang=en

Belarc Advisor
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

Unlimited Possibilities' AIDA32
http://forum.aumha.org/overflow/aida32.zip

Also, Crucial Memory's web site (www.crucial.com) has a database to
help to find the right RAM for your specific make and model computer
and/or motherboard. (Incidentally, Crucial is the only company from
which I ever buy RAM. I've never been disappointed.)


--

Bruce Chambers

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