Windows 7 Ultimate x64 - Installed memory 4GB (3GB usable)

Anonymous
2009-11-05T13:43:36+00:00

I have installed Windows 7 Ultimate x64. In System Properties, Windows tells me I have 4Gb RAM but only 3Gb is usable, displayed in the following format:

Installed memory (RAM): 4.00 GB (3.00 GB usable)

Previous to this installation, I had Vista Ultimate x64 installed and that always showed 4GB and all of it was usuable. What is it about Windows 7 that has changed this? If this is indeed a problem caused by BIOS settings, I have not altered them in any way so does this mean that Windows 7 changes the BIOS settings at the point of install?

I do not believe this to be related to some memory being allocated to my Graphics Card, it already has 512MB of dedicated memory. Why would Windows 7 assign it another 1GB of RAM, giving me a total of 1.5GB graphics memory? As I said, this was NEVER a problem on Vista Ultimate x64.

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Anonymous
2009-11-16T03:11:56+00:00

Hello AshK86,

Thank you for posting on Microsoft Answers Forums.

Can you list what model motherboard, processor and graphics card you are using?  The “Hardware or BIOS reserved” is pointing towards the type of motherboard you have.  I know you said you didn’t see this with Vista, but let’s make sure we rule it out just in case.

Regards,

Edgar

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

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  1. Anonymous
    2009-11-06T01:57:25+00:00

    Hi AshK86,

    Welcome to Microsoft Windows 7 Answers Forum!

    There could be two possibilities with this issue.

    1. May be the maximum memory is not enabled in the BIOS.
    2. Maximum memory is not configured in advanced boot options.

    BIOS.

    You can check with your BIOS manufacturer, about how to enable the maximum memory.

    Check the advanced boot options.

    1. Go to Start, in the search bar type msconfig and press enter.
    2. System Configuration window will open on the screen.
    3. Click on tab named "boot".
    4. Click on "Advanced Options" and uncheck the box for "Maximum Memory".

    Hope it helps. 

    Thanks and Regards:

    Shekhar S - Microsoft Support. 

    Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum.

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  2. Anonymous
    2009-11-06T08:43:03+00:00

    Thanks Shekhar, I have made some progress on the issue.

    Maximum memory in boot options is disabled and I have installed the latest BIOS for my motherboard. After checking in Resource Monitor, I found that 1026MB of RAM was "Hardware or BIOS Reserved". I then downloaded and installed the latest NVidia drivers for my graphics card, rather than using the WDDM assigned drivers. The NVidia Graphics Utility tells me it has 512MB dedicated video memory, and 1026MB shared memory.

    I can only assume that this 1026MB RAM that is "Hardware or BIOS reserved" is the same 1026MB that my graphics card reports is being shared.

    How can I stop my graphics card from reserving 1026MB RAM. Is this something to do with my BIOS or the way Windows 7 handles/assigns memory? As I said previously, this was never an issue when running Windows Vista and I cannot see how installing a new OS can alter BIOS settings.

    Thanks.

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  3. Anonymous
    2009-12-05T00:02:43+00:00

    I have a similar issue. I have just purchased an Acer Asipre R3610 with windows 7 Home premium 64 bit OS.

    msinfo32 advises me I have Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 4GB but then says Total Physical Memory is 3GB.

    I have spent over 4 hours reading the web looking for answers.

    My BIOS correctly reports I have 4096 MB of RAM.

    msconfig "Advanced Options" the "Maximum Memory" is unticked.

    My only thought is that the video card Nvidia ion is reserving the 1GB of RAM. How can I see if this is true? msconfig says it has its own 256MB of RAM and does not mention it holding any.  Is there a way to release this if this is the case?

    Any other advise would be greatly welcomed.

    Regards

    rluner

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  4. Anonymous
    2009-12-14T19:43:57+00:00

    I too am having the same problem. Windows Ultimate x64 RTM

    << Display Details >>>

    Name    NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT

    PNP Device ID    PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0393&SUBSYS_0393196E&REV_A1\4&2921F064&0&0010

    Adapter Type    GeForce 7300 GT, NVIDIA compatible

    Adapter Description    NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT

    Adapter RAM    256.00 MB (268,435,456 bytes)

    Installed Drivers    nvd3dumx.dll,nvd3dum

    Driver Version    8.17.11.9562

    INF File    oem21.inf (Section001 section)

    Color Planes    Not Available

    Color Table Entries    4294967296

    Resolution    1680 x 1050 x 59 hertz

    Bits/Pixel    32

    Memory Address    0xFD000000-0xFDFFFFFF

    Memory Address    0xC0000000-0xFF77FFFF

    Memory Address    0xFC000000-0xFCFFFFFF

    I/O Port    0x0000BC00-0x0000BC7F

    IRQ Channel    IRQ 24

    I/O Port    0x000003B0-0x000003BB

    I/O Port    0x000003C0-0x000003DF

    Memory Address    0xA0000-0xBFFFF

    Driver    c:\windows\system32\drivers\nvlddmkm.sys (8.17.11.9562, 13.06 MB (13,694,056 bytes), 11/28/2009 6:41 PM)

    <<< Conflicts/Sharing >>>

    I/O Port 0x00000000-0x00000CF7    PCI bus

    I/O Port 0x00000000-0x00000CF7    Direct memory access controller

    I/O Port 0x000003C0-0x000003DF    NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT

    I/O Port 0x000003C0-0x000003DF    VIA PCI to PCI Bridge Controller

    IRQ 21    VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller

    IRQ 21    VIA Serial ATA Controller - 0591

    IRQ 21    VIA USB Enhanced Host Controller

    IRQ 23    VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller

    IRQ 23    VIA Rhine II Fast Ethernet Adapter

    Memory Address 0xC0000000-0xFF77FFFF    PCI bus

    Memory Address 0xC0000000-0xFF77FFFF    NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT

    Memory Address 0xC0000000-0xFF77FFFF    VIA PCI to PCI Bridge Controller

    Memory Address 0xA0000-0xBFFFF    PCI bus

    Memory Address 0xA0000-0xBFFFF    NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT

    Memory Address 0xA0000-0xBFFFF    VIA PCI to PCI Bridge Controller

    I/O Port 0x000003B0-0x000003BB    NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT

    I/O Port 0x000003B0-0x000003BB    VIA PCI to PCI Bridge Controller

    << mother board >>

    ECS PT890T-A

    Chipset VIA P4M890  V1.0

    Southbridge - VIA VT8237A

    LPCIO - ITE IT8718

    American Megatrends Inc. BIOS (have the latest update)

    Version 080013

    12/19/2007

    Intel Core 2 Duo E6320

    Conroe

    Socket 775 LGA

    6320 @ 1.86 GHZ

    Technology 65 nm

    L1 Data 2 x 32 KBytes 8-way

    L2 Data 2 x 32 KBytes 8-way

    Level 2 4096 Kbytes 16-way

     **Using CPU-Z info tool Memory is read as DDR2 Single Channel

    Size 4096 MBytes

    I would like to also get some resolve to this. This was one of the main reasons I upgraded to Windows 7 x64

    Any help would be appreciated. I can email the full TXT CPU-Z report if needed. I believe this is definately Windows issue as my BIOS and CPU-Z both report a full 4096 MBytes of Memory.

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