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We have just upgraded a PC running Windows 7 Enterprise Edition (32bit) to have 4gb of memory instead of 2gb.

Previously, there was 989mb of usable memory (with 2gb total installed). After upgrading, the computer now shows 4gb of total memory with 989mb usable.

Why has the available memory not increased? How can I make this memory available for usage?

As stated, it is recognizing the memory but not showing it as usable memory.

Thanks.

Update

Looking at Resource Monitor, it appears that the Hardware Reserved Memory is 3gb. So when I inserted the additional 2gb of memory, it was all taken as Hardware Reserved Memory and added not a single MB to Usable Memory.

What could cause this?

My other machines are only reserving roughly 1gb.

Update - Solution Found

It looks like the graphics card was faulty and consuming all RAM except for 989mb regardless of how much RAM was installed. It has been replaced with a different graphics card and Usable Memory is now what was expected (Roughly 3gb).

Thanks for all the answers!

user316683
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2 Answers2

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Well the upgrade has been successful, I’d say there could be a process using a that memory, have you looked via Task Manager or Process Explorer to find it?

Ben Lavender
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You need to tell us what the make/model number of the laptop/all-in-one is ... if that is what you are using.

If you are using a desktop machine then tell us either the make/model number or if it's a custom build then the make/model number of the motherboard.

There are LOTS of older machines out there that (because of BIOS limitations) will only recognize 2 GB of RAM max. I even ran into one where the manufacturer (and Crucial) said "2 GB max." When you put in 4 GB it didn't work, but, amazingly, 3 GB would work and be recognized by the OS. The manufacturer had really hobbled things in the BIOS.

mrpete
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