RAM problems.

[SleepingYoyo]

I'm running a ASUS P5B with 4G of RAM (All identical 1G crucial sticks) a E6600 C2D and a 7950GT and I've recently upgraded to Vista Ultimate (32bit) .

The problem is only 2Gb of RAM is registering in the OS.
All 4 Gb is registering in the bios before hand but only 2Gb is showing in Vista. I was fairly comfortable that Vista could support 4Gb even the 32bit varient, or am I wrong ?

I have done some googling to no avail.

Does anyone have any ideas?
Or similar problems?

Thanks,
Sleeping Yoyo.

[Fireblade]

I don't know why only 2GB would be showing at the desktop, 'coz 32bit versions of Vista can certainly support up to 4GB RAM?

Windows Vista maximum supported RAM (http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-Vista-Maximum-Supported-RAM-44487.shtml)...



The 32-bit editions of Windows Vista Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, Enterprise and Ultimate, all support a maximum of 4GB of RAM.

[Tom]

Boot an Ubuntu live CD - does it work there? :)

[Cosmo_1847]

Try memtest or swapping the sticks around as it's possible that 2 of the 1GB sticks has died or is faulty. It's very unlikely but possible.

[nicky munchkin]

I don't know why only 2GB would be showing at the desktop, 'coz 32bit versions of Vista can certainly support up to 4GB RAM?

Windows Vista maximum supported RAM (http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-Vista-Maximum-Supported-RAM-44487.shtml)...
They support 4 gig RAM but we had about 5 different threads on here with people moaning there computer would only read 3.25 gig. So although it takes 4 gig, it can only use 3 ish.

[SleepingYoyo]

I ran memtest, things don't look good.
Well...
I've never actually ran memtest before, so I don't even know how to interpret these results, but they're red so i'm guessing that's bad.

First line goes like this:

WallTime
3:16:55

Cached
4095M

RsvdMem
508K

MemMap
e850-Std

Cache
On

ECC
off

Test Pass
Std 3

Errors
4096

Ecc Errs
0

Followed by alot of red lines filled with failing addresses, the majority seem to be failing on test 8. I'm not sure what other information I should post here, but if anyone needs more just ask, memtest is still running on the problem machine.

What can I do to resolve these issues ?
Is it simply a case of buying new memory :(
Also I think this post probably belongs in another forum now...

Yours,
SleepingYoyo

[Cosmo_1847]

Take all the sticks out and then run memtest on them one by one. This will show you which RAM sticks are faulty.

[SleepingYoyo]

I've started the process.
I take it any failing addresses on the stick means that it's faulty?
Or is there a acceptable number of failing addresses on a stick of memory, like you can expect a dead pixel on a LCD screen ?

You can tell I know little about the inner workings of memory can't you :P

Thanks for the help so far,

SleepingYoyo.

[Cosmo_1847]

If any errors are found on the stick you should get it replaced.

[SleepingYoyo]

It now makes perfect sense why Vista was only registering 2GB, because 2 out of 4 sticks were faulty :(

I'm pretty sure my faulty sticks should be covered by warrenty as i've been running them at the standard voltages, etc.

Thanks for your help and suggestions (Cosmo specifically),
SleepingYoyo.

[Cosmo_1847]

:)

Most RAM comes with a lifetime warranty so you should be fine. Having 2 out of 4 sticks of RAM faulty is pretty rare.

[Fireblade]

They support 4 gig RAM but we had about 5 different threads on here with people moaning there computer would only read 3.25 gig. So although it takes 4 gig, it can only use 3 ish.

I know that Nicky.

My comment was simply by way of confirmation to Sleeping Yoyo that 32bit editions of Vista can (theoretically) support up to 4GB RAM, because he'd said/asked...



I was fairly comfortable that Vista could support 4Gb even the 32bit varient, or am I wrong?


But it's nearer 4GB than the 3GB you've suggested (3.75GB IIRC?) ;)