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Task Manager does not show the extra RAM I installed.

Anonymous
2010-03-27T15:10:43+00:00

I recently upgraded the RAM in my desktop from 4GB to 8GB but Task Manager still displays 4GB.  How do I get it to recognize the total 8GB of RAM.  On the Control Panel - System and Maintenance - System display window it shows that my desktop has 8GB.  So why doesn't Task Manager pick it up?

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  1. Anonymous
    2010-03-28T02:15:41+00:00

    Hi Teresa Barton,

    This behavior is the expected result of certain hardware and software factors. Various devices in a typical computer require memory-mapped access. This is known as memory-mapped I/O (MMIO). For the MMIO space to be available to 32-bit operating systems, the MMIO space must reside within the first 4 GB of address space.

    You may refer the link below which might help you in resolving the issue.

    The system memory that is reported in the System Information dialog box in Windows Vista is less than you expect if 4 GB of RAM is installed

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929605/en-us

    Note When the physical RAM that is installed on a computer equals the address space that is supported by the chipset, the total system memory that is available to the operating system is always less than the physical RAM that is installed. For example, consider a computer that has an Intel 975X chipset that supports 8 GB of address space. If you install 8 GB of RAM, the system memory that is available to the operating system will be reduced by the PCI configuration requirements. In this scenario, PCI configuration requirements reduce the memory that is available to the operating system by an amount that is between approximately 200 MB and approximately 1 GB. The reduction depends on the configuration.

    Please post back and let us know if this has helped to resolve your issue.

    Regards,

    KarthiK TP

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  1. Anonymous
    2010-09-16T00:17:57+00:00

    It appears that http://support.microsoft.com/kb/888137 describes this problem, but does not provide any fix.

    Edward

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-09-15T23:05:48+00:00

    Manjit and Jason, the OP didn't come back (one-time poster), but it appears you did not read her question carefully. She was already using 4GB and upgraded to 8GB, and didn't report any problems with 4GB, so she must be using a 64-bit system already. She also reported a 4GB difference between Task Manager and System properties, which is far more than the "up to 1GB" in the linked KB article.

    I have the same issue: System properties reports 8GB and Task Manager reports 4GB. This is immediately after the upgrade, so perhaps it will correct itself after another reboot. However, I think that MS Support should be aware of this condition rather than proposing the answer to a more common problem which is not relevant to this case.

    For the record,  I'm using Windows Vista with latest updates on a Toshiba Tecra A10, which is supposed to handle 8GB.

    Edward

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