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Windows 10 using 4GB reserved RAM

Anonymous
2019-02-17T01:08:10+00:00

hello  I was curious if there is a fix for this issue. My PC recently updated to the newest win10 build and I was wondering why the PC shows 8GB ram installed however only 4GB are usable with 4GB in hardware reserved. I do not know what could be causing this as my video card is independent and an on board chip . I have tried many "fix's" suggested online with nothing working . I have included some pics of system info and info using CPU-z. Windows shows that 8Gb are installed however only 4GB usable. if anyone has a working fix short of wiping system and reinstalling windows in hopes it fixes the issue . ![](https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/8d100df8-0199-4f9b-8170-75fcbc664e31?platform=QnA"https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/a19bd297-5fc0-4d75-87f7-d067b9bac78c?platform=QnA" rel="ugc nofollow">

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Performance and system failures

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  1. Anonymous
    2019-02-18T21:40:12+00:00

    well we fixed the issue.. lol.. ok so this is what I was doing while away. I thought , well If I was going to have to rebuild anyway I would try reseating the CPU so I did and loosely installed heat sync ( as I didnt wanna have to tighten 100% for quick test) . well low and behold Bios reads 8Gb ram.. YAY I'm happy.. so I tighten down the CPU cooler excited that I thought I discovered the issue (with help of course) .  restarted machine and bios reads only 4gb.. I was like ****.. well long story short I guess the CPU cooler was pressing too hard on the CPU once I loosened it a bit my system now says 8GB ram with only 2.4mb hardware so I guess lesson learned, dont tighten CPU cooler to where the screws bottom out I guess, I always thought that you were supposed to .. but very happy this issue is fixed  

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  1. Anonymous
    2019-02-18T13:40:55+00:00

    its a Gigabyte GA-78LMT-S2 (Socket M2) Rev 1.2

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  2. Anonymous
    2019-02-18T13:24:49+00:00

    What is the make and model of the motherboard?

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  3. Anonymous
    2019-02-18T13:21:32+00:00

    HI thank you for that info , sadly it did not fix the issue.  I think I have discovered where why 2GB is "reserved" due to my GPU after looking at the vid card properties I noticed it said that it was 2GB dedicated and2GB shared but that same info states that it is  120 ish MB reserved so I  dont know whats going on .  Ive done all I can think of, tested each stick of ram with MEMTest, both passed, tested each with windows memory and again passed, in the BIOS I can only see 4GB , and after reading the info on my MOBO it states : Memory Š 2 x 1.5V DDR3 DIMM sockets supporting up to 16 GB of system memory *   Due to a  Windows 32-bit operating system limitation, when more than 4 GB of physical memory is installed, the actual memory size displayed will be less than the size of the physical memory installed. Š Dual channel memory architecture Š Support for DDR3 1333+ (O.C.)/1066 MHz memory modules (Go to GIGABYTE's website for the latest supported memory speeds and memory modules.)

    I am running windows 10 64 bit which was preinstalled on this PC .. all drivers are up to date etc.. Ive done every trick I can find online to fix this issue.  I know both RAM slots work , as I tested by more or less removing both sticks, then booting with just one (each individual) .. timing how long the start up is, and with both sticks in it is clearly much faster so that would (in my mind) indicate that both sticks are working.  I just cant seem to figure out why my Bios only reads 4gb (unless its a Cmos thing due to MOBO being older I dunno) .  perhaps I'm worried about nothing as system does seem to work well for all I use it for I just find it strange that exactly half my RAM gets reserved. I even swapped sticks for 2 2GB sticks and it did same thing, locked 2GB as hardware reserved.  I think im at a loss here as I have spent days doing all the suggested "tricks and fixes" with none working

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  4. Anonymous
    2019-02-17T02:55:57+00:00

    Hi Gord

    Usually resetting the BIOS default resolves this. Here are steps, might vary because of your configuration.

    https://www.groovypost.com/howto/reset-pc-bios-...

    If that does not work and you have a desktop computer...

    Power down

    Unplug it

    Open the system unit

    Remove the CMOS CR-2032 chip

    Plug it in, start the machine, wait 10 seconds

    Power down, unplug it, reinstall the CMOS CR-2032 chip

    Plug it in again, power up

    Information in the above link is sourced from a trusted Microsoft MVP blog.

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