Windows Vista does not report all my memory
- I’m running Windows Vista Ultimate 32-bit and I have 8 GB of memory installed. My Bios sees the 8 GB of memory. When I check system properties it only shows 3 GB of memory. How do I get my computer to show all 8 GB?
- Edited byRobyn-Support Engineer Monday, December 08, 2008 11:53 PM
- Edited byTheresa-Support Engineer Wednesday, December 10, 2008 6:44 PMedit
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Answers
This is a limitation of the 32-bit operating system. For more information on this, please see the following Article:
The RAM reported by the System Properties dialog box and the System Information tool is less than you expect in Windows Vista or in Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/888137/en-us
Please also see:
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
- Edited byTheresa-Support Engineer Wednesday, December 10, 2008 6:44 PMedit
- Marked As Answer byRobyn-Support Engineer Monday, December 08, 2008 10:59 PM
All Replies
This is a limitation of the 32-bit operating system. For more information on this, please see the following Article:
The RAM reported by the System Properties dialog box and the System Information tool is less than you expect in Windows Vista or in Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/888137/en-us
Please also see:
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
- Edited byTheresa-Support Engineer Wednesday, December 10, 2008 6:44 PMedit
- Marked As Answer byRobyn-Support Engineer Monday, December 08, 2008 10:59 PM
- The easiest answer for this question will be:
Upgrade your Vista to Service Pack 1 (SP1). You still will not be able to use RAM memory over amount about of 3-3,5 GB but your Vista show you all 8 GB - How can I use the memory above the 3,5 GiB?
Another question about it: is the swap file a part of the limitation of the 3,5 GiB?
I am now running: Windows Home Premium 32 bit and thinking about upgrade to run 64 bit.
- Goof2000, you will require upgrading to a 64-bit OS, as such RAM limitation is related to the system architecture
Rami
Microsoft Answers Support Engineer
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