Author Topic: Memory not being recognised by W-XP (Read 310 times)

beet1e · « **on:** July 18, 2003, 06:15:03 AM »

A friend has asked me to look at a problem with their PC. They can't run some programs because of insufficient memory. But there's supposedly 256MB in there - 128MB in each DIMM slot. W-XP (home edition) is recognising only 112MB.

The mobo is a Microstar-6511, though there are apparently two versions of this board. I have not been able to find a full manual. I don't think it's a very good mobo - 2 PCI slots - lol.

Why would XP not recognise all the memory? Is it a BIOS problem?

See partial description of system - extracted from Belarc report:

DRILL · « **Reply #1 on:** July 18, 2003, 11:05:12 AM »

could be that 1 of the memory chips went bad they do that from time to time.

bloom25 · « **Reply #2 on:** July 18, 2003, 01:26:27 PM »

Get a program like memtest86 (the 86 on the end is important), which I think is at http://www.memtest86.com and let it create a boot floppy.

Check and see how much ram this reports and let the test run for about 30 minutes and see if any errors are reported. (You just control alt delete the system to end this program.)

214thCavalier · « **Reply #3 on:** July 18, 2003, 02:53:35 PM »

16 mb of the memory that is reported as missing from the 128mb that is working has almost certainly been assigned for your onboard graphics cards use.

As for the rest as already said run memtest or swap them over slot wise, not impossible your motherboard has a problem.

Also assume you have pulled both sticks and tried reseating them ?

Replicant · « **Reply #4 on:** July 20, 2003, 05:16:31 PM »

I had a problem with the new RAM being too tight a fit. I shaved the tiniest amount off the ends and then popped it into the mobo and XP finally recognised it.

beet1e · « **Reply #5 on:** July 20, 2003, 05:30:48 PM »

Thanks, guys. I went to look at it this afternoon. Although Belarc™ reports that each of the two DIMM slots has a 128MB memory module in it, this was an error. Only one 128MB DIMM was present. I ran that Memtest86 program, and it reported 112MB present. Switched in one of my 256MB modules, and then it reported 240MB. Ran it with both (384MB) and Memtest86 reported 368 present. So 214th has it - 16MB is being allocated to the onboard graphics functionality. This tallies with the fact that there is no dedicated VGA card !!!!

It's basically a PC for the kids, but Dad wants it to work properly so that they can run their games. He also wants it to run faster - slow as all hell at present, but it ran quite a bit faster with my memory module in it. But he doesn't want to spend a fortune. So I've recommended an extra 256MB of memory, and a cheapo 64Mb ATI Radeon 7500 DDR AGP graphics card.

Amazing that Packard-Bell could turn out a system with WXP and only 128MB of RAM and no dedicated vid card. Oh well, that's boxed systems for you.

Replicant · « **Reply #6 on:** July 20, 2003, 05:35:34 PM »

BTW Beetle, is that Patrick McGoohan (aka The Prisoner) in that Lotus Seven avatar?

beet1e · « **Reply #7 on:** July 20, 2003, 05:46:57 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Replicant
BTW Beetle, is that Patrick McGoohan (aka The Prisoner) in that Lotus Seven avatar?

It is indeed. I chose it because as Beet1e in AH1, I feel like No.6 must have felt in The Village. Looking forward to my escape to AH2.

Full size pic

Replicant · « **Reply #8 on:** July 20, 2003, 06:09:10 PM »

A-ha... "I'm not a number, I'm a free man!"

I wouldn't mind to get The Prisoner series on DVD, that was some excellent TV series! I've always wanted to go to Portmerrion too but never got round to it!

beet1e · « **Reply #9 on:** July 21, 2003, 05:25:25 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Replicant
A-ha... "I'm not a number, I'm a free man!"

I wouldn't mind to get The Prisoner series on DVD, that was some excellent TV series! I've always wanted to go to Portmerrion too but never got round to it!

I will not be pushed, stamped, indexed, filed, briefed, debriefed or numbered!

You should go to Portmeirion - well worth the trip if you're in the area. Be seeing you!