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Martinmoesby
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October 18th, 2007 19:00
4GB memory not available in 64bit OS
Hi everyone,
We've just recently purchased 2 standard Dell Vostro 400 with a total of 4GB memory.
The computers came preinstalled with Windows Vista Business 32bit, but due to the 32bit memory allocation limit, I've installed the Vista Business 64bit OS on one of the computers. The other one is unchanged.
So, now 1 computer shouild show 3,25GB ram, the other should show 4GB ram, but they dont. They show the exact same amount of memory, which is 3,25GB.
"OK", I said to myself, "maybe I need to set the BOIS to reallocate extended memory in the 2-4GB range to 4-6GB range...." (also known as PAE) but alas....the BIOS doesn't seem to have that feature...
"OK", i said again, "maybe I should use the 'bcdedit.exe /set PAE' command...."
Burned out again...
So here's my support question : HOW do I get the 64Bit OS to recognize the full amount of memory in these systems ? Any help would really be appreciated, since my colleague is really anxoius to get the full amount available....
Kind regards,
Martin
PS : In my Phoenix BIOS in my Private computer, it's the PAE option under the Northbridge Chipset configuration, but what it's called in the AMI bios in the Vostro 400, I dont know.
1075
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Posted October 19th, 2007 09:00
I don't remember the install procedure either but it does involve removing 2GB of memory until after the 64 bit OS is installed. The procedure has been detailed on the Software/Vista section of the forum and a search there should get you the info. I think Microsoft also has the procedure on their web site too.
Message Edited by fireberd on 10-19-2007 06:45 AM
Inspiron 16 5630 Laptop and WD22TB4 Docking StationSelf-built desktop for recording studio application1075
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Posted October 25th, 2007 13:00
Hi,Did you ever resolve your issue? I have a Vostro 200 with the same problem. Yes, I have XP 64bit and Vista 64bit and both DO NOT recognize the 4GB, just 3.25.I read somewhere that it actually might be an issue with the northbridge chipset no being able to address all 4GB of RAM. I have an older AMD motherboard that only recognizes 3.2 GB in the BIOS, and there is an chipset limitation explain in the MicroStar manual about why I dont see 4GB.What confuses me is that I see the 4GB in the BIOS, but I think Dell has turned off the memory map feature we need to enable all 4GB!!!!Also, anyone who replies, please dont ask why I need 4GB of ram, or tell me that the system is using 512MB for the PCI express card. If that were the case, then when I install 2GB of ram, Task Manager should only show 1.5GB.Thanks,Fix1075
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Posted October 26th, 2007 06:00
No, I never did resolve this issue.I believe that you are right about the BIOS. I think DELL has removed that feature in the BIOS deliberately, to prevent getting too many support tickets regarding the missing 2 GB, if a user mistakenly applies the Remap feature on a 32bit system.I just think that Dell chooses to ignore their users and simply have theWe-are-Dell-and-we-alone-know-what-you-need-so-dont-come-complaining to-us-because-you-have-exactly-what-you-can-handle - attitude.That's arrogant and not very customer-friendly, but what can we do? Other than hope that someone from Dell with any kind of influence reads this and make something happen, or next time we buy a new computer, choose NOT to use Dell as the supplier.For now, I've settles for 3,25 Gigs, and now I'm waiting for an updated BIOS with the Memory Remap feature activated.1075
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Posted November 21st, 2007 02:00
I just wanted to chime in on this too.
I have the Vostro 400 with 4GB of RAM and no matter what I try only 3.25GB is recognized by the OS. I'd like to hear from Dell as to what exactly is supposed to be done here? Does this system require 4 single sided DDR2 modules in order to get the full 4GB recognized or some other completely off the wall memory configuration?
I tried the following and got the same results so it's not an OS issue. It has to be hardware:
Windows 2003 x64 Enterprise Edition
Windows 2003 x86 Enterprise Edition
Windows Vista x64 Ultimate (installed with 2GB and then added 2GB afterward)
Windows Vista x86 Ultimate (installed with the full 4GB)
Ubuntu 7.10 Server
All of these only reported 3.25GB.
Dell, please let us know what needs to occur here to get all 4GB recognized by the OS when the BIOS shows 4GB.
Thanks.1075
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Posted November 21st, 2007 08:00
I think i read that you have to add the 4GB after the 64bits installation, but like i said in my earlyer post i think there is something to do in bios.Claude1075
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Posted March 31st, 2008 13:00
This is definitely a BIOS issue (lack of memory remapping, either automatically or manually), which has just been fixed on the Inspiron 530's 1.0.12 BIOS:
http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&releaseid=R181000&SystemID=INSP_DSKTP_D530&servicetag=&os=WLH&osl=en&deviceid=14390&devlib=0&typecnt=0&vercnt=5&catid=-1&impid=-1&formatcnt=1&libid=1&fileid=246767
Release notes item 4 says:
" 4. Correct Memory Map for => 4GB configurations."
No sign of an equivalent BIOS fix for the Vostro 400 though - I'm anxious to get my 771MB back!
1075
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Posted April 7th, 2008 21:00
This is actually the "real" solution post, because Dell have finally released the BIOS fix for the Vostro 400! Of course, they decided to jump over the Inspiron 530's version and go to 1.0.13, which means the release notes make no mention of the 4GB fix (that was in the 1.0.12 release) and, equally annoyingly, this is therefore marked as "Optional", whereas the 1.0.12 release for the 530 was "Critical".
I have applied the 1.0.13 and "free" now reports 4061520K total usable physical RAM - yay, I got most of my 771MB back. I suspect I can recover more by tweaking the integrated video RAM usage down further (I've lost 130MB RAM, but the video is set to grab 128MB of that). Go download that BIOS at:
http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&releaseid=R182385&SystemID=VOS_D_400&servicetag=&os=WLH&osl=en&deviceid=15741&devlib=0&typecnt=0&vercnt=6&catid=-1&impid=-1&formatcnt=1&libid=1&fileid=248663
My Frankenstein PS/2 keyboard + PS/2->USB adapter combo stopped working with the 1.0.13 release, so I've put the original Dell multimedia keyboard back until I find out what the issue is. Note that initial boots using the PS/2 keyboard/adapter into 1.0.13 were dog slow - another thread pointed out that booting with no keyboard/mouse seems to reset the USB behaviour of the BIOS (reboot a second time, this time with the keyboard/mouse plugged in)...I'll try that and see if it fixes it (it did!).
Message Edited by rkl on 04-07-2008 06:34 PM
beau511
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168 Posts
1075
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Posted October 19th, 2007 01:00