When working with Windows-systems from many users you can hear complaints about the fact that sometimes the computer does not see the RAM in full, or the entire installed amount is unavailable for use. Why not everyone knows why this happens, therefore it’s worth understanding this problem, and at the same time finding out what concrete steps can be taken to correct the situation, if, of course, this is possible.
Why the computer does not see RAM
Let's start by clarifying the causes of this phenomenon. The most important condition for determining the total installed amount of RAM, most experts call the restrictions on the part of motherboards and operating systems. For example, why does the computer not see the second RAM, which is installed additionally? Yes, only because the motherboard is not able to maintain the amount of RAM above the limit set for it. Also, the reason may consist in the fact that installing additional memory bars in a certain slot is also possible only up to a certain limit.
Windows operating systems also play an important role. Their problem is the architecture used for each specific modification (x86 or x64). 32-bit operating systems specifically for the use of RAM have a strict limitation of only 4 GB. Some modifications of the same Windows 7 determine volumes above this limit, but they don’t want to work with them in any way (although they can).
Often the situation is further aggravated by the fact that the “RAM” itself can be occupied by active system or other processes, not to mention the fact that if the motherboard has an integrated video card of the Video-on-Board class, and not a discrete one, some RAM can be reserved and under it. Finally, it is impossible to exclude situations when the computer does not see the second bar of RAM, if different volumes or different types of RAM are installed. And, of course, you cannot discount the support of the primary input / output systems themselves. If the BIOS does not recognize the memory, for example, due to outdating the firmware itself or incorrectly set settings, actions taken in the operating system will not reveal it either.
Incorrect installation of memory sticks
Based on the foregoing, we turn to possible solutions to the current problem. To get started, just check to see if the memory bars themselves are set physically clean.
Loose contact may provoke this situation. If the computer does not see the second random access memory, which differs in class from the first bracket, pay attention to the fact that, for example, for dual-channel DDR brackets, it is recommended to install only equipment of the same manufacturer and only the same size. It goes without saying that you cannot install types that differ from each other (some “specialists” try to combine, say, DDR2 and DDR4, which is unacceptable).
RAM problems
Quite often, the reason that the computer does not see the RAM may be a violation of the performance of the slats themselves. We are talking, of course, about additionally installed volumes. After all, if RAM were not recognized at all (in the same BIOS), starting a computer would simply be impossible.
In order not to use third-party software like Memetest86 +, in which the average user may not understand, it is recommended to perform a memory check using the system tools by calling the necessary tool from the Run menu with the mdsched combination.
Here you will need to use an immediate check with a reboot. It is possible, at least partially, but the problem will be fixed.
System Bit Issues
The biggest problem is the bit depth of the installed operating system. The architecture of the 32-bit OS itself is such that it is simply not able to work with RAM volumes that exceed 4 GB. Partially this problem is solved by disabling the restriction, which will be described below.
But, as a rule, if it is supposed to install modern programs for working with multimedia or resource-intensive games on a computer, it is better to reinstall the system, giving preference to Windows x64 modifications.
Configuration setting
For operating systems Windows 7 and below, the problem of boot settings that are present in the configuration is often described. They usually set a limit with a certain value.
If the computer does not see RAM for this reason, you need to do the following:
- Call the configurator (msconfig).
- On the download tab, go to additional settings and uncheck the box for setting the maximum RAM.
- Then completely reboot the system.
The computer does not see the RAM completely: video card problems
Another common situation is integrated video chips. With a small amount of their allocated memory, to ensure the correct operation of such devices, additional memory is reserved due to RAM (this somewhat resembles the reservation of space on the hard disk for virtual memory). In this case, tuning can only be done in the BIOS.
- When you turn on the computer or laptop in the primary system, you need to find an item like Onboard Video Memory Size, Onboard VGA Frame Buffer, VGA Share Memory Size, etc.
- Set this option to Disabled or automatic sizing.
Reset and update BIOS
However, it also happens that a computer does not see RAM exclusively for the reason that it is not recognized just at the BIOS level. There are only two options: either the settings are set incorrectly, or the outdated firmware of the primary system itself is not designed to work with new equipment.
In the first case, it will be enough just to perform a complete reset of the parameters using the appropriate item (Load Setup Defaults or something similar), followed by an automatic restart.
The second option is a bit more complicated, since quite often it is difficult for an ordinary user to update the firmware independently. The installed firmware must fully correspond to the primary system itself, and the update must be done as carefully as possible, since one incorrect step can lead to the most unpredictable consequences. With UEFI systems, everything is much simpler, since for them updates can be installed directly in the Windows environment. But, again, the updated firmware must meet all the installation requirements (version, microcircuit manufacturer, software developer, etc.).
A few words in the end
It remains to add that in the case when the full and available RAM volumes are approximately at the same level, you can try to terminate unnecessary active processes, disable some startup elements or deactivate even unused or unnecessary background services and components of Windows systems, which will significantly reduce the load on the operational memory and processor, and even add speed.