The system does not see 8 GB of RAM. Resetting and updating BIOS

Facebook

From random access memory The performance of your computer largely depends on it. Therefore, it is especially important that the RAM installed on your PC works properly. Unfortunately, users often find that the computer does not recognize the installed OS. In this article we will figure out what to do if the computer does not see RAM.

The first and most common reason is using a 32-bit version of Windows. Not all users know and understand the difference between 32- and 64-bit versions of Windows. You should know that a 32-bit system will not see more than four gigabytes of RAM. Therefore, if your computer has 6 gigabytes or more of RAM, do not install Windowsx32. Otherwise, 2 gigabytes will not be used. If this is your case, this will fix the problem Windows installation x64.

Another important point that many also overlook is the importance of releasing an operating system. “Initial”, “Maximum”, “Home” - all these are not just names. The maximum available amount of RAM depends on the edition. For example, in the basic home version of Windows 7, only 8 gigabytes of RAM are available to the user, even if a 64-bit operating system is installed. So be sure to familiarize yourself with all the restrictions that exist in the version of the OS you have installed, or in the one you are going to install.

In addition, the motherboard may have a limitation on the maximum amount of RAM. The number of slots for OP modules does not guarantee that the motherboard will work with all of them. You can find out this through the BIOS. To do this, press the F2 or Delete key on your keyboard (it may be different, depending on the brand of PC). Once in the BIOS, you can see how much RAM your computer’s motherboard sees.

Do not forget that RAM modules may be installed incorrectly, as a result of which they are not detected by the system. If you have already had experience disassembling a computer, unplug it, disassemble the case and remove and then reinsert the OP strips. Just in case, try cleaning the contacts of each module using a regular eraser. Please note that in some cases it is necessary to install modules in certain slots. This information can be found in the instructions for the motherboard.

In addition to all the above reasons, the issue may be a simple failure of some OP module. To make sure of this, it is recommended to test the RAM for performance. You can read more about this in the article “How to check your computer’s RAM.”

Now you know what to do if your PC does not see RAM. Write in the comments if this article helped you, share your solution experience with other users similar problems and ask any questions you have about the topic discussed.

When working with Windows systems, you can hear complaints from many users that sometimes the computer does not see the full amount of RAM, or the entire installed amount is unavailable for use. Not everyone knows why this happens, so it’s worth understanding this problem, and at the same time finding out what specific steps can be taken to correct the situation, if, of course, this is possible.

Why doesn't the computer see RAM?

Let's start by finding out the reasons for this phenomenon. The most important condition for determining the entire installed amount of RAM, most experts call restrictions on the part of motherboards and operating systems. For example, why doesn’t the computer see the second one, which is installed additionally? Yes, only because the motherboard is not capable of supporting the amount of RAM above the limit set for it. Also, the reason may be that install additional strips Memory in a certain slot is also possible only up to a certain limit.

OS Windows family also play an important role. Their problem lies in the architecture used for each specific modification (x86 or x64). 32-bit operating systems have strict restriction at the level 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 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, part of the RAM can be reserved and under it. Finally, we cannot exclude situations where the computer does not see the second stick of RAM if different volumes are installed or different types RAM. And, of course, we cannot discount the support from the primary I/O systems themselves. If the BIOS does not recognize the memory, for example, due to the outdated firmware itself or incorrect settings, actions taken in the operating system will not detect it either.

Incorrect installation of memory sticks

Based on the above, let's move on to possible solutions current problem. To begin with, just check whether the memory sticks themselves are physically installed correctly.

Loose contact contacts can cause this situation to occur. If the computer does not see the second RAM, which is different in class from the first stick, please note that, for example, for dual-channel DDR sticks it is recommended to install only equipment from the same manufacturer and only the same volume. 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 malfunction of the strips themselves. It's about, of course, about additionally installed volumes. After all, if the RAM were not recognized at all (in the same BIOS system), starting the computer would simply be impossible.

In order not to use third-party software like Memetest86+, which the average user may not understand, it is recommended to perform a memory check using system tools by calling necessary tool from the “Run” menu with the mdsched combination.

Here you will need to use an immediate check with a reboot. It is quite possible, at least partially, but the problem will be eliminated.

Problems with system capacity

The most a big problem- 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 amounts of RAM that exceed 4 GB. This problem is partially solved by disabling the restriction, which will be described below.

But, as a rule, if you plan to install on your computer modern programs To work with multimedia or resource-intensive games, it is better to reinstall the system, giving preference to Windows x64 modifications.

Configuration setup

For operating systems Windows 7 and below, the problem of boot settings that are present in the configuration is often described. There is usually a limit set 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 downloads tab, go to additional settings and uncheck the line 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 allocated memory to provide correct operation In such devices, additional volume is reserved at the expense of RAM (this is somewhat reminiscent of reserving space on the hard disk for virtual memory). In this case, the setting can only be made in the BIOS.

When you log in to the primary system when you turn on your computer or laptop, you need to find an item like Onboard Video Memory Size, Onboard VGA Frame Buffer, VGA Share Memory Size, or others.
Set this option to Disabled or automatic detection size.

Resetting and updating BIOS

However, it also happens that the computer does not see the RAM solely for the reason that it is not recognized 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 to simply produce full reset parameters using the appropriate item (Load Setup Defaults or something similar), after which an automatic restart will follow.

The second option is somewhat more complicated, since quite often it is difficult for the average user to update the firmware on their own. The installed firmware must fully correspond to the primary system itself, and the update must be done as carefully as possible, since one wrong step can lead to the most unpredictable consequences. WITH UEFI systems everything is much simpler, since updates for them can be installed directly in Windows environment. But, again, the updated firmware must meet all installation requirements (version, chip manufacturer, developer software etc.).

A few final words

It remains to add that in the case when the full and available volumes of RAM are approximately at the same level, you can try to complete 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 RAM and processor, and will also add performance.

As you know, Windows x32 does not see RAM more than 3.25 GB. If you have, for example, 8 GB installed in Win 7 x32, then it will detect only 3.25.

This is resolved in 64-bit versions of operating systems; install 8 GB or 32 GB, the system will see them and use them.

But it happens that even x64 OS does not recognize more than 3.25 GB, just like on x32. What to do? How to force Windows x64 to see the entire amount of memory? There are several ways to solve this issue, but we will look at one that, as a rule, always helps.

First, let's make sure that the system does not see all the RAM. To do this, right-click on the “Computer” shortcut -> “Properties”. It is very likely that we will see the following:

It means that Windows doesn't see all the RAM installed on your computer. Despite the fact that the motherboard has 4 GB of memory, the system sees only 3.25 GB.

We carry out the following manipulation:

Type msconfig through “Start” -> “Search programs and files.” We find ourselves in "System Configuration".

Go to the "Download" tab and click on the "Advanced options" button.

uncheck the "Maximum memory" box in the window that opens.

Reboot the computer.

Let me remind you once again that this article is only about x64 OS.

There is no need to say that the more RAM there is in a computer or laptop, the better. We constantly need it for the correct and fast operation of programs, games, and videos. Therefore, our task is to make the computer use its hardware to its fullest extent.

Sometimes Comodo antivirus does not update the antivirus database. How to deal with this.

You can determine how much RAM your computer uses using a small program called Wise Memory Optimizer (does not require installation). It not only shows this parameter, but can also optimize RAM in one click.

Read how to remove the second Windows from boot.

5 reviews so far...

Novel writes:

I checked my data, everything is fine. Thanks for the information, now I will know what to check. I liked this post, I tweet and +1

admin Replied:
December 2nd, 2014 at 16:28

@Roman, thank you) I have a return visit!

Alexander writes:

Hello! I had a problem: Windows 10 PRO 64bit, 16 gigs of RAM were installed (2*8), I decided to add the same amount, but Windows didn’t see them, it only sees 16 gigs and that’s it. I unchecked the box as described above and the computer stopped starting at all. Why doesn't Windows see all the RAM?

admin Replied:
April 18th, 2016 at 21:41

@Alexander, the computer won’t start at all? I have not dealt with Win 10, but following the logic of other operating systems of the win family, you can try to go into the BIOS at the very beginning of booting the computer. Come in and see if he sees it or not motherboard RAM strips. Look also in your passport motherboard What is the limit of installed RAM?

admin Replied:
April 18th, 2016 at 21:44

@Alexander, try also, since you can’t do without a tambourine, to restore at least the original state of the computer. Remove the added (new) memory sticks from the motherboard slots, leaving the ones that were there before. After that, start the computer in safe mode.

You have installed 4 or more gigabytes of RAM in your computer, but the system shows only 3GB or does not see the RAM at all. Why does this happen and what can be done? Why Windows system Can't see all the RAM?

The computer does not see RAM at all

In this case, Windows will not start and your computer will make beeping sounds. If the memory type matches the supported motherboard This could mean one of three things:

You have inserted the memory stick incorrectly into the motherboard. Check that the bracket fits tightly into the motherboard socket and that the fasteners fit into the grooves. Pull out the strips, check the contacts for dust and dirt, and then carefully insert the memory into the motherboard until it clicks.
One of the memory slots is faulty and does not see the RAM. Carefully remove the memory stick and insert it into the adjacent slot. If you have expanded the memory, and the system does not see the second RAM stick, you can remove the existing RAM stick, insert a new one in its place and thereby make sure that the memory itself is working.
The memory stick is faulty. You can also check as I described in point No. 2.

The computer, or rather Windows, does not see all the RAM. The full memory size is not displayed.

Obviously you are using the old one Windows version or you have a 32 bit version of the operating system. In order for systems to see more than 3.12GB of RAM, you need to install a new OS, for exampleWindows XP x64, or Windows 7 and newer. In 32-bit operating systems there is a limit on the amount of memory, this is due to the architecture of the system. Therefore, if the volume is 3GB or a little 3GB, but not 4GB, your option is to reinstall the operating system to a more recent or 64-bit version of the system.

After upgrading to Windows 10, many users began to complain about the problem of using incomplete RAM. As an example, let's take a case from the Microsoft forum. When installing 6 GB of RAM in Windows 10 32, only 3.92 GB was displayed. The entire amount of RAM was inaccessible, or rather, the system simply did not see it. In some cases, reinstalling the RAM strips in places and cleaning the contacts helped solve this problem. However, in a number of cases this problem could not be solved.

Ways to configure display of all RAM on Windows 10

If you are faced with a situation where not all RAM is available on Windows 10 and you have not swapped the modules, you should follow these steps:

Press “Win+R” and enter “msconfig”.

The System Configuration window will open. Go to the “Download” tab. Click on the “Advanced options” button.

A small window will open. Here you need to uncheck the “Maximum memory” checkbox.

After saving the changes, you need to restart your computer and see how much memory is being used.

If Windows 10 does not see the full amount of RAM, you should remove the sticks from the slots and swap them. We also recommend cleaning the contacts of the RAM modules. To do this, take a rubber band and carefully wipe off dirt from the contacts.

If you insert the modules incorrectly, a post will occur when the PC boots. You will need to return the modules to their places and restart the computer. After Windows boot 10 32 bits you need to download the MemTest86 program and check the performance of the RAM.

If everything is fine with the modules, but Windows does not see all the RAM, you may be using old version motherboard firmware and you need to update the BIOS, as well as check some of its parameters.

First BIOS parameter who is responsible for stable work RAM is memory redistribution. IN different versions In the firmware, this section can be named differently (Memory Hole Remapping, H/W DRAM Over 4GB Remapping, Hardware Memory Hole). Therefore, it is worth studying the instructions for the board in detail or finding a description for the version of the BIOS used.

The memory redistribution function transfers the address blocks used by expansion cards into the address space beyond 4 GB. Thus, it is possible to increase the amount of RAM (otherwise Windows10 will see 3-3.5 GB). To fully support such a volume, it is necessary to use 64 bit processors and 64's bit versions OS (or server versions of 32-bit operating systems that allow PAE physical address extension). If you have less RAM, be sure to turn off this option (Disabled), as problems with the RAM may occur. Enable memory redistribution – value Enabled.

Memory settings for AGP video aperture are the amount of memory that the system shares with the video adapter. It is necessary for displaying textures and drawing pictures. This amount of memory may not be used by the system if it is blocked by the video adapter. There is only one way to enable it: boot into BIOS, select AGP Aperture size. Standard values are 32 MB, 64 MB, 128 MB and Auto. We look at how much memory the video card has and set the required value by value. Often this is 128 MB. However, you can try each of the options to see which one gives the best result.

After making all changes to BIOS settings you need to boot into Windows and check if the entire amount of RAM is visible. If the system still does not see the RAM, you should try inserting other modules into the slot. It is possible that the old RAM sticks have failed or are defective.

To learn why the system does not see all the RAM and how to fix it, watch the video: