4 GB in laptop but only 3,230.18 MB showing

Is this normal?

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:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929605/en-us

Understanding Address Spaces and the 4GB Limit - [H]ard|Forum:
http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1035670
--
Andre
Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
My Vista Quickstart Guide:
http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog...3DB!9709.entry
"Blake Mengotto" <> wrote in message
news:97F2350F-9928-4642-B009-...
> Is this normal?

Hello Blake,

In 32bit OS, yes.

Best regards

Meinolf Weber
Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
no rights.
** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups

> Is this normal?
>

Blake Mengotto wrote:
> Is this normal?
Yes. You will never see the full 4GB because in 32-bit systems
everything has to be accessible within 4GB of address space. So some of
your ram won't be used because the kernel will map those addresses to
video cards or other hardware.

So Vista 32 bit will only see 3 GB and be able to use 3 GB? I thought if
you had more memory, even if windows could not use it, other applications
that are memory intensive could.. I guess this is wrong and I can only
access this memory if I upgrade to the 64bit version. Is this a correct
assumption?


"Meinolf Weber" <meiweb(nospam)@gmx.de> wrote in message
news: .com...
> Hello Blake,
>
> In 32bit OS, yes.
>
> Best regards
>
> Meinolf Weber
> Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and
> confers no rights.
> ** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups
>
>> Is this normal?
>>
>
>

Blake Mengotto wrote:
> So Vista 32 bit will only see 3 GB and be able to use 3 GB? I thought
> if you had more memory, even if windows could not use it, other
> applications that are memory intensive could.. I guess this is wrong and
> I can only access this memory if I upgrade to the 64bit version. Is
> this a correct assumption?
Yes, if you want to use all of your memory, install a 64-bit OS.

True. Any 32 Bit OS can only use 4 GB of addressable memory. Even with 4 GB
of RAM, you still have the BIOS, video RAM, and other devices mapped to that
addressable memory. And Windows can only use what is left over, this
includes applications. The 64 bit version is the way to access that other
memory.

Vista 23 Bit SP1 will correctly tell you how much RAM is installed, but not
how much Windows can use.

--
Dustin Harper
| Replace the obvious
http://www.VistaRIP.com | Vista Resource & Information Page


"Blake Mengotto" <> wrote in message
news:1EA34B95-959F-4BC7-94C9-...
> So Vista 32 bit will only see 3 GB and be able to use 3 GB? I thought if
> you had more memory, even if windows could not use it, other applications
> that are memory intensive could.. I guess this is wrong and I can only
> access this memory if I upgrade to the 64bit version. Is this a correct
> assumption?
>
>
> "Meinolf Weber" <meiweb(nospam)@gmx.de> wrote in message
> news: .com...
>> Hello Blake,
>>
>> In 32bit OS, yes.
>>
>> Best regards
>>
>> Meinolf Weber
>> Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and
>> confers no rights.
>> ** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups
>>
>>> Is this normal?
>>>
>>
>>
>

Ok, well that's cool, as long as it is being used..right? I may not see it,
but it's being used I hope. I thought all 32 bit platforms were limited to
max 4gb of ram.

I guess I get a bit confused with workstation operating systems, because
server (w2k3) based you can install 8 gb of mem or more and let apps like
Exchange and SQL use the additional memory with switches enabled in the boot
files. However the OS (W2K3) will only be able to address the first 4 GB of
mem. Or am I wrong about this as well..


"David Sanders" <> wrote in message
news:%...
> Blake Mengotto wrote:
>> Is this normal?
> Yes. You will never see the full 4GB because in 32-bit systems everything
> has to be accessible within 4GB of address space. So some of your ram
> won't be used because the kernel will map those addresses to video cards
> or other hardware.

Blake Mengotto wrote:
> So Vista 32 bit will only see 3 GB and be able to use 3 GB? I thought
> if you had more memory, even if windows could not use it, other
> applications that are memory intensive could.. I guess this is wrong and
> I can only access this memory if I upgrade to the 64bit version. Is
> this a correct assumption?

Yes, you need an address space larger than 4 GB to hold everything. And
Microsoft doesn't want to support than in their non-server editions

Ok cool. So I didn't waste my money upgrading from 2gb to 4gb.. Thanks guys!

"Dustin Harper" <> wrote in message
news:E3DA053A-2FA6-4795-9B42-...
> True. Any 32 Bit OS can only use 4 GB of addressable memory. Even with 4
> GB of RAM, you still have the BIOS, video RAM, and other devices mapped to
> that addressable memory. And Windows can only use what is left over, this
> includes applications. The 64 bit version is the way to access that other
> memory.
>
> Vista 23 Bit SP1 will correctly tell you how much RAM is installed, but
> not how much Windows can use.
>
> --
> Dustin Harper
> | Replace the obvious
> http://www.VistaRIP.com | Vista Resource & Information Page
>
>
> "Blake Mengotto" <> wrote in message
> news:1EA34B95-959F-4BC7-94C9-...
>> So Vista 32 bit will only see 3 GB and be able to use 3 GB? I thought if
>> you had more memory, even if windows could not use it, other applications
>> that are memory intensive could.. I guess this is wrong and I can only
>> access this memory if I upgrade to the 64bit version. Is this a correct
>> assumption?
>>
>>
>> "Meinolf Weber" <meiweb(nospam)@gmx.de> wrote in message
>> news: .com...
>>> Hello Blake,
>>>
>>> In 32bit OS, yes.
>>>
>>> Best regards
>>>
>>> Meinolf Weber
>>> Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and
>>> confers no rights.
>>> ** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups
>>>
>>>> Is this normal?
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>