4GB memory vista 64 bit, how do you install it?

[hclarkjr]

i am building new system next weekend and am thinking about putting in 4gb of memory, i have seen some posts where it mentions you have to install something first before installing the memory??

 

[DrGreen2007]

Im not sure I follow..
If your building a new system (ie nothing installed, bare HDD) what would you install before the memory besides the mobo and related items.

 

[hclarkjr]

i remember reading somewhere that you have to install with 2gb installed then run windows update then install the other 2gb

 

[gpse]

Originally posted by: hclarkjr
i remember reading somewhere that you have to install with 2gb installed then run windows update then install the other 2gb

you should be fine, I had 4gb and then installed Vista 64-bit without any problems.
I then installed:
chipset drivers
video card drivers
audio drivers
all updates from windows update.

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: hclarkjr
i remember reading somewhere that you have to install with 2gb installed then run windows update then install the other 2gb

Dunno where you heard that. Just pop the disc in.

 

[blackangst1]

I just added 2 GB to make 4, and decided to reinstall XP to see if I was really missing anything...I will never go back to that POS OS ever again, but thats another topic.

I reformatted and reinstalled Vista, with zero issues. Saw all 4 gigs from the get go.

 

[GhettoFob]

I'm trying to get my 64 bit Vista install to recognize my 4GB of memory and it only picks up 3GB. Initially only about 3GB was showing up in the BIOS but after applying the latest firmware, the BIOS sees all 4GB. However, when installing 64 bit Vista, it only recognizes 3 GB. I've also tried with 64 bit XP as well as 64 bit Ubuntu. I've read that some motherboards have a setting similar to "memory hole?" but I don't see anything like that on mine. Also, would this be necessary since upon boot, it actually does recognize the 4GB. Another weird thing is that CPU-Z also detects all 4GB of memory.

Q6600 2.4 GHz
ECS 671T-M
GeForce 8600GTS 512 RAM

Any ideas?

 

[SoundTheSurrender]

Your motherboard might still be physically limited to 3 even though it reads 4.

The Core2Duo Macbooks before the new release have a max of 3.3 gigs of ram but OS X reads 4 gigs.

 

[GhettoFob]

Hmm, that's kinda what I'm thinking. It's the cheapo motherboard that came with the Fry's/Q6600 combo. Though on the box it does say that it supports up to 4GB...

 

[Jonesboy21]

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929777/en-us

I'm getting ready to install Vista Ultimate 64 myself. Been doing lots of reading, and bumped into this

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: BD2003

Originally posted by: hclarkjr
i remember reading somewhere that you have to install with 2gb installed then run windows update then install the other 2gb

Dunno where you heard that. Just pop the disc in.

The default Vista install discs have a bug with more than 2GB of RAM installed. He is correct, you need to install Vista with only 2GB installed, and then install the fix, and then you can add the rest of the memory.

 

[GhettoFob]

I saw that article too and gave it a try. Performed a clean install of Vista 64 bit version, verified that it saw 2 GB, installed the remaining 2 GB and it only sees 3071 MB.

 

[Mem]

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry

Originally posted by: BD2003

Originally posted by: hclarkjr
i remember reading somewhere that you have to install with 2gb installed then run windows update then install the other 2gb

Dunno where you heard that. Just pop the disc in.

The default Vista install discs have a bug with more than 2GB of RAM installed. He is correct, you need to install Vista with only 2GB installed, and then install the fix, and then you can add the rest of the memory.

Incorrect!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!......I installed Vista with 4GB of ram and was flawless install,as far as I know the only boards that have problems with Vista and 4GB are ones that use Storport driver,there is a fix for that ie install 2GB only then update Vista then install the other 2GB.

 

[hclarkjr]

Originally posted by: Jonesboy21
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929777/en-us

I'm getting ready to install Vista Ultimate 64 myself. Been doing lots of reading, and bumped into this

mem, what about that?

 

[Mem]

Originally posted by: hclarkjr

Originally posted by: Jonesboy21
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929777/en-us

I'm getting ready to install Vista Ultimate 64 myself. Been doing lots of reading, and bumped into this

mem, what about that?

This problem occurs if the following conditions are true:
? The computer uses more than 3 GB of RAM.
? The computer uses a storage system that is running the Storport miniport driver.
? The computer uses a controller that uses 32-bit direct memory access (DMA).

.

Just install Vista with 4GB of ram if you don't have a Storport device on your board (driver wise) you'll soon know if you got a problem then its a simple question of just removing 2GB of ram and reinstalling Vista,most users don't have a storport device/driver on their board so not a problem.

Side Note:make sure you have memory remapping enabled in BIOS so all 4GB can be used.

I had it disabled on my Epox when I went from 2 to 4GB(was using XP at the time) but I quickly enabled it in BIOS,most BIOS have the option to do memory remapping so you get the full 4GB displayed at BIOS bootup.

 

[MmmSkyscraper]

The only thing I did was enable memory remapping in the BIOS then put the DVD in.

 

[SoundTheSurrender]

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry

Originally posted by: BD2003

Originally posted by: hclarkjr
i remember reading somewhere that you have to install with 2gb installed then run windows update then install the other 2gb

Dunno where you heard that. Just pop the disc in.

The default Vista install discs have a bug with more than 2GB of RAM installed. He is correct, you need to install Vista with only 2GB installed, and then install the fix, and then you can add the rest of the memory.

That's ridiculous. Does Microsoft not do test cases with installations over 2 gigabytes?

 

[Nothinman]

That's ridiculous. Does Microsoft not do test cases with installations over 2 gigabytes?

Of course they do but what's really ridiculous is you blindly believing a statement by someone like VirtualLarry.