Windows 7 reporting only 7.99GB usable RAM

[jhansman]

After installing another 8GB in my system, the BIOS shows 16GB, but Windows properties shows "16GB (7.99 usable)." Why is this? Is 64 bit Win7 only able to access/use 8 GB?. TIA.

 

[Mark R]

This is usually a BIOS problem; your add-on cards need 'memory addresses' to communicate with the CPU, so the BIOS allocates them. Some BIOSs may have problems if you change the RAM, as in order to keep the boot-time down, some BIOSs don't always perform a full hardware scan on each boot.

If your BIOS has a 'memory hole' option, or a 'memory relocation' option, try adjusting that.

Alternatively, use the clear CMOS jumper on the motherboard, to wipe the BIOS settings, and then use the BIOS configuration tool to reset everything to factory settings. This will usually force the BIOS to rescan all the hardware and reconfigure everything.

 

[gevorg]

If the above doesn't help, replace the old sticks with new sticks and see if they work and not DOA.

 

[notty22]

Another thing.
MSCONFIG
under boot
advanced options.
make sure you did not go there in the past and set a amount under max memory to be used.
I have found many instances where users had set core amount or memory amount in the past and forgot about this.

 

[Fayd]

is it windows 7 home basic?

 

[jhansman]

Fixed. I swapped slots for each set of modules, restarted, cleared the max memory checkbox in the advanced boot options (which had 3094 MB as a value; how that got in there and the box checked is a mystery to me) in Msconfig, restarted, and now Windows sees all 16GB. Heh, I learn something new with every upgrade...

Thanks to all for the timely responses.