X301 + Windows 7 Pro 64-bit + 4GB RAM = 2.96GB RAM?

[uzs161]

Ok, there's probably a simple answer to this and I'm probably dumb for not figuring it out myself but I was looking at my System Properties and I just noticed that my X301 with Windows 7 Pro 64-bit shows only 2.96GB usable RAM (4GB installed)...why am I hitting a 32-bit RAM limitation on my 64-bit system? Did I miss a BIOS setting or something?

[visionviper]

Is there anything you are using that may allocate ram for itself?

Are you using any software like RamDisk (which creates a drive in Windows using RAM) or any other software that may do something similar?

[uzs161]

Is there anything you are using that may allocate ram for itself?

Are you using any software like RamDisk (which creates a drive in Windows using RAM) or any other software that may do something similar?

Nope, no RamDisk or anything that I know of that is allocating RAM for itself...

[visionviper]

Are you sure you have 4GB installed?

The H1U comes with 2GB -- are you sure you installed (or a previous owner?) an additional 2GB stick and not a 1GB stick?

[Harryc]

Well, the Intel GPU takes up to 384MB of shared memory, so that is part of it.

[uzs161]

Intel GPU - At first, that's what I assumed but then I thought that 1GB was a LOT of RAM for the Intel CPU

RAM - Yeah, I added the RAM myself. In System Properties and in the BIOS, it shows 4GB installed.

[Harryc]

Have you flashed to the latest BIOS Update Utility for 64-bit Windows? If not, use the CD iso for flashing, and not the Windows .exe

[uzs161]

I did do the 64-bit flash recently using the .exe, not the .iso but this was a problem before the recent BIOS update. I will try the .iso version but out of curiousity, how does the .iso version vs. the .exe version differ?

[Harryc]

They are the same but recent reports here have indicated that there is an increased chance of bricking your laptop while flashing under W7 using the .exe. If you already have the latest BIOS, no need to reflash.

[uzs161]

Ah, that would have sucked if I would have bricked my X301. Ok, so I looked at every option in the BIOS setup and there was nothing that I could see that would help with the missing gig of RAM. So now I wonder if this is a Win7 issue or a hardware issue...

[Harryc]

Well, in those instances where I want to distinguish between hardware and software I use a (64bit) Linux Live CD. 'cat /proc/meminfo' run from a console once loaded will tell the tale.

[uzs161]

Ok, just to update this thread and bring closure, I figured out how to get my RAM back through another forum. Apparently, I'm not the only person having this issue and it's not a problem that's related to the X301, it's a Windows 7 issue so if you have this problem, do this:

MSCONFIG => BOOT tab => ADVANCED OPTION button => Click OFF "Maximum memory:" => then reboot

When I found this solution online, I took a look at my desktop computer's RAM....lo and behold, 6GB installed, 4.9GB available. I applied this solution to both my X301 and my desktop and the problem went away. My X301 now shows 4GB installed, 3.9GB usable. Interestingly, my desktop shows JUST 6GB installed ("usable" isn't show at all). Ah, another wacky Windows "feature" I guess...