Memory - System shows less than actually installed

After swearing at my new Vista installation - I started rummaging through all
the settings and I find that the system reports 768MB memory whereas I have
on that particular notebook 1.5GB and (since it is a swappable Dell drive)
2GB on my machine at work. The system never reports higher than the original
memory, which it was when I installed/upgraded to Vista.

I also suspect that since it is not reporting more than 768MB it is not
using the balance.

Questions: Does Vista use all of the memory installed, and not just what it
reports from the initial installation? And if so, especially if so, how do I
get it to recognize the balance of upgraded memory?

Removing and reinstalling memory modules did not do a thing. XP - on the
other hand, picks-up the memory correctly, so it is not hardware (I think).

--
Sol

If you think education is expensive - just consdier the cost of ignorance!
(motto - University of Guelph, Ontario)

Hi Sol,

Do you have a integrated Video chip on your motherboard? If so, part
of that memory is set aside for the Video's use only. Thus, show you
having less memory than you actual do. You can check in your BIOS
settings to see & change how much memory is allocated to the Video. I
wouldn't go below 128 mb for normal desktop use, but some games or
programs will require higher amounts of memory for Video.

Hope this helps,
Shawn


--
brink

"Practice makes perfect, then you reinstall"
Vista 64 Home Premium
1.5 Gig DDR2 533 Mhz (PC4200) RAM

Thank you, I'll check the machine at home - that is where Vista drive is
sitting, maybe if I reset the video settings somewhat - it will reset the
rest of the system.

I also thought of re-installing Vista with the new hardware, I do not have
much on it, the speed (or lack off) is driving me nuts and I am constantly at
the point of reformatting the whole thing back to XP - but it has such a
powerful chess game - I am loathe to give this one up <grinning>!

--
Sol

If you think education is expensive - just consdier the cost of ignorance!
(motto - University of Guelph, Ontario)


"brink" wrote:

>
> Hi Sol,
>
> Do you have a integrated Video chip on your motherboard? If so, part
> of that memory is set aside for the Video's use only. Thus, show you
> having less memory than you actual do. You can check in your BIOS
> settings to see & change how much memory is allocated to the Video. I
> wouldn't go below 128 mb for normal desktop use, but some games or
> programs will require higher amounts of memory for Video.
>
> Hope this helps,
> Shawn
>
>
> --
> brink
>
> "Practice makes perfect, then you reinstall"
> Vista 64 Home Premium
> 1.5 Gig DDR2 533 Mhz (PC4200) RAM
>