I've lost my memory


  1. Posts : 29
    w10
       #1

    I've lost my memory


    Well not literally but since upgrading a Dell 755 to w10 (32 bit) I not only have 2.99 available memory out of the 4gb installed. Under W7 I had over 3.5 gig" so what has stolen my memory? Another identical machine running W10 but 64bit has 8 gig installed of which 7.86 is usable! which seem more like what it hould be!
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 1,366
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #2

    I think the OP is referring to memory and not disk space.

    What you are seeing is normal. That "missing" memory is reserved for hardware usage, and won't be available to the system for application use. If you want to be able to take full advantage of your 4 GB of memory, you're going to need to install a 64-bit version of Windows.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 29
    w10
    Thread Starter
       #3

    DeaconFrost said:
    I think the OP is referring to memory and not disk space.

    What you are seeing is normal. That "missing" memory is reserved for hardware usage, and won't be available to the system for application use. If you want to be able to take full advantage of your 4 GB of memory, you're going to need to install a 64-bit version of Windows.
    Yes that's what I thought BUT - in the past I have had over 3.5 gig available from my 4 gig of installed RAM now on W10 I only have 2.9 - the hardware has not changed - only the OS!
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 1,366
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #4

    Different drivers could account for that. Was the BIOS updated, by any chance?
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 13,896
    Win10 Version 22H2 Pro and Home, Win11 Pro and Home
       #5

    joddle said:
    Yes that's what I thought BUT - in the past I have had over 3.5 gig available from my 4 gig of installed RAM now on W10 I only have 2.9 - the hardware has not changed - only the OS!
    Have you ran dxdiag [hold down the Windows key and press R, type dxdiag then Enter] to check what is being allocated to video? Onboard video adapters always use some of the physical RAM.
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 29
    w10
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Well there's some black magic going on here - I ran the command as indicated and its showed 250mg used by the display - exactly what I thought - but when I returned to look at "system" the memory is now showing 3.24 free - the same as the other identical machine - cured!!!! - but no idea why!
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #7

    If you have hardware capable of running 64-bit, you will have more usable memory with 64-bit Windows. The only computers at my house on 32-bit Windows 10 are the tablets and stick computer with only 2 GB of RAM.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 29
    w10
    Thread Starter
       #8

    I think I have got to the bottom of this - its when there is more than 4gb installed memory the "available memory" goes down to 2.99. When only the 4gb is installed (i.e. the stated max under 32 bit - then the available memory returns to 3.24!
      My Computer


 

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