16gb ram, 4gb usable?

dyanjohnson1993 · Oct 22, 2013

I have 16gb of ram, yet Windows 7 shows only 4gb is usable? This wasn't a problem until recently...I have Windows 7 64 bit Ultimate. What's going on? I tried restarting and shutting down but no luck. Any ideas?

static1120 · Oct 22, 2013

What are the modules installed is it 4, 4GB or 2, 8GB or a 16GB ram stick?
Does it show 16GB under the bios?

Akashdeep · Oct 22, 2013

Provide detailed spec of your pc.

dyanjohnson1993 · Oct 22, 2013

static1120 :

I have 2 Corsair Vengeance 8 gb of ram, adding up to 16gb.
And it shows 16gb of ram under my bios

dyanjohnson1993 · Oct 22, 2013

Akashdeep :

I have:

Geforce GTX 660 2gb
AMD FX 8 core 4ghz
Gigabyte 990fx motherboard
Corsair 2 sticks 8 gb of ram, adding to 16gb.

Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit

Akashdeep · Oct 22, 2013

Please provide the screenshot as following:

Right click on "Computer" icon at Desktop-> Then click on "Properties" -> Take the screenshot of System properties window.

dyanjohnson1993 · Oct 22, 2013

http://pbrd.co/HgIBgL

http://pbrd.co/HgIEt1

There are two links to the screenshots I took. What's odd is in Resource Monitor, as shown, it clearly states 16gb installed, yet 12gb Hardware Reserved? How can I get it out of that?

Akashdeep · Oct 22, 2013

Your board model is UD7 or UD3?

Have you updated your BIOS to latest one?

Also Go to: MSConfig->Advanced tab>Maximum memory(check whether it is checked or not. if checked, uncheck it)

dyanjohnson1993 · Oct 23, 2013

Akashdeep :

UD3

And I haven't installed any updates for my bios I don't think. I installed them through the disc that came with it, but that may be outdated...

It's unchecked from msconfig

Akashdeep · Oct 23, 2013

Please ensure you have F9 BIOS. Check versions here: http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3894#bios

Don't download/upgrade the beta BIOS. only F9 version.

Akashdeep · Oct 23, 2013

Also make sure that in your Advance tab "BIOS", you have enabled remap feature.

dyanjohnson1993 · Oct 23, 2013

Akashdeep :

I tried to upgrade the bios, in which wouldn't work through my flash drive(says it wasn't the file or anything), so as another attempt I used @Bios and upgraded from the server. It didn't seem to work as it still states I am 990FXA UD3 F2, and it never changed even it said "Update completed, please restart"

I'm out of options now. I want to say it could be a virus because my pc was fine a week ago, with physical memory barely going over 30%. Now it's over 50% a lot due to my vigorous tasks that I bought the 16gb ram in the first place

I haven't tried the "remap" part because I don't know where that is, in my bios setup if I restart my pc?

Akashdeep · Oct 23, 2013

Remap option is in your BIOS option.

You must update your BIOS to latest one, i.e. F9 for your board as per Gigabyte's recommendation.

Also check clearing your CMOS, by battery mode and Jumper mode too.

dyanjohnson1993 · Oct 23, 2013

Akashdeep :

It's probably not updating the right way, as I have downloaded it, but it then asks me to extract an exe image, getting the different files inside, in which none started nor worked.

Akashdeep · Oct 23, 2013

This is what Gigabyte recommend you how to update your BIOS: http://www.gigabyte.com/webpage/20/HowToReflashBIOS.html

dyanjohnson1993 · Oct 23, 2013

Akashdeep :

@bios didn't work, it updates the same bios I currently have
@bios also says "Can not load ROM image from Bin file. Maybe the file size does not match", and once I think I found the file called "99FXAUD3.F9" it stops responding

for the cherry on top, I try q-flash, and it tells me "Invalid bios file" or something like that. I don't think there is a way to update my bios, unless it's where it should be. The worse part is going through this frustration and it probably won't be the answer to my 16gb/4gb usable issue.

I may try to take the cmos battery out and try that maybe, resetting it.

Akashdeep · Oct 23, 2013

I have already asked you to clear CMOS. You didn't do it yet.

dyanjohnson1993 · Oct 23, 2013

Akashdeep :

Cleared CMOS, no luck. On top of that, I figured since it is F2, maybe try F3 instead of F9 since F9 refused to work, even F3 doesn't work, giving me "invalid bios image" or file. I'm starting to think reinstalling windows is the last resort

Akashdeep · Oct 23, 2013

Reset CMOS through jumper.

dyanjohnson1993 · Oct 23, 2013

Akashdeep :

Thank you for sticking with me and trying to help out, but unfortunately, no luck for that either...Didn't work

My best bet is to update my bios, but there is no way it is letting me, always telling me "invalid bios image"

No luck.

Akashdeep · Oct 23, 2013

Which way to used to update your bios?

Tell me in detail.

dyanjohnson1993 · Oct 23, 2013

Akashdeep :

You mean which way have I used to update my bios? None, because I built this pc last week, so it is new. I haven't downloaded from the site until today, in which again, would not let me update anything. I only tried f9 and f3 though, so maybe the other images are a way to go.

I've tried qflash and through @bios if that's what you meant. @bios claimed to install it, but it remained f2 and didn't change.

If this helps, and I may have said it differently, but I was running 16gb ram fine all week long, until today or maybe even yesterday. I did no configurations within my motherboard or system, yet I however may have installed something that caused this. I don't know what could force/change hardware reserved though.

Akashdeep · Oct 23, 2013

You mean it was showing 16GB till yesterday or so?

Then it might be some virus or malware issue. Check your pc for virus and malwares.

static1120 · Oct 23, 2013

If you dont want to go the long way to fix it the simplest way to fix it is by doing a clean fresh install of windows 8 again if you still have the same problem after a clean install then its a problem with bios.

dyanjohnson1993 · Oct 23, 2013

Akashdeep :

Just scanned and removed some threats via AVG, however it may be too late, as it remains 16gb(4gb usable) even after restarting. I'm out of options except reinstalling windows or try the other bios images. I will try those.

16gb ram, 4gb usable?

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