Bios and op sys differ on memory

[jimofadel]

I have ubuntu 9.10 installed on Toshiba A135-S2396 laptop. Memory is 2 X 512MB. Bios reports 400MB plus 600Mb extended memory. Ubuntu can see only 432MB. How can I fix this?

 

[randomizer]

Are you sure that's not how much it's using?

 

[jimofadel]

Are you sure that's not how much it's using?

Thanks for your reply; but no, the console command 'free -m' reports only about 80MB "free", out of 446MB "total". The 'system monitor' application shows the same thing. One possible issue is that the two 512MB DIMMs are from different manufacturers, but the BIOS seems to see them both, although I was surprised to see it report "extended memory"; I haven't heard that term used since the 386 processor came out. Reversing the slots of the two DIMMs, and running each of them alone all look the same to the op sys, and the system is very ssllooooowww. The cursor can't keep up with the mouse. I'm wondering if I should spend $53 on a single 2GB DIMM.

 

[audiovoodoo]

Have you tried booting memtest and seeing what that has to say on the matter?

 

[audiovoodoo]

also 2 x 1Gb is probably going to be less money if you do decide to go with new ram.

 

[linux_0]

audiovoodoo's right memtest will tell you what's going on.

What's your graphics aperture size?

 

[jimofadel]

audiovoodoo's right memtest will tell you what's going on.

What's your graphics aperture size?

Thanks for your reply -- I'm not familiar with "graphics aperture size" or how to make a query for it, but I'll go to Google and see if I can figure it out. Thanks for the tip.

 

[linux_0]

The graphics chips in many laptops take some of the system's main ram. This varies from chip to chip and laptop to laptop so you'll have to check your BIOS settings.

Good luck

 

[jimofadel]

Thanks! And thanks for all your service -- I see you have helped others over 5000 times!

 

[audiovoodoo]

He only did it the once, all the rest are just a clever perl script he wrote

 

[jimofadel]

Well thanks for all your service too, with over 9000 posts!

 

[randomizer]

I think my service is about 200 posts and the rest is, well, yea...

 

[kyeana]

*humbly waiting for Wingding to defile this thread*

 

[audiovoodoo]

** Enters sporting a credit card statement taller than Mt. Fuji ** [/Old school other humour]

Wingy.. Man I miss that guy. Somewhere in the region of 35k posts if I'm not mistaken. Mind you as we kept having to tell him, size is not everything.

 

[jimofadel]

Nothing has worked yet. Putting the problem on hold until I can get some new memory for the laptop. Thanks to all for the suggestions. I'll post again if I have any good results.

 

[jimofadel]

Problem solved -- not understood, but solved. Bought a single 2GB DIMM and got rid of the two 512MB DIMMs, now both the BIOS and Ubuntu see all of the memory. Anyway, thanks for the suggestions.

 

[audiovoodoo]

Very much sounds like a dodgy DIMM or a comparability issue with the two that you had. Glad to hear it's all working for you now though!