That RAM question... again

Hey guys and gals,

Sorry to post something which I know is discussed a fair bit, but I have yet to find an answer to the problem I have.

I have a Sony VAIO FW31M, which I upgraded to Windows 7, 32 bit version. I understand that Win 7 32bit will recognise and use up to 4GB of RAM, where Vista would only recognise 3GB.

Problem is that my laptop is still only recognising 2.97GB of RAM, and I cannot see how to get it to see and use all of the RAM. I don't think the 1.03GB of 'missing' RAM is being used by any other hardware, the graphics card has it's own memory etc.

I'd be very grateful if someone could help me out here. I run some demanding programmes on my laptop, and I think the extra 1GB would come in very useful!

Thank you in advance for your help!

The amount of memory that can be seen on a 32-bit install of Windows hovers between 2.8 and 3.2GB, depending on the motherboard and other hardware. There's nothing that can be done, and this limit cannot be exceeded without moving to x64.

Hey,

Thanks for your reply. I was under the impression that the 32bit Win 7 could support up to 4 GB, this website seems to claim it...

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libr...mits_windows_7

If you say it can't be done, then it can't be doen. All the information is rather confusing!

The memory limitation they're referring to is the theoretical maximum permitted by the number of addresses available to the OS. PC memory, your video card's memory and all the devices in your system are accessible to Windows and your motherboard by an address written out in hexadecimal. These addresses are known as MMIO addresses, and there are a limited number of them. Devices in your system dictate the number of addresses that get reserved, and Windows assigns the rest to RAM.

In a perfect world, Windows 32-bit could have every MMIO address for RAM, and you would get 4GB. However, if 2.8GB worth of addresses is all your PC has given to Windows for RAM, that's all you get.

scottiecb19, welcome to the fourms! You stated that you upgraded to 32 bit Windows 7. First, the specs look good, I checked it out on Amazon. Will this laptop run 64 bit Windows? If so, where there two discs (one 32 & one 64 bit) in the package you ordered? And what version of Windows 7 do you have, Home Premium or Professional? If this laptop is capable of running 64 bit, there may be hope for you.

Hey,

I ordered the version of Windows over the internet and downloaded it, so no discs I'm afriad. It's so annoying to know that I have a computer with good specs, but cannot use its full potential.

The only way to use your PCs full potential would be to install a 64-bit OS ... BTW nice laptop .

Hey,

Thanks for your comments!

I think I know the (obvious) answer to my question, but is there anyway of making my version of Windows a 64bit version without spending more money?

Would a 64 bit version even work with my laptop, as I'm sure I have an x86 processor, and I downloaded the 'Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor' from Microsoft, which told me I could get Windows 7 Home Premium or Professional (I went for the Home Premium), but both were the 32bit versions.

You said you "think" you have an x86 CPU. If you're using less than the 4GB of RAM then you must have an x64 CPU and motherboard.

Go here to download the x64 bit version of either Windows 7 Home Premium or Professional.

32-bit Windows 7 Home Premium x86 ISO
http://msft-dnl.digitalrivercontent..../X15-65732.iso

64-bit Windows 7 Home Premium x64 ISO
http://msft-dnl.digitalrivercontent..../X15-65733.iso

32-bit Windows 7 Professional x86 ISO
http://msft-dnl.digitalrivercontent..../X15-65804.iso

64-bit Windows 7 Professional x64 ISO
http://msft-dnl.digitalrivercontent..../X15-65805.iso

Download the ISO image and burn to a DVD blank disc with ImgBurn. It's a free app and works quite well with buring ISO to discs.

If it were me, I would download both the 32 bit also, since you don't have it on disc.


The product key you were given will work with both versions, just be sure you only have one version installed at a time. You can't have both versions installed and running on the same product key.

Hey,

I was under the impression that my system was an x86 one. Can anyone tell from any details they find about my laptop online, model again is a VAIO VGN-FW31M.

Also, what are the links that you've put in your reply? Are they legit stuff, as I don't want to put anything pirated on my computer, or if they are legitimate, I don't want to spend money on updates.

Thanks for your reply though!