Windows Server 2008 R2 Memory Usage Problem

[jmachol]

Hello everyone,

I hope you all had a great weekend. Today I am trying to figure out and solve the issue with my Windows Server. I am using the x64-bit version of the OS. I am using an Asus M2A-VM motherboard which supports up to 8GB of DDR2 RAM. I currently have 6GB installed, only 3.75GB of which is considered usable by the OS. I want to get to the bottom of this issue so that I can properly use all of the RAM I have installed for this machine.

See this image for clarification of the issue:
http://i28.tinypic.com/2ccs85s.png

Another issue I have concerning this toppic is that if I install another 2GB module into the motherboard, the BIOS won't POST. The modules are in pairs of 2GB.

If anyone has any advice or fixes for me, or requires additional information, please let me know.

Thanks,

Josh

 

[RSchwarz]

Have you tested to be sure the ram slots are all good? Is the memory all the same kind by the same manufacturer?

The only thing I can think of that would cause this is a dead slot or wrong type of memory for the board.

 

[jmachol]

Have you tested to be sure the ram slots are all good? Is the memory all the same kind by the same manufacturer?

The only thing I can think of that would cause this is a dead slot or wrong type of memory for the board.

I just spent the past half hour arranging the modules in different slots. The memory is not all the same kind, or by the same manufacturer. Two of the modules are the same and from Hynix and the other two are the same and from Hyundai Electronics. This should not be a problem though, as you are able to install two different pairs of ram., which is an added benefit of DDR2 memory.

I found that at 4GB it would recognise all of it, no matter which pair of modules I used. After that I added one other module for both match ups and found that the BIOS recognised that it was installled, but not usable. When I insterted the fourth module for both match ups the PC would not POST.

 

[RSchwarz]

It sounds like the board needs them in pairs. This is normal on many boards. This is sounding like a problem I had with a Tyan server board. You had to install the memory in a certain sequence. Slot 1 and 3 first, then boot, then shutdown and fill slots 2 and 4. Any other way and it would either not post or the OS would only see half the ram.

Troubleshooting these types of problems is never easy.