HELP . Numerous problems with my DDR2 Install

[punkmartyr]

Ok I had 512 mb DDR2 ram on this computer.

Installed 4 gig DDR2 Ram. 800 mhz but it backclocked to 533 mhz.

Because its a 32 big system, 3 of the gig was showing when i go into system. When I first installed the ram the computer would not start. I had to take the ram out and put it in the slot again. Then it worked.

I reset my computer. I should note I had a virus antimalware virus that really messed up my software and I am still trying to get rid of it..

So I reset my computer and its back to not starting. I mess with it for like 20 minutes can't get it to start. I take the new ram out put the old in. It starts. I say f this take the old ram out. Put the new in a couple different ways. Thing won't start. Start doing research. Look up "how to reset CMOS". Find video on youtube. I reset the CMOS (go me). Install the new ram again. Start computer it works.

Go to system. ITS ONLY RECOGNIZING 500 MB OF THE NEW RAM.

Say to myself wtf. Go online. Find these instructions from a dif website(note im on XP):

http://techrepublic.com.com/5208-62...=225097&messageID=2264083&tag=content;leftCol
"Hi. I found the problem.
Vista.. Stupid Thing.
If you add more than 2gig ram, it doesn't start, because the system Max Default is 2048. So the moment you exeed this, it doesnt work. So this is what you do.
1. Add enough ram, so that Vista can boot up (No more than 2 Gig ram)
2. Go to Run and type in MSCONFIG and press enter.
3. Good to BOOT and then ADVANCE OPTIONS
4. Tick Max Memory and make it the amount that you will have after you have added your new ram.
eg:
3gig = 3072
4gig = 4096
and so on and so on

Hope this will help you. "

I TRY THIS AND EVERYTIME I COME BACK IN IT STILL SAYS 500 MB AFTER RESTARTING.

i.e. i run msconfig go into boot, advanced options, its saying 500 mb in the mem. This is really annoying. Running malwarebytes full scan right now hoping to get the rest of this virus. Already ran superantispyware and adaware - didn't get rid of it.

Any help would be appreciated.

EDIT: I downloaded Everest Home Edition and the two sticks are showing as 2 gig. But in total memory its still saying 500 MB. Really annoying.

 

[johnb35]

What computer do you have?

 

[punkmartyr]

What computer do you have?

Lenovo ThinkCentre M52 Series Type 8215


Heres the really wierd thing.

Everset Home Edition and Crucial Scan both pick up the two new 2 gig each memory sticks. But my system is only using 500 mb of it. Doesn't make a bit of sense. Win XP 32 bit OS.

 

[punkmartyr]

Finally fixed the problem this way:


run, msconfig

changed startup from "selective" to "normal"

 

[johnb35]

Now you probably have every program loaded on your machine starting up when you turn it on, which isn't what you want.

 

[punkmartyr]

Now you probably have every program loaded on your machine starting up when you turn it on, which isn't what you want.

I guess I dunno.. I use a program called StartUpLite to help with that some. The truth is my system went from 512 mb to 4 (3 really because of OS) gig. I can scan with 3 antivirus programs while watching a movie and browsing the web. The difference is amazing.

If you have advice on how to turn programs off that I don't need let me know. I've done it a couple of times and remember it was a pain and required me reviewing some web instructions.

 

[linkin]

Most likely you enabled maxmem in msconfig which causes issues when running 4gb or more of ram, regardless of whether the system is 32bit or 64bit.

I would go back into msconfig, go to startup and services, hide all microsft services and uncheck what you want from there. apply and restart.

Then check task manager again and see how much ram is being detected by windows.

I had the exact same issue before. windows would detect all ram and say something like (3.25GB useable) and CPU-Z detected all the memory. Windows is the fault in this case.