Control Panel's System Reporting Error

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Guest

Why does the BIOS (F2 or bootup & memory) indicate 4GB installed but Control
Panel's System shows 2.99GB. The 10MB is a round off for the 8 MB used by
video so 3.99GB should be indicated for 4GB installed.

When raised from 128 MB (originally delivered and then removed) to have 2GB
(with a 1GB PC4200 SDRAM chip in both slots 1 and 2 System showed 1.99GB) and
when raised to 3GB (1GB additionally put in the Dimension 4700's third slot)
System showed 2.99GB. But why did System reporting not change when 1GB was
put it the forth slot? Do I actually have 4GB RAM working as a DELL chat
claimed?
..
 
I have Windows SP2 installed. I added the PAE switch. I still do not have
the 4GB installed reported by either Properties of My Computer nor by Control
Panel's System.
 
Probably just a cosmetic issue. Microsoft says SP2 fixed it but if it
didn't I don't know what else to try. What does Task Manager report?
You can also use perfmon (just type perfmon in the run box or from a
command prompt and press enter)and add memory counters to see memory
available and committed and in use memory. Even if you have 4 GB of
memory there is only 2GB of memory available to the applications. You
can use another switch to give up to 3GB to the applications but that
can have nefast or negative effects. On NT non-server systems
(including XP) Windows purposely reports 3GB even when it knows that 4GB
is installed and can and does use it if necessary. It does so to keep
at least 1GB in a no execute reserved area for Windows. By reporting
the full 4GB some device drivers (video adapters for example) tried to
use or avail themselves of too much RAM thus causing the computer to
crash, so Windows tells these devices that less RAM is available than
what it actually knows is present and that's why you see 3GB instead of
4GB in the places where you look.

John
 
Thanks for the response. I tied "perfmon" but I find no path to "add memory
counters". The "add snap-in" from File does not provide add memory
counters. From your other comments, I now wonder if adding RAM above 2GB
will buy me anything in creating and editing DVD's. I was under the
impression Kworld Computer that their Xpert DVD Maker would allow me to edit
DVD's that were created for me by Home Video from 1930's 8mm and 1990 analog
camcorders. I want to delete some video and add additional audio by using
the computer microphone. Any additional comments would be appreciated.
 
It's in the System Monitor snap-in, Click (highlight) the snap-in then
just right-click the right pane and you'll see "Add counters..."
Doesn't it tell you in Task Manager how much RAM you have?

I would think that adding RAM above 2GB would probably help with video
editing. I mean, it only stands to reason and logic that even if the
applications can only use 2GB, the Windows Executive Services need RAM
too! So if you have 2GB the applications can't have it all, Windows
needs its share. Having 3GB probably wouldn't hurt in a case like this.
Maybe having 4GB is even better, perhaps a good video card can be even
better with 4GB, so maybe with 4GB Windows is happy, the hardware is
happy, the software is happy and the user is happy.

I don't know much about video editing (or burning cursed dvd's) but I do
know that an application would have to be well written to properly use
2GB of memory. It would be good practice when using such software to
keep the list of background applications and services to a minimum so
that Windows could unleash as much RAM and attention possible to the
application.

I also know that video files can be very large and that no matter how
much ram you have on the computer Windows will make intensive use of the
pagefile. To that effect, in my opinion, just as important if not more
important than having a ton of RAM or ram above 3GB, having a properly
sized non-fragmented pagefile on a physical hard drive of it's own, on a
separate and solely dedicated drive controller is probably one of the
biggest performance boost you could get in a case like this. An that
applies even if you have 4GB of RAM.

John
 
John:
This forum is strange. It keeps repeating all previous responses and
allows a new response by clicking no to question if it helped, and requires
resigning in again. If it is convenient, please respond by email:
(e-mail address removed).

Thanks for your comments. I still don't get to "Add Counters..". Running
perfmon I get Performance with System Monitor and Performance Logs and Alerts
(subitems: Counter Logs, Trace Logs, and Alerts). Right clicking on
anything is not fruitful. From file, clicking onf Add/Remove Snap-in I get
a window to add Snap-in to Console Root under which are the original choices
of System Monitor and Performance Logs and Alerts. Clicking on Add provides
a table which does not have "Add Counters.." in it. Nowhere does right
clicking provide that choice.

George
 
njaygee said:
John:
This forum is strange. It keeps repeating all previous responses
and
allows a new response by clicking no to question if it helped, and
requires
resigning in again. If it is convenient, please respond by email:
(e-mail address removed).

Thanks for your comments. I still don't get to "Add Counters..".
Running
perfmon I get Performance with System Monitor and Performance Logs and
Alerts
(subitems: Counter Logs, Trace Logs, and Alerts). Right clicking on
anything is not fruitful. From file, clicking onf Add/Remove Snap-in
I get a window to add Snap-in to Console Root under which are the
original choices
of System Monitor and Performance Logs and Alerts. Clicking on Add
provides
a table which does not have "Add Counters.." in it. Nowhere does
right clicking provide that choice.
Click to expand...

I'll let the people who have been helping you answer your questions
since I haven't been following this thread closely. However, the reason
you are having difficulties in posting/reading is because this isn't a
"forum". You are using the web interface to a Usenet newsgroup which is
about the worst way to access these groups. There are many good
newsreaders for Windows, but you can use Outlook Express since you
already have it. Here is information about using newsgroups, etc. which
will help you get a better experience here:

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page3.html#12-09-02 - a brief
explanation of newsgroups
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm
http://rickrogers.org/setupoe.htm

http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

http://aumha.org/nntp.htm - list of MS newsgroups
microsoft.public.test.here - MS group to test if your newsreader is
working properly
http://www.mailmsg.com/SPAM_munging.htm - how to munge email address
http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm - multiposting vs.
crossposting

Malke
 
When you click on System Monitor or Performance you should see a graph
on the right hand pane, right click that pane and you should see Add
Counters. Or click the + button on top of the graph.

Maybe the snap-in doesn't load properly, try perfmon.msc at the command
prompt instead of the short perfmon command.

Maybe these can help:

Monitoring Performance
http://http://www.microsoft.com/tec...elp/8e9e5b72-13af-4525-9b60-52864b9d49b2.mspx

To add counters to System Monitor
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/sag_mptopnode.mspx

How to manage System Monitor counters in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;305610

Also search the help files on your computer. Search for "Monitoring
Performance", "Performance Monitor" or simply "perfmon".

Best to keep the discussion on the newsgroup. The answers here are
subject to peer review, that way if I tell you do do something really
dumb someone will correct my stupid suggestions :-)

Instead of using the Microsoft newsgroup CDO page try using a newsreader
to read the thread. Newsreaders are much better than the Microsoft
boards. You can use Outlook Express or Mozilla Thunderbird or any other
third party newsreader. Makes life easier. If you have a properly
configured newsreader clicking on this:
news://msnews.microsoft.com:119/microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics
should get you right to this group. If the newsreader is not configured
you may be asked for server information, enter this information:
msnews.microsoft.com

John
 
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