I purchased this excellent new computer within the last year I would say. Basically zero problems with it until I couldn't boot up at all. It would try to load Windows but simply fail and restart. I tried using a restore point, which I had to run from a disk because the internal one would not load. I successfully booted up twice from using a restore point. Then I eventually fixed the problem by finding that I had a loss RAM card. I simply moved this RAM card from this dis-functional RAM port to my empty port. I currently had 9GB of RAM installed. 4x2GB sticks and one 1GB stick. Then, happy as could be that I fixed my computer, I checked the RAM in my Control Panel>System view and saw that I had 9GB of RAM, lovely. But now, over the last month or so I would say, right after I fixed this problem, I started to loss RAM. One day I checked my Control Panel>System and it said 7GB. Then a few weeks later, and it had dropped to 4GB. I am still currently at 4GB and I downloaded this program called "CPUID". It reported that I currently have 9GB of RAM installed. It also showed me each of my ports (SPD), displaying each of my 4x2GB sticks and my one 1GB stick. Now I would love to know how the hell to turn these other RAM sticks on because this is stupid that Windows 7 doesn't recognize them. Computer Specs: Intel Core i7 920 @2.67GHz Windows 7 64-bit Radeon HD 4650 HP Pavilion e9280t
Depending on the platform (x86, x64), Windows holds a limit to the amount of memory it can use. x86, or, 32-bit platforms set a memory limit of 4GB. You can check out the limits here. Word of advice - remove that extra 1GB stick. Even if you had a 64-bit platform, you really wouldn't see a difference in performance.
Well, lets try a few more things then: 1. Download Memtest86+. This will test all your memory sticks out. 2. If your memory sticks turn out to be ok, try and reset your CMOS. There should be a setting in your BIOS that gives you the option to "return to default settings." 3. Lastly, if still not solution, try and update your BIOS. I already did the research for you: heres the BIOS update straight from HP's website. Funny thing... under that BIOS update download, it lists improvements to memory control with Core i7 980x processors. It's not your 920 but hey it just might solve the problem. Either way, try step 3 last. Always best to avoid updating your BIOS because of its risks.
Wonderful! Realized I had a copy of Memtest86+ on a usb lying around so I popped it in and ran the test. It found no errors, so then I went into my BIOS and restored default settings. Once I booted back into Windows 7 I now have 7GB, so something good must have happened, 7 is way better than 4. I will continue the remaining of your suggestions, and thanks again.
Just after posting my last message I got a blue screen of death, saying something about check recently installed hardware. Once I rebooted I am back to 4GB of RAM
Something is definitely wrong with your BIOS or Windows... try updating your BIOS. Lets see what happens.
I have successfully updated my BIOS with the download you provided me. I confirmed the new version within the BIOS. While I was there I also tried to reset the default settings again. But to no avail I am still at 4GB. When I was in the BIOS I noticed it listed all the RAM slots and it only showed 2x2GB sticks, and all the rest of the slots were empty.
In that case you might have 2 damaged memory slots. But how did Memtest recognize those slots during testing... At a loss myself buddy
