Added memory but laptop will not use it (RAM, 2GB, Windows)

[trlhiker]

I just added 4GB worth of memory to my Acer Aspire 5552-5898 laptop. It has only 2 slots for memory so I had to remove 1 chip then added the 4GB one. This is supposed to give me 6GB of memory. The computer shows 6GB of memory but only 1.73GB usable which is down from the 3.74GB I had before. I am running windows 7. Is there anything I can to greatly increase the usable memory? It seems like the computer reads the added chip but will not use it. Thanks.

[Mr. Lee]

I believe that you have to do it in matched sets.

[Tek_Freek]

What version of Windows are you running? 32 bit or 64?

[NJBest]

Originally Posted by Mr. Lee

I believe that you have to do it in matched sets.

Not typical with modern RAM.

[NJBest]

What appears to be happening here is you initially have two sticks of 2GB of ram (4GB total). When you swap in the 4GB stick to make 6GB, your computer isn't picking it up. Either the RAM isn't seated properly, is not compatible, or is bad (in which case you should exchange it).

[Tek_Freek]

Remove the 2GB, reseat the 4GB, and restart. If the new chip is defective this should tell you.

[Tek_Freek]

If you are running 32 bit Windows the system will not use more than 4GB RAM.

[trlhiker]

Originally Posted by tek_freek

what version of windows are you running? 32 bit or 64?

64

[trlhiker]

Originally Posted by NJBest

What appears to be happening here is you initially have two sticks of 2GB of ram (4GB total). When you swap in the 4GB stick to make 6GB, your computer isn't picking it up. Either the RAM isn't seated properly, is not compatible, or is bad (in which case you should exchange it).

Originally Posted by Tek_Freek

Remove the 2GB, reseat the 4GB, and restart. If the new chip is defective this should tell you.

I will try reseating it, thanks.

[trlhiker]

That did it. It wasn't fully seated. I now have 5.74GB of memory. Thanks everyone.