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Thread: 8GB RAM seen as 2GB RAM

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
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    10

    8GB RAM seen as 2GB RAM

    Hello
    I have a HP dv7 new laptop with 64bit i7 processor and 8GB RAM. I have installed Ubuntu 10.10 (32bits). It sees only 2GB RAM when I check it from the command free -m.
    How can I enable my ubuntu to use the full 8GB RAM?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Oregon
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    403

    Re: 8GB RAM seen as 2GB RAM

    Quote Originally Posted by cosmicgr View Post
    Hello
    How can I enable my ubuntu to use the full 8GB RAM?
    Short answer is to install the 64 bit version of Ubuntu.

    Long answer is that 32 bit operating systems will only recognize a maximum of 4GB of RAM, including your video RAM.

    There is a 32-bit Linux kernel available that will recognize more than 4GB of RAM (it's called "bigmem" in Debian, not sure if there's a supported equivalent in Ubuntu). It's more of a kludge for older servers with a lot of system RAM, though.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
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    PA. u.s.a.
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    829
    Distro
    Ubuntu 11.04 Natty Narwhal

    Re: 8GB RAM seen as 2GB RAM

    Installing a 64 bit kernel is the best answer. If you don't want to do that you can install the PAE kernel. it's a surprise that the PAE kernel didn't install in any system with 4 GB RAM or more. In Synaptic type "pae" in the search box. You should find what you need. Wikipedia has a write-up on what PAE is, how it works and its limitations.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    NT, Australia
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    338
    Distro
    Ubuntu 12.04 Precise Pangolin

    Re: 8GB RAM seen as 2GB RAM

    if you haven't got too much data on ubuntu, reinstalling the 64bit version of 10.04 or 11.04 would be the best choice. Otherwise you can try those other kernels.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    UK
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    Hidden!
    Distro
    Ubuntu 22.04 Jammy Jellyfish

    Re: 8GB RAM seen as 2GB RAM

    @cosmicgr, welcome to the forum!

    Even with the 32-bit version and the generic kernel (not the PAE one) your system should be seeing about 3.2GB of RAM, not 2GB. Check the BIOS to make sure all the 8GB is being seen by the BIOS.
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  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
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    316

    Re: 8GB RAM seen as 2GB RAM

    Since you just installed Ubuntu, reinstall and use the 64-bit version. Seriously. The only thing you want to avoid is the version of Flash found in Ubuntu64's repo. Use this instead: https://launchpad.net/~sevenmachines/+archive/flash

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
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    PA. u.s.a.
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    829
    Distro
    Ubuntu 11.04 Natty Narwhal

    Re: 8GB RAM seen as 2GB RAM

    Quote Originally Posted by .... View Post
    Since you just installed Ubuntu, reinstall and use the 64-bit version. Seriously. The only thing you want to avoid is the version of Flash found in Ubuntu64's repo. Use this instead: https://launchpad.net/~sevenmachines/+archive/flash
    Or use our own LovingLinux' Firefox extension Flash-Aid. I've used it with good effect. You do need SUDO permission to run it.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Beans
    10

    Re: 8GB RAM seen as 2GB RAM

    Thank you all of you!
    I had to use some programs which run on 32bit only, so I could not install 64bit ubuntu. I'm already running 64bit Fedora for 64bit applications. This 32bit was for testing only.
    I have successfully installed the PAE kernel. It is now recognizing full 8GB RAM.
    Thanks once again for all your support!

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