Re: Windows 2003 RAM detection

workinghard_at_news.postalias
Date: 11/05/04 

Date: Fri, 5 Nov 2004 19:06:03 +0100

Hello,

Dell is investigating. The combination of a PERC 4 raidcontroller and 4G of
RAM is known (on an other server model) to take 1GB away for the raid
controller. They will contact me about this issue. I will keep you posted
and I hope for a resolution (the raid controller has 256 MB of on baord
memory and that should do fine without taking away memory from the system).
I hope for different firmware to be able to disbale this "feature".
""Jeff Qiu [MSFT]"" <jefffqiu@online.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:jodgJxhwEHA.3436@cpmsftngxa10.phx.gbl...
> Hi John,
>
> Thank you for your update.
>
> Based on your system information, I did some further research regarding
> this SMBIOS and noticed that some known issues to this kind of BIOS:
>
> Here is a link about the FAQ of this BIOS:
> http://www.pcpitstop.com/faq/smbios.asp
>
> Currently, I did not get such a machine for test or debug.
>
> I believe DELL has to be involved as they are supposed to sell out many
> this kind of machines.
>
> If there is any updates, please feel free to let me know.
>
> Have a great day!
>
> Best Regards,
>
> Jeff Qiu
> Microsoft Online Partner Support
> MCSE 2k/2k3, MCSA 2k/2k3, MCDBA
> Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security
>
> =====================================================
> When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your newsreader so
> that others may learn and benefit from your issue.
> =====================================================
> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
> rights.
>
>
> --------------------
>>From: <workinghard@news.postalias>
>>Subject: Re: Windows 2003 RAM detection
>>Date: Thu, 4 Nov 2004 00:30:55 +0100
>>microsoft.public.windows.server.setup
>>
>>Hello there,
>>
>>In systemproperties and taskmanager 3GB
>>In systemproperties advances, page file settings: 2GB, 4Gb max, not
>>indicating that it sees more then 3GB to me, but in msinfo32 we see:
>>
>>OS Name Microsoft(R) Windows(R) Server 2003, Standard Edition
>>Version 5.2.3790 Build 3790
>>OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
>>System Name
>>System Manufacturer Dell Computer Corporation
>>System Model PowerEdge 2850
>>System Type X86-based PC
>>Processor x86 Family 15 Model 3 Stepping 4 GenuineIntel ~3192 Mhz
>>Processor x86 Family 15 Model 3 Stepping 4 GenuineIntel ~3192 Mhz
>>Processor x86 Family 15 Model 3 Stepping 4 GenuineIntel ~3192 Mhz
>>Processor x86 Family 15 Model 3 Stepping 4 GenuineIntel ~3192 Mhz
>>BIOS Version/Date Dell Computer Corporation A01, 9/2/2004
>>SMBIOS Version 2.3
>>Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
>>System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
>>Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume2
>>Locale United States
>>Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.2.3790.0 (srv03_rtm.030324-2048)"
>>User Name Not Available
>>Time Zone Romance Standard Time
>>Total Physical Memory 4,096.00 MB
>>Available Physical Memory 2.62 GB
>>Total Virtual Memory 7.85 GB
>>Available Virtual Memory 7.22 GB
>>Page File Space 4.85 GB
>>Page File C:\pagefile.sys
>>
>>
>>It looks like some tools are a bit "confused". The question is, what does
>>the server work with in reality ... and what will ohter tools make of
> this.
>>I will conctact DELL. Thx for your time.
>>
>>
>>
>>""Jeff Qiu [MSFT]"" <jefffqiu@online.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>>news:hzTwiOYwEHA.3028@cpmsftngxa10.phx.gbl...
>>> Hi John,
>>>
>>> Would you please confirm where exact you see the 3GB RAM?
>>>
>>> From System properties or the msinfo32 report?
>>>
>>> At the same time, some cases show that certain BIOS may keep some RAM
> from
>>> accessed by the OS. Please contact the DELL to make sure this model of
>>> computer can get all 4GB RAM detected by the OS.
>>>
>>> Hope it helps!
>>>
>>> Best Regards,
>>>
>>> Jeff Qiu
>>> Microsoft Online Partner Support
>>> MCSE 2k/2k3, MCSA 2k/2k3, MCDBA
>>> Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security
>>>
>>> =====================================================
>>> When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your newsreader so
>>> that others may learn and benefit from your issue.
>>> =====================================================
>>> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
>>> rights.
>>>
>>>
>>> --------------------
>>>>From: <workinghard@news.postalias>
>>>>Subject: Re: Windows 2003 RAM detection
>>>>Date: Tue, 2 Nov 2004 17:09:42 +0100
>>>>microsoft.public.windows.server.setup
>>>>
>>>>Hello,
>>>>
>>>>No all diagnostics report 2*2GB of working RAM and available to system
>>>>(DELL) but the OS only sees 3GB. I expected to see 4, we are running
>>>>the
>>>>lastes bios etc ...
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>""Jeff Qiu [MSFT]"" <jefffqiu@online.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>>>>news:SeBjYrmuEHA.764@cpmsftngxa10.phx.gbl...
>>>>> Hi John,
>>>>>
>>>>> Do you have any update on this issue?
>>>>>
>>>>> This mainly looks like a BIOS settings issue.
>>>>>
>>>>> Can you find the correct RAM installed in the BIOS?
>>>>>
>>>>> What Windows Server 2003 Edition you are using?
>>>>>
>>>>> Here is a link about the Comparation of Editions of Windows Server
> 2003:
>>>>>
>>>
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/evaluation/features/compareeditio
>>>>> ns.mspx
>>>>>
>>>>> The Web Edition will only support 2GB RAM. If you get a Standard and
>>>>> up,
>>>>> it should detect 4G RAM correctly.
>>>>>
>>>>> At the same time, we may check the RAM by the following tool:
>>>>> Windows Memory Diagnostic
>>>>> http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp?SD=GN&gssnb=1
>>>>>
>>>>> Hope it helps!
>>>>>
>>>>> Best Regards,
>>>>>
>>>>> Jeff Qiu
>>>>> Microsoft Online Partner Support
>>>>> MCSE 2k/2k3, MCSA 2k/2k3, MCDBA
>>>>> Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security
>>>>>
>>>>> =====================================================
>>>>> When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your newsreader
> so
>>>>> that others may learn and benefit from your issue.
>>>>> =====================================================
>>>>> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
>>>>> rights.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> --------------------
>>>>>>From: <workinghard@news.postalias>
>>>>>>Subject: Re: Windows 2003 RAM detection
>>>>>>Date: Tue, 19 Oct 2004 20:21:14 +0200
>>>>>>microsoft.public.windows.server.setup
>>>>>>
>>>>>>No I checked this, no switches, plain vanilla boot.ini
>>>>>>I thaught about spare memory row enabeling but that is per RAM stick
>>>>>>so
>>> no
>>>>>>joy there. I'm not at the loctaion now but I'll check the bios for
> some
>>>>>>settings ...
>>>>>>
>>>>>>"John Savill" <john@savilltech.com> wrote in message
>>>>>>news:eudWAfgtEHA.2072@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
>>>>>>> Are there any switches specified in the boot.ini file (e.g. 3GB
>>>>>>> which
>>>>>>> would reduce to 3.75 GB)?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> John
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> <workinghard@news.postalias> wrote in message
>>>>>>> news:%23QnORXgtEHA.3572@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
>>>>>>>> Hello,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I have a brand new DELL PE 2850 with 4 GB of RAM (2*GB) but
>>>>>>>> Windows
>>>>> 2003
>>>>>>>> only reports 3GB. Dell diagnostics sees and finds the RAM
> correctly.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Please advise, thx!
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>

Relevant Pages

  • Re: PowerEdge SC600 memory upgrade
    ... example everytime I work on a Dell I either remove or relocate the I386 ... Speaking of network printing, they are connected to HP print servers that I ... This program *has* to be on the C: drive of the server otherwise it won't ... that is what I feel that adding more memory should at ...
    (alt.sys.pc-clone.dell)
  • Re: Server reboots
    ... The server is using all Dell Memory - it has 6Gb, ... regarding the /3GB switch for use with Exchange 2000 ... Advanced server, however I cannot believe that the server ...
    (microsoft.public.exchange2000.general)
  • Server Freezing Up
    ... For a couple months now our Windows Server 2003 R2 SP2 has been ... freezing up and we couldn't figure out why. ... We have a Dell PowerEdge ... new memory. ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.general)
  • Re: Win Server 2003 and SQL Server 2000
    ... The processor is aPent 4, 2.8 GH Dell. ... There is 1 GB of memory. ... > what are the table size and server processors? ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.general)
  • RE: server problems
    ... This newsgroup only focuses on SBS technical issues. ... >Thread-Topic: server problems ... >> web proxy service or SQL Server will normally use large memory. ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs)