# Laptop not recognizing full amount of RAM upgrade **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 7, 2011, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-not-recognizing-full-amount-of-ram-upgrade/570524 "2011-02-07T16:25:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![smoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@smoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smoke)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-not-recognizing-full-amount-of-ram-upgrade/570524/1 "2011-02-07T16:25:07Z")
Here are the stats: Acer Aspire 5252-V333 Windows 7 64-bit Crucial [4 GB (2x2GB) upgrade](http://www.crucial.com/store/partspecs.aspx?imodule=CT2KIT25664BC1339) I’ve installed the memory, which went smoothly, but when I click on Computer properties it says for RAM “4GB (1.78GB recognized).” Does this actually mean it can’t use or isn’t using the full 4GB? How do I go about troubleshooting this? My laptop is at home, so I can’t physically do anything til this evening, but I wanted the day shift to be able to take a crack. The only doubt I have is that Crucial suggested two similar 4GB upgrade kits, the difference being the choice between DDR3-1333 and DDR3-1066. Not knowing much about that, I Googled around and ended up going with the DDR3-1333. I don’t know what came with the laptop, but in this case might that the problem? Thanks in advance! ---
**Author:** ![mittu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@mittu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mittu)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-not-recognizing-full-amount-of-ram-upgrade/570524/2 "2011-02-07T19:29:15Z")
It sounds like only one of your 2 sticks is being recognized, try jumping into BIOS to see if it shows them both in there. This is done by tapping a key as the computer first boots up, usually ‘del’, F2 or F10. Showing less than 2GB is normal if it only has 2GB in it as the video adapter may be sharing some of the system RAM. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-not-recognizing-full-amount-of-ram-upgrade/570524/3 "2011-02-07T19:36:59Z")
You may have a bad stick. Remove one and try. You may have to move the stick to the first slot. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-not-recognizing-full-amount-of-ram-upgrade/570524/4 "2011-02-07T21:49:48Z")
Make sure memory is physcially installed correctly. I can’t tell you the number of times I"ve seen people who don’t press the memory in all the way but swear it is in their all the way, ---
**Author:** ![smoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@smoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smoke)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-not-recognizing-full-amount-of-ram-upgrade/570524/5 "2011-02-08T01:47:49Z")
I haven’t swapped anything around yet, but the BIOS tells me I have 4078 MB of memory. Am I just misunderstanding something maybe? If a stick was bad, would the BIOS still report that it’s there? Right-clicking on the Properties of “Computer”, I still see “Installed memory (RAM): 4.00 GB (1.74 usable)” So am I just misunderstanding what the system is telling me, or should I expect to see much more RAM in the available status? Gonna go reseat the RAM and check back in a bit. ---
**Author:** ![ChrisBooth12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@ChrisBooth12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisBooth12)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-not-recognizing-full-amount-of-ram-upgrade/570524/6 "2011-02-08T01:57:55Z")
maybe the board wont see that much ---
**Author:** ![smoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@smoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smoke)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-not-recognizing-full-amount-of-ram-upgrade/570524/7 "2011-02-08T02:05:34Z")
The board will handle up to 8GB. The prize goes to **Markxxx** - I swear those cards were seated all the way in! 😉 I was thrown off by the computer seemingly recognizing that the 4GB were there, but not being able to use it. I would have expected it to only think the single 2GB stick was there. Thanks so much for everyone’s help!