How do I get all the memory of my PC available in Linux ?

[Bruno53]

With all 32bit PXLinuxOS systems I installed on my PC came 4 GB of Memory .
When I upgraded the kernel to a pae version, I got 8 GB . The same amount I had wen I installed a 64bit Linux Mint or PCLOS ....
The question is :  my desktop has 16 GB of DDR3 RAM, which is also available in the preinstalled Windows 7 .
What does it take to have that 16 GB availbable in Linux systems ?
Thanks for enlightening me !


Technical specifications :

Lenovo Ideacentre B540P All-in-One PC 58,42 cm (23")
**************************************************
    Operating system: Windows 7 Home Premium 64bits
    Processor: Intel® Core™ i7-3770 Processor (8M Cache, 3.90 GHz)  -  integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Memory: 16Gb (4x4Gb) DDR3 1333MHz
    Memory Slot: 4
    Display: 23” Full HD (1920x1080), 16:9 widescreen frameless display
    Graphics: NVIDIA® GeForce™ GT650M 2Gb
    Speakers: Integrated stereo speakers supporting Dolby Advanced Audio V2
    Integrated camera: Integrated Lenovo High-Sense (720p HD) webcam
    Hard drive: 2TB 7200rpm
    Wired Ethernet LAN: 10/100/1000M
    Wireless LAN: WiFi 802.11b/g/n
    Interfaces: Wireless USB Keyboard & Mouse, 4xUSB2.0, 2xUSB3.0 connectors,headphones, mic, HDMI out, 6in1 card reader, TV tuner
    Computer ( h x d x w): 57.6cm x 11cm x 41.19cm (22.7" x 4.34" x 16.22")
    Weight: 9.18kg

[sling-shot]

The .pae kernel should have allowed you to see all 16 GB of RAM. It is supposed to see upto 64 GB.
Wait for someone with better knowledge to come along.

[Old-Polack]

Open a terminal and enter this command;

[<you>@localhost ~]$ free -m                                <Enter>

Post your results.

[Bruno53]

Saturday been busy with non PC stuff ....

@ Old-Polack :

Terminal result , when I do what you asked me to :

[mouse@localhost mouse]$ free -m
             total       used       free     shared    buffers     cached
Mem:          8080       2008       6071          0        284       1127
-/+ buffers/cache:        596       7484
Swap:            0          0          0


Terminal result , when I do what I normally do :

[mouse@localhost mouse]$ free
             total       used       free     shared    buffers     cached
Mem:       8274316    2107800    6166516          0     293608    1167404
-/+ buffers/cache:     646788    7627528
Swap:            0          0          0
[mouse@localhost mouse]$

[NoIBnds]

Here is mine running 32bit PCLOS and Kernel Linux 3.2.18-pclos2.pae.bfs  (it is seeing all my ram)

 ~]$ free -m
             total       used       free     shared    buffers     cached
Mem:         16193       2016      14177          0         81        768
-/+ buffers/cache:       1166      15026
Swap:         7993          0       7993

[Phil]

Ram sticks in the right slots and seated right?
(If it is dual booting windows and that says 16 then should be seated ok)

[kc1di]

if windows is seeing 16 gigs (Double check this ) then PClinux OS should be as well.

only thing I can think of is that some has been reserved for video use but I wouldn't think it would be 8 gigs.

[Just17]

I would be inclined to check the BIOS settings and ensure that all the memory is treated the same there.

Also I would install a second .pae  kernel to make sure it is not kernel related -- a slim chance I suppose.

[Bruno53]

Just discovered that Windows 7 and the BIOS both mention 8Gb Ram memory ....
So no discrepancy between systems and BIOS .
I remember having checked the preinstalled Windows immediately after I got this computer and it then confirmed having 16Gb .
I am now thinking it could be a hardware problem ....
Thinking now of checking the installed physical memory if that does not interfere with guaranty .

[Old-Polack]

Just discovered that Windows 7 and the BIOS both mention 8Gb Ram memory ....
So no discrepancy between systems and BIOS .
I remember having checked the preinstalled Windows immediately after I got this computer and it then confirmed having 16Gb .
I am now thinking it could be a hardware problem ....
Thinking now of checking the installed physical memory if that does not interfere with guaranty .

Quick test...

Remove all of the RAM cards, then insert one, and only one, then check to see if the machine boots. Do this with each RAM card, in turn. If they all work, individually, repeat the test using two cards, in the proper slots for dual channeling, then the remaining two cards, in the same two slots. Repeat the last test but using the other two slots not used in the previous test.

If that all works, try all four cards together again, being sure that they are fully seated, and the locking tabs fully closed. Boot up and try the free -m command again.

[Bruno53]

Thanks for the good advice, Old Polack, but my PC is just four months old, are you sure that tampering with memory slots doesn't interfere with warranty ?
I think it's safer to find out first, in case there are broken things that have to be replaced ....

[sling-shot]

Considering last 2 posts of yours together, the right course of action is to call the pc vendor for a service.

[jakesdad]

Check to see if the ram is ganged or not, my motherboard allows you to set it up how you want by selecting which memory slots you use.  I think this is right it's been awhile and I've slept since then.

[sling-shot]

He would void his warranty if he opens up the box.

[Just17]

He would void his warranty if he opens up the box.

    

Refer to P44 +  of the user manual!

http://www.lenovo.com/shop/americas/content/user_guides/bseries_ug_en.pdf

Tools required
To disassemble the computer, you need the following tools:
•    Wrist grounding strap and conductive mat for ..........

etc   etc