[SOLVED] Which kernel to get the full 4GB RAM of an HP laptop?

[joejac]

Hello,
My Host got blocked several times with 2 VirtualBox Maxines working at the same time. I discovered that OpenBox/LXDE Host is only recognizing 3GB of the laptop 4GB total memory.

I see that the kernel is 2.6.38.8-pclos3.bfs, I found that it needs PAE kernel, I checked with Synaptic and found a lot of kernels, which one sould I install, please?

This Linux 2.6.38.8-pclos3.pae.bfs seems to me the logical option, but I am not sure, and I do not want to break the installation, the other option is Linux 2.6.38.8-pclos3.pae

Machine:
HP Pavilion dv6 Core i7
4GB RAM
ATI Radeon HD 5650
15.6" LED BrightView TFT 1366 x 768 ( WXGA )
500GB HD

[exploder]

Try the most current pae kernel and things should be fine. Remember to give the system some time to boot after installing the kernel because the modules have to build and it takes a few minutes. You will still have the original kernel to boot with if something were to go wrong.

[T6]

also remember that you can keep 2 or 3 kernels installed(i had 4 once and all was ok)

the right one is 2.6.38.0-pclos.3.pae or pae.bfs, the pae means physical address extension, the extension handling the extra ram you have and want to use

install both and keep the other

remember that each time you add a new kernel to your system the first time you use that new kernel, a process searching hardware and also add modules to new kernel will happen and it takes time, could be 1 or 2 minutes, maybe more

be patient with each kernel first boot

if a kernel you install doesn't want to boot, don't worry, try another and if none of the new kernels work for you just boot form the boot menu from the older one, the one is working now

if you don't do lots of virtual machines, lots of video or image edition or any heavy task under pclinux kde4, chances are extremely high that you will never use 1 gb of the 4 you have

i have 1.2 gbs of ram and rarely i reach 600 mbs of ram used so don't expect any wonderful side effect from the new kernel

[joejac]

Thanks a lot I will try.
Regards
joejac

[joejac]

Thanks a lot,
I installed Linux 2.6.38.8-pclos3.pae.bfs only, and it worked perfect, now my host sees the full 4GB RAM.

To VBox users, VBox fails in the first start up but shows an error message that gives the solution.

1.- Ensure to have DKMS
2.- Run as root: /etc/init.d/vboxdrv setup
And uninstall the old DKMS kernel and reinstall the new one and it worked fine for me.
Best regards
joejac

[menotu]

Thanks a lot,
I installed Linux 2.6.38.8-pclos3.pae.bfs only, and it worked perfect, now my host sees the full 4GB RAM.

To VBox users, VBox fails in the first start up but shows an error message that gives the solution.

1.- Ensure to have DKMS
2.- Run as root: /etc/init.d/vboxdrv setup
And uninstall the old DKMS kernel and reinstall the new one and it worked fine for me.
Best regards
joejac

Quick question if I may joejac Which version of VBox are you running - is it 4.1.6?

Thanks

[T6]

if the answers you got answered your question please mark this post as (SOLVED)

[joejac]

Quick question if I may joejac Which version of VBox are you running - is it 4.1.6?

Thanks

Thanks T6, Yes is solved.
Yes Menotu, is VBox 4.1.6
Thanks
joejac