Screen Resolution & Memory Size Problems ?

[DRSLETMEDOWN]

I just did a new build & this is a first for me. It has 2-512 sticks a matched pair PNY DDR2. It only shaws as 860 or something like that not the 1024 ?? WHY ? The screen resolution keeps changing from what I have it set to after a re-boot ?? I apply the choice I set it to. Any suggestions ? As usual thanks in advance.

[Black Viper]

Sounds as though it is using onboard video/shared video memory with system memory.

[DRSLETMEDOWN]

Is there a solution so it shows the full memory ? I have other computers with onboard video & they show the correct ammount of memory ? Any suggestions on why the screen resolution keeps changing after I turn it off & back on ?

Thanks & have a good weekend!

[Black Viper]

Are the current video card drivers installed for the particular onboard video? If not, Windows could be using a "generic" video card driver that defaults to strange things upon reboot.
New build, but, is it a "new" system? Meaning, brand new components or just old parts put together to make a "new" system?

[DRSLETMEDOWN]

Are the current video card drivers installed for the particular onboard video? If not, Windows could be using a "generic" video card driver that defaults to strange things upon reboot.
New build, but, is it a "new" system? Meaning, brand new components or just old parts put together to make a "new" system?

All new parts. Drivers that came with the mother board. I don't think it makes a difference but I'm using a KVM switch sharing two computers with one monitor, keyboard & mouse.

[Black Viper]

Does this issue happen only when booting up the system while the system is not selected on the KVM?
Have you checked the BIOS as to memory settings with regards to using, something to the effect of "upper" memory for video cards or part of the system RAM memory mapping. This setting is dependent on what system board, so some digging may be in order for exact wording.
The particular setting for my motherboard is called "Memory Remap Feature" but it is only recommended to be enabled with 64-bit OS's. Not sure about it with your system.

[Spawn]

I hate KVM switches.  They go crazy farily early on and I am pretty confident that is the cause of your resolution problems.  Are you doing the re-boot with both computers active, or from a sleep state on either?  This always caused an issue in my experience with them in the past. 

Spawn

[DRSLETMEDOWN]

I hate KVM switches.  They go crazy farily early on and I am pretty confident that is the cause of your resolution problems.  Are you doing the re-boot with both computers active, or from a sleep state on either?  This always caused an issue in my experience with them in the past. 

Spawn

I will watch closer but I think it's been both wayswith both on or just one. What's weird to me is the resolution setting in that computer actually changes & I go & put it back the way it was. I guess I could switch the the cables to the computers & see if it starts doing the same thing to the other computer. Convienience always seems to have a drawback.

[Black Viper]

I agree that sometimes KVM's can cause real strange issues.
One of my older systems would not recognize a mouse plugged in unless the system was turned on while it was selected. After turning it on, it was fine and I could select a different computer and the mouse would remain.
Another would have problems turning off the monitor (power save) after a period of time and would not come back up.
Best thing is to take the KVM out of the picture and plug the devices in directly (if possible) to see if the problem can be replicated. Often times, you may have just found a problem (maybe?) and older KVM and new hardware.

[Runaway1956]

I'm not a real tech or support guy - but memory issues, in my experience, have always proved to be faulty memory.  If you have a gig of memory installed, and you only see 860 meg, I suspect memory is bad.

What do you see during POST?  (most machines, hit "Del" key to enter setup during boot, on one screen or another you'll see the installed memory)  If the machine is only finding 860 meg at POST, then I'm really sure a stick of memory is bad.

http://www.memtest.org/  http://www.memtest.org/#downiso

I use memtest86+ to test suspect memory.  Download it, burn it to CD, or install it on a USB stick.  Shut the machine down, remove the second stick of memory, then boot up and let memtest run a few times.  If no problems are found, shut the machine down, and put the OTHER stick into the first slot.  (swap them around, so you only have one stick in)  Boot, and test.

If one or the other memory stick has a flaw, that may well explain your video problem as well.  ANYTHING can happen with memory issues!

If, on the other hand, Memtest rules out bad memory, then you can look harder at video components!

[Black Viper]

What do you see during POST?  (most machines, hit "Del" key to enter setup during boot, on one screen or another you'll see the installed memory)  If the machine is only finding 860 meg at POST, then I'm really sure a stick of memory is bad.

Not necessarily if the BIOS setting does not allow the mapped memory, talked about ^-- above system memory, it will post with less then installed memory. However, inside of the BIOS menu and settings, it will state the full installed RAM.
860 is also a very odd amount to be detected. If that much memory was actually bad, the "quick memory test" at post that most systems do would catch it and halt the system.

[DRSLETMEDOWN]

Sounds as though it is using onboard video/shared video memory with system memory.

I hate to sound stupid but is there a specific memory setting I should use for on board video to share ?
If so what is that setting called & what amount should I use as a rule of thumb ? Is it a percentage of your total memory ? Trying to get an idea of how much to share or how much is needed to work well. I have onboard video on computers with 1 gig, 2 gig & 4 gig. I have 1 computer with 4 gig & a PCI Express card with 1 gig. What should it be set to ?
As usual thanks for the input.