XP System Properties vs. MSinfo for RAM

[Tom]

A new laptop I purchased claims to have 256 megs of RAM.
Checking System Properties, the system says it only has
192.

After calling the manufacturer, they directed me to go to
Run-->Msinfo which pulls up a screen which DOES say that
my installed RAM is 256 megs. The support person claimed
that all machines will "hide" some RAM from the user in
system properties necessary to load the system.

My desktop machine, however, lists MATCHING values under
both screens. The desktop runs windows 2000, the new
laptop XP Home.

Is this true? Do other users find that their Installed
RAM listed under system properties (a right click on my
computer) is lower than their real amount? Is this a bug?

Any help or information would be greatly appreciated - the
machine is a compaq 2596

[Sharon F]

On Fri, 2 Apr 2004 22:46:05 -0800, Tom wrote:

> A new laptop I purchased claims to have 256 megs of RAM.
> Checking System Properties, the system says it only has
> 192.

Your display adapter is "borrowing" 64 MB of ram from the system to be used
for video memory.

--
Sharon F
MS-MVP ~ Windows XP Shell/User

[Ramesh [MVP]]

It's normal. It might be using Shared Memory Architecture. They =
advertise as 256MB Total Memory, out of which 64MB is taken for Video.

--=20
Ramesh - Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
www.mvps.org/sramesh2k
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Tips_Page.htm
http://www.mvps.org


"Tom" > wrote in message =
...
A new laptop I purchased claims to have 256 megs of RAM. =20
Checking System Properties, the system says it only has=20
192.

After calling the manufacturer, they directed me to go to=20
Run-->Msinfo which pulls up a screen which DOES say that=20
my installed RAM is 256 megs. The support person claimed=20
that all machines will "hide" some RAM from the user in=20
system properties necessary to load the system.

My desktop machine, however, lists MATCHING values under=20
both screens. The desktop runs windows 2000, the new=20
laptop XP Home.

Is this true? Do other users find that their Installed=20
RAM listed under system properties (a right click on my=20
computer) is lower than their real amount? Is this a bug?

Any help or information would be greatly appreciated - the=20
machine is a compaq 2596