Return to BSD News archive
Path: euryale.cc.adfa.oz.au!newshost.carno.net.au!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!munnari.OZ.AU!spool.mu.edu!uwm.edu!cs.utexas.edu!howland.erols.net!cam-news-hub1.bbnplanet.com!news.bbnplanet.com!su-news-hub1.bbnplanet.com!newsfeed.internetmci.com!raven.eva.net!bighorn.accessnv.com!jca From: jca@bighorn.accessnv.com (J.C. Archambeau) Newsgroups: comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc Subject: Re: FreeBSD 2.1.6 and 2.2beta only see and seem to use 16 of my 32Mb RAM Date: 6 Jan 1997 18:52:17 GMT Organization: Access Nevada Inc. Lines: 29 Distribution: world Message-ID: <5arhl1$fr7@raven.eva.net> References: <5aquav$lul@news.simplex.nl> NNTP-Posting-Host: bighorn.accessnv.com Cc: patrickk@xs4all.nl X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] Xref: euryale.cc.adfa.oz.au comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc:33706 Patrick Kessen (patrickk@xs4all.nl) wrote: : I have a Compaq Prolinea 5120 with 32Mb RAM here and FreeBSD 2.1.6 and : 2.2beta only detect 16 of the 32MB, is there anything I can do about : this? You have two choices: 1. Edit your kernel config to probe for 32 Mb rather than relying upon the BIOS call results. You may have to recompile the kernel. 2. Change the BIOS from a Compaq BIOS to an AMI or Phoenix which will accurately report the amount of physical memory installed. The Compaq BIOS reports memory in an 'undocumented' fashion and will only report 16 Mb regardless of how much memory you have. Some older Compaqs seem to only work with 16 Mb under any OS unless the OS's memory manager is specifically written for the Compaq chipset or a Compaq memory manager is used. But the newer ones seem to access memory in a more conventional fashion and the problem seems to be limited to the BIOS reporting the correct amount of installed physical memory. This is one of the many Compaqisms out there. Compaq has always been out on Mars with respect to their compatability. -- /* | Spam violation - e-mail dumped... ** Internet: jca@accessnv.com | Don't blame me, I didn't vote for Clinton. ** jca@anv.net | Intel is the word for 'errata.' */