KerbalPhysicist

So a month or 2 ago, I had a motherboard go bad and I replaced it with a new one (Asrock 970A-G/3.1 if it matters) Ever since then, no matter what I do, my 8 gb of RAM isn't fully utilized by Windows. In the system tab of control panel, it shows up as 8.00gb (3.97 gb usable). The other 4 gb show as "system/hardware reserved memory" everywhere else. (By the way, I am running 64 bit Windows 10, 32 bit is not the issue!) I went through the usual stuff like going through my BIOS settings to see if RAM was being allocated to my graphics card for some reason, and it wasn't. Besides overclocking settings, there was nothing else related to RAM in the BIOS. I did however notice that my 2 4gb sticks were running in single channel mode for some reason. After reseating all the RAM modules (to the manual's specified slots for dual channel as well) I went back into the bios and checked, and it was still showing as single channel, with no change in windows. So then I figured, maybe something is actually wrong with the RAM, and I ran Memtest86. Memtest only recognized 4066mb of RAM total, so I just went ahead and tried swapping out the RAM for an ancient set of 4x2gb at 1333mhz. Same problem, no change. Last thing I did was try flashing the bios to no avail. Oh yeah, and the original 2 4gb sticks worked perfectly in another system. Sorry for the long rambling block of text, honestly I'm not expecting any magical answers, I just want someone to make sure I'm not crazy before I bite the bullet and buy a new motherboard and an i5-6500! Thanks in advance for any insight you guys might have though.

No I'm running a dedicated card, and an AMD FX cpu, there's no iGPU.

So, I'm having a super weird issue. I have 8gb of RAM (ddr3, 2 x 4gb), In task manager, it recognizes that I have 8gb of ram, but acts like only 4 is usable. I know that it usually comes out to 7.8gb or something similar, but it also says that 4 gb are hardware reserved. Ill attach a screenshot of the window. I have no idea what happened, this machine never used to do this before. This is a clean Windows 10 64-bit install, and the only thing that has changed in the last several months on this machine is the motherboard. Does anyone know what's going on? Thanks in advance.

You and me both! I couldn't afford a new CPU, I would've been stuck with that athlon till like August! Thanks for your replies though.

will do

I've already got the iso, but do you mean to run startup repair? when I go to repair, it just gives me the typical menu, like startup repair, restore from an image, command prompt, etc...

So, I'm having a REALLY weird problem, never run into anything like it before. Just last week I had to replace my motherboard because it failed. It was completely fine, no problems whatsoever, didnt even have to reactivate windows. Its been working perfectly for about 5 days. Today, when I booted it up, it started up normally, and got to the background pic you get on Windows 10 before it fades away and you enter your password. The problem is, it either freezes there, or straight up does not recognize any usb-device input. Numlock and Capslock don't work, the mouse doesn't move, nothing. But I know its not the USB ports or anything, because they work in the BIOS, and they even worked in startup repair! (I know that startup repair is useless, but I figured what the heck.) I even plugged in a PS2 keyboard to check, and I got nothing (after rebooting it of course.) I pretty much don't know what to do, although after this, the next logical step is just to reinstall/refresh windows, because all my files are on a storage drive that I can unplug. I would be very appreciative of any help. Oh yeah, and the only thing I've installed in the past month is an graphics driver update straight from AMD, but that was still like 5 days ago. Specs, if they're even important: FX-8320 CPU 2x4gb DDR3 RAM R9 270 Graphics card 120gb ssd 1Tb HDD Windows 10 64-bit

Welp, basically I just had to replace the mobo, I got as close to the same model as possible, so I didnt even have to reactivate windows. And since its newer I've got USB-C now to boot! but no thunderbolt, because its still an old AMD machine...

Well, I tried forcing the athlon in there (since its old, and damaging it isnt a massive problem.) and it fit, but it still didn't boot. I then tried that same athlon in a working system and it worked fine. So it looks like its the mobo, and possibly the processor too. I guess I'll try getting a new motherboard, since its really all I can afford for the time being, and if it still doesn't work (but it will boot with the athlon) then I guess I need a new processor too. Lovely. Thanks for your help though

So, my setup is a FX-8320 with 2x4GB sticks of ddr3, an R9-270 graphics card, an Asrock 970 performance AM3+ mobo, and a corsair 750 watt psu, all of which were known to be working up until yesterday. I was playing a game, and the CPU fan died. By the time I noticed the computer was too quiet, it was too late and it thermal shutdown. I booted it into the BIOS, and sure enough the CPU temp was hovering around 80 C. I took the cooler off the CPU, swapped the fan for one of the other ones in the case, and cleaned/reapplied the thermal compound. After reassembling everything, there was no post. The fans spin up for a second or two, then stop. There's no video output either. At this point, I started doing all the normal things that you'd do in case of a no-post. I tried different RAM, 1 stick of RAM, swapping GPU's, clearing CMOS, reseating everything that can be reseated (including the CPU) and at one point even swapping monitors. Of course the motherboard doesnt have a speaker or readout, so there's no way for me to figure out which post-code it hangs on. Since it's an AM3+ board, I tried to install a old athlon 2 x6, but it actually didn't fit in the socket. Same for another athlon 2 x4. But the FX-8320 fits perfectly! My running theory now is that something is maybe wrong with the socket? I have had to bend pins back into place on the 8320, but they're all straight now. I'm grateful for any ideas anyone can offer me.

Well, that's irritating. Im using a passive DP to VGA adapter, so I guess thats the problem. I already know that at some point in the near future Im going to have to replace my entire rig, and all 3 of my monitors are ALMOST as old as I am, so it might be time to upgrade those too, lol.

Hello! So I have been running a system with two displays for a long time. My graphics card is an R9 270, which supports like 6 displays at once I believe. It has a DVI-D port, an HDMI port, and a Display Port. All of my monitors are fairly old. My main display is DVI, and my seond display is DVI connected through the HDMI port. I had another monitor laying around, so I decided to plug it in, but it's VGA, so I had to use a display port to VGA adapter.With all things plugged in, the second and third monitors turn on when I am in the BIOS, but the main monitor is not turned on. In windows, the main monitor and the third monitor (With the DP to VGA) are turned on. In the display settings menu, the 2nd monitor is there, but it is entirely greyed out. I really don't know what the problem is, because all 3 monitors work, and the GPU supports up to six monitors. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Sam

I don't even know where to START with my gaming setup... its a mashup of lots of things. My monitor is an ancient Dell flat panel with cold cathode backlight that's below 1080p, my keyboard is some non-name brand thing with mechanical switches that I found for 5$ at a thrift store by some miracle, my mouse and headset are the only new things I own, a Logitech hyperion fury mouse, and G930 headset. So yeah, I'm not all that great peripherals wise

This projector is awesome. Its crazy to think how they've been able to shrink them down so far, especially considering the HID mercury vapor lamps and power supplies they used to have to fit in them!

Alright, If I get a chance I will try a reinstall.