After turning on the computer for the first time, users notice that not all of the installed Windows 10 RAM is available. In the characteristics, you can see the value of the available significantly less than the installed RAM. If you start monitoring resources, you can see that more memory is reserved by hardware.

This article will show you how to remove the Windows 10 hardware reserved memory. The reserved memory is used by the BIOS or installed device drivers. For example, on laptops, it is often found that part of the RAM is given to the integrated video card. But there can be more reasons for hardware reservation of RAM.

Hardware Reserved - This is RAM that is reserved for use by the BIOS and other peripheral drivers. If, when viewing the characteristics of the computer, the value of the available memory is less than the installed one, then it may have been reserved by the system. The value of the reserved memory can be viewed in the resource monitoring.

If the value of the hardware-reserved memory in resource monitoring is very large, then the situation can be corrected. In fact, there can be several reasons for the inaccessibility of all RAM:

• Bit OS- different bit versions support different amounts of RAM. While the 32-bit version of the system often sees only 3 GB, then the 64-bit version supports 4 GB or more. ... If necessary, we recommend switching to the 64-bit version of the system, if you have not already done so.
• Module errors- very often users have to meet with RAM errors, especially if different modules are used. We recommend not only, but also try to run the system with fewer bars. You may be able to find the problem memory module.
• Memory reservation- in this case, a large amount of memory becomes unavailable, since it falls into the hardware reserved memory. In principle, resource monitoring detects such a problem with ease. Several changes to the system configuration allow you to remove the reserved memory.
• BIOS settings- incorrect settings can also lead to inaccessibility of RAM in the operating system. What actually occurs more on older laptops. There can be several solutions, ranging from updating the interface, self-configuring parameters, and inclusively to resetting BIOS settings.

Maximum RAM

In more detail about the system configuration, we mentioned earlier in the instructions:. In which, in fact, many additional parameters were described. But please note that it is not recommended to make changes to the system configuration yourself, especially if you do not know what a certain parameter means.

The maximum memory setting can decrease the performance of your computer. It limits the maximum amount of RAM that a user can use at the system level. It is not recommended to simply change any maximum memory values ​​or the number of processors.

Checking BIOS setup options

• Memory reallocation function- some motherboards support memory reallocation. Reallocating memory gives access to more space Windows memory 10. The exact name of the function memory allocation depends on the manufacturer (in some BIOS versions you need to look for reallocation of memory or extension memory.
• Integrated graphics video aperture size- see how much memory is allocated for the integrated graphics core. This is the amount of memory that the system shares with the video adapter used for texture mapping and rendering. The following standard values ​​are available Standard values: 32 MB, 64 MB, 128 MB and Auto.

Some sources and users on the forums advise disabling integrated graphics. If you do not know the main differences between discrete and integrated graphics, we strongly do not recommend turning it off. Additionally, you can try to completely reset the BIOS settings to standard.

Conclusion

In some users, it turns out to remove the RAM reserved by hardware by removing literally one mark in Windows 10. But since there can be many reasons, sometimes you have to fiddle with BIOS settings. It can be much easier to restore the BIOS to its default values ​​than to search for a specific parameter.

As for the reasons that when viewing the available volume, it turns out that the memory is reserved by hardware (how to remove the existing reserve in Windows 7, we will consider a little later), in general, they are not even associated with the processes themselves operating system, and with the release of memory for integrated graphics accelerators, built directly into motherboard that cannot provide enough memory to perform any system and non-system operations associated with displaying current events on the screen in terms of the correct operation of the system interface itself.

In addition, it is not uncommon for RAM to be allocated in accordance with user settings, where the system partition specifies the use of all processor cores with the maximum amount of RAM allocated to each core. But the main problem with setting such options is that not everyone is aware of how many cores the processor has, and what memory to allocate for each of them. For example, many believe that the second generation Intel Core i7 processor line in notebooks is a 4-core processor. This is not true. They can be called as such rather conditionally, since each core has two streams of computing power. Having installed memory for four processors / cores instead of two, and you get the problem that the memory is "eaten up" in the system properties.

RAM is reserved by hardware: how to remove it? The simplest method to fix the problem

But let's get back to the original problem. To begin with, even after the initial installation of the operating system, go to its properties and look at the available amount of RAM in the performance section, compared to that which is fully determined. If the discrepancy is too large, it is possible that the installed system has its own limitations.

At least initially, it is worth looking through the special compatibility tables of the versions of the systems with the used computer configurations. It may very well be that the installed OS will have to be changed (no additional actions in this case will have any effect). On 32-bit systems, the ceiling is typically 4 GB. Anything that will be installed from above will be defined as hardware reserved memory. How to remove (in Windows 10, for example) such nonsense, I think, is already clear. If the system does not support installing more RAM, then there is nothing to try. Change the system or remove the memory sticks.

Using System Configurator Settings

With the Windows Configurator, which is called by the msconfig command, the situation is somewhat more complicated. This is where the memory allocation settings for each processor core are located.

If you already set such parameters yourself and precisely by means of the system, specify only the main cores, excluding threads and memory allocation for each core. If you are prompted to specify the maximum memory, do not flatter yourself - the system after a reboot (and it is mandatory after setting the appropriate options) may simply "fly off", and after that no means of its reanimation will help (of course, except for a complete reinstallation).

The best method for solving the problem

In general, it is believed that the problem of how to remove the memory reserved by the hardware can be quite simply solved by installing an operating system similar to the previous one, but having a 64-bit architecture.

Here you don't have to deal with additional options settings. No, you can, of course, try again to establish the use of all CPU cores, but believe me, this will not lead to anything good (tested in practice). Therefore, in order to avoid such incidents, it is better to provide an independent choice to the system itself.

Graphics adapters

In addition, if you see that the memory is reserved by hardware (how to remove the reserve is already a little clear), pay attention to the moment that two video cards can be installed on the computer.

Try switching from an integrated adapter to a discrete one, using, in the simplest case, at least the "Device Manager", where the integrated chip, as it is already clear, just needs to be disabled.

Instead of an afterword

For the rest, initially you should rely on the tables for limiting the used RAM, since non-observance of such conditions in case of incompatibility of the system with the hardware of the installed equipment can further cause such problems to appear, not to mention more serious consequences.

As for the main solution, immediately pay attention to the graphics card for which the 32-bit OS allocates memory, and even for the execution of its own processes, which will not be able to execute without using the minimum required volume (the graphical interface will simply not work). And this, in turn, can provoke the emergence of problems of a more serious nature, which cannot be eliminated by standard methods.

Earlier on our forum, we were interested in the question of how to enable hardware acceleration in DirectX, which allows you to accelerate some functions of graphics accelerators and run games that refuse to work on a PC earlier. This time, let's look at the topic of how to enable hardware acceleration of the video adapter on Windows 10 or deactivate this option.

Step-by-step instructions to enable and disable hardware acceleration in Windows 10

The first method, how to disable hardware acceleration of the video adapter in Windows 10, is described in detail on the official Microsoft forum. Let's consider it step by step:

• Right-click on an empty spot on the desktop and select "Screen Options".
• A new window will open. Click on the link "Additional parameters".

• We need the Diagnostics tab. In it, click on the "Change parameters" button.

• By clicking on this button, a window will appear in which you can, by dragging the slider to the desired position, activate or deactivate hardware acceleration in Windows 10.

IMPORTANT! If the "Change settings" option is not active, it means that the ability to enable / disable hardware acceleration is not available on your PC due to technical characteristics your device. Alternatively, hardware acceleration is already enabled.

If the hardware acceleration of sound and video in Windows 10 adversely affects the operation of games, programs and the system as a whole, you can disable it using a special registry tweak. To do this, you need to do the following:

• We open the notebook. Insert the following text into it:

"DisableHWAcceleration" = dword: 00000001

• Save the file under any name, only with the .reg extension.

• We launch the finished file.
• After making changes to the registry, the system needs to be rebooted.

If the changes need to be noted (made using this tweak), you should write the following in a notepad:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

"DisableHWAcceleration" = -

We also save the document under any name, only with .reg expansion.

If you do not want to use registry tweaks, you can manually edit the necessary parameters. To do this, you should do the following:

• We press "Win + R" and enter "regedit".

• The Registry Editor will open. Go to the branch "HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Avalon.Graphics". Here we find the parameter "DisableHWAcceleration". To enable hardware acceleration, set this parameter to 00000001 (1). To disable acceleration, change "1" to "0" to get 00000001 (0).

• We save the changes and restart the PC.

So, following the above steps, you can enable or disable hardware acceleration in Windows 10.

Many faced such a problem when, when adding RAM, the system saw it, but it turned out to be a reserved system.
For example, when installing a 4 GB memory stick, and if there is the same amount on board the computer, the system reserved most of the memory for something.

How do you know if you have such a problem, because when the system boots, the full amount of installed memory is usually shown (we do not consider the case when the computer does not see the added bar when booting, this is a slightly different case).

To find out how much memory is installed and available in Windows 7, follow these steps:

• Click the Start button or Windows
• Right click on the Computer icon
• Select Properties.

You need to look at the value indicated in the Installed memory (RAM) field of the System section. For example, if it says 8.00 GB (3.5 GB free), this means that out of 8 GB of installed memory, 3.5 GB is available.

What needs to be done to free the system-reserved RAM

First of all, you need to make sure that your OS supports the amount of memory you installed, yes, this is the reason most users encounter, they immediately start picking the BIOS, system settings, and go to the Microsoft website and look at the tables, for some reason they are in no hurry. Of course, this is a big "merit" of would-be gurus, who themselves, not understanding the topic, rewrite texts from other sites.

Therefore, I recommend visiting the site, or at least looking at the screenshots of the tables below, finding your OS and making sure that it supports the set amount of RAM, and only then dig further. If it does not support, then there are two options: either to score in memory, or to install another OS.

Physical memory limit table in Windows 7

Physical memory limit table: Windows 10

Physical memory limit table: Windows Server 2016

Physical memory limit table: Windows 8

Physical memory limit table: Windows Server 2012

Physical Memory Limit Table: Windows Server 2008 R2

Physical Memory Limit Table: Windows Vista

Physical Memory Limit Table: Windows Server 2003 R2

Physical Memory Limit Table: Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 (SP2)

Physical Memory Limit Table: Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1)

Physical Memory Limit Table: Windows Server 2003

Physical Memory Limit Table: Windows XP

Physical Memory Limit Table: Windows Embedded

So, after we have made sure that everything is in order with the support of the RAM, we proceed to the other steps.

What to try to get rid of system reserved memory

1. You need to check the system configuration parameters

This issue can occur if the Maximum Memory option was selected by mistake. To disable it, you need to do the following:

• Click the "Start" or Windows button
• Enter msconfig in the Find Programs and Files field then select msconfig in the Programs list.
• In the System Configuration window, click Advanced Options on the Boot tab.
• Uncheck the "Maximum Memory" checkbox and click OK.
• To restart a computer.

2. Updating the system BIOS

The problem can occur if the computer has an older BIOS version. If you are using an outdated computer, the system may not be able to access all of the installed RAM. In this case, update the system BIOS to the latest version.

For BIOS updates on your computer, you need to go to the computer manufacturer's website and download the BIOS update. Or contact your computer manufacturer for help.

Checking BIOS setup options

Sometimes the problem occurs due to incorrect settings of some of the BIOS settings.

Enabling memory reallocation

You need to check if memory reallocation is enabled in the BIOS settings. This option gives Windows access to more memory.

You can enable it in the BIOS by calling the BIOS menu at boot. Usually this is the "Del" or "F2" key, sometimes there are other options, you need to look in the manual for your computer.

The exact name of the memory reallocation function depends on the hardware vendor. In some versions of the BIOS, it is called "memory reallocation", "memory expansion" or may have another similar name. It is also possible that your computer may not support memory reallocation at all.

Resizing AGP video aperture in BIOS options

You need to look at the BIOS settings and find out how much memory is allocated for the AGP video aperture. This is the amount of memory that the system shares with the video adapter used for texture display and rendering. This amount of memory will not be used by the system as it is blocked by the video adapter.

The size of the AGP video aperture is configurable in the BIOS parameters and has standard values:

• 32 MB;
• 64 MB;
• 128 MB;
• Auto.

After changing this parameter in the BIOS, you need to restart the computer, and then check the amount of available memory. You can try each of the options to see which one gives the best result.

Checking for Potential Issues with Installed Memory Modules

Sometimes the problem occurs because of a problem with the installed physical memory modules.

Checking for damaged memory modules

To check the PC for such a problem, you need to turn off the computer, disconnect it from the network, and then swap the memory modules (strips).

Checking the location of memory modules (strips)

To find out how to install memory modules (brackets) into slots, you need to look at the user's guide supplied with your computer.

If your computer does not use all of the memory slots, you may need to use specific memory slots. For example, if your computer has four memory slots, it is possible that you should use slot 1 and slot 3 when installing only two modules.

Are memory hub cards used?

If your computer uses a memory hub card (a card that holds multiple memory modules and fits into one memory module slot), you may need to additional customization systems. And the amount of available memory may be less than expected.