Solved Almost New windows 8

I had this computer ( HP ENVY TouchSmart Ultrabook 14" TouchScreen Laptop 4GB Memory 500GB Hard Drive 4-1215dx ) gifted to me for an early birthday present in January, and I don't really know how windows 8 start-up and system processes work.

My issue that I am seeing is that the computer is supposed to have 4 gigs, yet when I turn it on it has only like 2.5-2.7 gigs available to use. I am perceiving that my computer is wasting too much memory on to many start-up/system processes when it starts. I didn't want to disable any of them myself because I don't wan't to hurt my new windows 8, because I am unfamiliar with win 8. I am much better with Win xp. However since this was a gift I don't want to install another operating system because I don't want anything to happen otherwise this would have win xp installed from the disc I own.

So if any help as to my situation if my computer is wasting to many resources and what I should do.

BTW I have Open Hardware Manager Open.

Hello and welcome and welcome to Windows 8!

Hmmm, can you go to Programs and Features in the Control Panel and take a screenshot or two? To get to the Control Panel in 8, it's SO easy. Go to the Start Screen, and just type programs and features, then hit the Settings filter. Open that up, and then hit the Start :winkey: key and PrintScreen at the same time. You will find the screenshots saved to a Screenshots folder in the Pictures library. Windows 8 does that automatically whereas xp, it would be a process.

I want to see what crapware you have installed basically.

Oh, and the same thing with Task Manager. Open that sucker up, hit Show more details, and take some screenshots to see what background processes are eating your RAM.

Here are the images for the program and features: imgur: the simple image sharer

And here are the ones from the task manager : imgur: the simple image sharer

Hello cleanslate, and welcome to Eight Forums.

Since this is a laptop, the missing RAM is most likely being allocated for your Intel HD integrated graphics (video) chip. That would be about the correct amount for what you are missing.

Check in Task Manager in the "Performance" tab under "Memory" to see what it says is being used for Hardware reserved like below.
Hope this helps,
Shawn

Plenty of bloatware and IMO Chrome is quite hungry !!!
Nothing says FRESH like a fresh OS install

btw ... 32 GB RAM ...

I check the hardware reserved and it actually is quite small T_T

I mean 1024mb is what about 1 gig is, right?

One more area to check. Open your Screen Resolution settings, and click on the Advanced settings link.

In the Adapter tab, see how much "Dedicated Video Memory" it says it uses. This will be how much RAM is being allocated for your integrated video.

Brink said:

One more area to check. Open your Screen Resolution settings, and click on the Advanced settings link.

In the Adapter tab, see how much "Dedicated Video Memory" it says it uses. This will be how much RAM is being allocated for your integrated video.

View attachment 21629

Click to expand...

Here we go, still seems like a little.

It shows it's allocating a total of 1.664 GB of RAM for your video.

4 GB - 1.664 = 2.336

You minus the hardware reserve from that, and that's about right.

Brink said:

It shows it's allocating a total of 1.664 GB of RAM for your video.

4 GB - 1.664 = 2.336

You minus the hardware reserve from that, and that's about right.

Click to expand...

I thought that was total available and not how much I am actually using, but thanks. I'll also need to check to see if I can upgrade the ram but since this is a laptop I am uncertain about them. I am more of a desktop guy.

Well, from your specs at the HP link below, it looks like you can upgrade up to 16 GB of RAM.

HP ENVY TouchSmart 4t-1200 Ultrabook | HP® Official Store

Memory

• 4GB 1600MHz DDR3 System Memory (1 Dimm)
• 6GB 1600MHz DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)
• 8GB 1600MHz DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)
• 8GB 1600MHz DDR3 System Memory (1 Dimm)

Maximum memory

• Upgradeable to 16 GB

Memory Slots

• 2 DIMM

Click to expand...

Brink said:

Well, from your specs at the HP link below, it looks like you can upgrade up to 16 GB of RAM.

HP ENVY TouchSmart 4t-1200 Ultrabook | HP® Official Store

Memory

• 4GB 1600MHz DDR3 System Memory (1 Dimm)
• 6GB 1600MHz DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)
• 8GB 1600MHz DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)
• 8GB 1600MHz DDR3 System Memory (1 Dimm)

Maximum memory

• Upgradeable to 16 GB

Memory Slots

• 2 DIMM

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

a whole 16 gigs T_T so much... but... I guess 16 is cool

You're most welcome. 16 GB is not bad at all.