My BIOS says I have 12 GB installed and Windows says 11 GB "installed". When I installed the RAM it showed 12 GB in Sys info in windows. How do I find out why the 1 GB is not recognized? Thanks for any help!

My guess would be a combination of your video card, if you are using the onboard GPU, and things like PCI memory mapped IO is snarfing up that 1GB. Onboard GPUs use system RAM and there are other things that grab memory addresses depending on the particular system setup. Windows is reporting the RAM is has available to use, not how much is physically present in the system.

That would be my guess too, if you don't have a physical video card in the slot, I think that XPS comes with a Radion graphics chip but shares the memory. You may be able to control the amount of ram dedicated to graphics in the bios.
If you wanted to free up those resources, it would be pretty cost effective upgrade to get something like this IMO  http://www.amazon.com/Zot...ivly+cooled+video+card
 
One thing to keep in mind when upgrading those is the 450 PSU. I read a thread somewhere here that your issues began when you plugged in an additional HD? 450 watts was marginal back in the P4 days for those of us that like to install additional components. If you continue to have issues, I would consider a beefier PSU if you want to add things to that.   

I have no idea what the reason is off the top of my head but I don't agree with the above answers as I'm assuming you mean that it shows as 11GB under 'computer/properties' the display window that shows basic information about your computer.
 
So surely how much of that RAM is being used has nothing to do it skycraft

Windows is reporting the RAM is has available to use, not how much is physically present in the system.

The task manager will tell you how much is being used but the, 'computer properties' is telling how much is installed and NOT how much is being used.
 
I had a problem where I had 12GB but windows was only showing I had 6GB, turned out I just hadn't pushed the new sticks in hard enough. It's very odd that it would show as being 1Gb less though as RAM these days is almost never in sticks of less than 2GB.
 
Steve

Thanks for the info guys!!! Hey Grant how ya been!?!
 
I spoke with a local Computer whizz (repair guy) in these parts and he told me what you said. He also said it isn't a problem. He told me that if I wanted to go in and allocate the video memory I could but there was no need. The 11 GB RAM should be fine with what I use the PC for and if it didn't bother me to leave everything as is. Since he could very easily said "Yeah bring it in and I'll work on it for Ya" I think I will go on as usual. The new drive changed things but I didn't notice at the time . I was just relieved the PC still worked afterward. I have to say that some of my issue was when I was using Addictive drums 2 .When Sonar Support came on and tweaked my set up the problems vanished. AD2 2.2 seems to have fixed the erratic behavior. I post if I notice any problems. Thank you all so much for the help!!

Great to see you around old buddy, yea not even a problem if everything running to your satisfaction. I actually like the onboard graphics on those.

I gotta tell ya about my last gig I did 'Live". A local 80's rock band lost their lead play and asked if I would cover for him. I said sure so I commenced to filling in. After each and every gig after jumpin around the stage like 40 year old I felt like I was hit by a truck. Make that a Semi!. Seems I can't set-up, play, and tear down like I used to. So i am semi retired and only do gigs I know won't break my bones, throw joints out of place, and/or have a pretty woman follow me home. A whole nother issue there  etc

I think you should have learned two things form all of this
 
NUMBER ONE ..
dont freak out about your PC, its like a human being, it suffers from its ups and downs and has its days.
DONT spend money on the GEEK SQUAD or the like before you ask around .. save that money to buy me that SEEFOOD PLATTER...
 
NUMBER TWO .. seek a country or swamp pop band where you can sit on a stool and play,,, OR maybe JAZZ or easy listening , like a combo with a chick singer ....

I'm feelin ya bro, putting some stuff together to play live here I'm finding I may be up for 1 set if I have to rely on my voice. A charity event so no jumping around here. Salute for jumping in there with the 80's material, even stuff I use to play I would have to go over and practice it all over before I'd be comfortable to play live...  
  

Speaking of female singers I got a call today from one of those wanting me to go to McComb Ms. to play for cocktail dinners from 5pm to 8pm as a 2 piece. I turned it down. Too far!
I've been seeking a country and or swamp pop band but the swamp pop bands tell me they have all the guitar palyers they need and Robbie Lipscomb told me his band broke up but he doesn't want to play and doesn't know of any needing a guitar player. Doesn't matter though cuz I'm having fun here with Sonar.
I have $50 set aside and asked for volunteers for a seafood platter over in the CH but nobody volunteered so I figured I would put it aside till I need it. I'm all for headin to Cooter Browns!
 
Grant -  All the tunes were like Summer of 69' with lead guitar,vocals,bass, and drums. Those gigs wore me out but were so much fun.