Disabling shared memory

[TommyLive]

I added a video card to my Comcrap and learned the built-in video card doesn't automatically return the shared system memory - even after disabling it in the device manager (currently "stealing" 8 megs from the system). Compaq tells me they're not "allowed" to tell me how to disable the memory. Now, after adding another 64megs of ram, I am up to 120 megs. Math was never my subject, but isn't 64x2 128? I've identifyied the motherboard manufacturer and have been through all their manuals... no answer! An answer would be greatly appreciated.

[Johnny]

I believe it is in the bios set-up, or at least the asus board I have has the shared memory setting in the bios.

[bdunn]

Many brand names play with the BIOS and remove certain functions. It is possible you may have to find a more generic BIOS for the given chipset and flash it to release that memory as the system MFR may have removed that option from you.

[Nixona]

Look for mysterious jumpers...change them one by one and see if it helps. Theres bound to be a jumper sitting all alone that does that. Also, on alton motherboards to disable it you dont put memory in the first slot.

[deep_sky]

bdunn has a good idea..in the compaq bios, there is virtually nothing to change in the first place, and certainly not an option to disable the shared mem prob. i have the same shared memory thing, and i have amibios on my mobo, but it does not allow me to get rid of it completely, only move it down to 2 megs if i want....hope this helps