Digital Cable Advisor reporting only 2 gigs RAM?

What does it say in Computer Properties?

Individual 32bit applications can only access 2GB. That might be why that's all the advisor is seeing. You might want to consider upgrading to the 64bit version of Win7.

You have to re-install Win7 x64 in order to let WMC see more than 2GB. But 32-bit WMC by itself works just fine.

Foxbat121,
I am not sure about this statement. I am pretty sure X86 won't see anything more than 4G but it should see up to 4G w/o problem.

Sammy2,
It is a long shot. Please try to shut down and remove the dimm from the current slots to another slots and see. Also, please make sure BIOS also seeing 4G as well. I don't think 2G is a deal breaker. But 2G might give you "not so smooth" experience such as slow responses... If I were you, I will make sure that it is 4G before I process any tuner in this box.

Never used DCA on x86. I'm not sure why DCA will fail you if you only have 2GB memory. As long as your system pass DRM requirement, DCA will populate the necessary license key.


In x86/32-bit OS, the OS is able to see less than 4GB physical memory. However individual process can normal see only 2GB virtual memory. Specially marked processes can see up to 3GB.

I had to use that script to get the Win 8 consumer preview to "pass" the DCA test (there is/was an issue with sandybridge integrated graphics and a clean install of win 8). Long story short -- works fine. No further issues. I was using x64 software though.

I have a laptop with only 2GB of memory total and running 32-bit WMC (old 32-bit only CPU). I have no problem passing DCA at all.

What is your goal here?

Correct me if I am wrong... I think you are trying to set up your HTPC to have HD Homerun or Ceton and record all the TV shows in your HTPC, right? If it is the case, if I were you, I will totally wipe out the current OS and start with a new X64 build. Yes, you might have something in your HTPC and might take some time to do that. But once you do that, there is no way in the world, at least in my case here that I'll go back to the rented DVR box. With WMC, we can store all we want and never need to worry space again and not to mention we can manage all the TV shows we want using something like this app, http://www.recordedtvhd.com/. In short, With the above app for TV and something like My Movies for the Movie collection, this is the center of my entertainment system for years now. Everything is easy to manage, access and there is no need to back and forth different sources to access what you need.

How about this, remove your HDD with the current OS and start with a new HDD with the OS I mentioned above and move forward. If anything you don't like it and not up to your expectation, you can just take out the old HDD and use the old one instead. In the mean time, don't cut the Unvierse until you feel comfortable.

I have W7 32-bit with 4 gig of ram on my HTPC- the Ceton works flawlessly. It has recorded at least 3 channels at a time with no issues. I do not, however use any extenders, so it is all on the HTPC.
I have no intention of wiping my HTPC install just to install 64-bit, especially since it runs great now. Why mess with success?

I never saw any errors on my laptop so I don't know why yours give you a fit. I used this laptop to watch live TV and playback recorded TVs in the past (all HD programs) and never had any problems.

Unless you also connect extenders to it, 2GB is more than enough even for HD channels. On my PC with 3 Extenders, I found that often each extender session uses about 1 to 1.5GB of memory. So extenders need more memory.

2GB isn't a problem. But like others posted above, re-install 64-bit Win7 is probably the best way going forward.

You have been asking the same question for over two days now on this board. You certainly could have installed x64 Win7 multiple times during that time

Yes all recording in hd.

I think x64's time has come for those x86 users that were holding out.

I have been predicting that the fear of incompatibilities for x64 would go away to be replaced with fear of incompatibilities with x86.

Looks like that time has come. I can't remember the last time I read about a x64 incompatibility on modern day (2-3 year old) hardware.

One caution for installing 3rd party codecs and use WMC for CableCard Tuning. Most of those codec packs will break the WMC Media Fundation which is required for DRM-strict CableCard TV watching.