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john8217

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Only half the printer's RAM available

We have a printer (HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M476) that's kind of slow. It's connected by USB (it's not networked). It has 256 MB of RAM. I did some research and it looks like we can't increase the RAM; I think 256MB is the maximum it can have.
     Anyway, I had the printer print out a spec report and the report said only half of that 256 was available. Why is that? It doesn't have any print jobs in the que. I restarted it, still only half of that 256 is available. Anyone know how I can free up that other half of the memory? I'm guessing that's causing the slowness.
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Scott C
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Physically check to make sure you have as much memory as you think you do.  Also, try removing the RAM and reseating it.

Also make sure you are running the latest firmware on the printer as well.

There may be a physical reason the memory isn't showing up.  Is the printer still under warranty?  You might want to have a HP tech service it.
Is the memory shown exactly 128Mb? If so I suspect a defect, any warranty?

If it's not exactly 128Mb the I think this is normal, a printer uses memory for normal operation besides storing pages before printing them.

Have you got any older status pages maybe for comparison?
Hmm.

Is it possible that you or a technician has put the memory into this machine and it didn't come standard like this?

If so and it only shows 128 Mb memory then quite possibly memory of the wrong density has been put into this machine.  For example, you may have put in a single sided 256 Mb chip where the machine requires a 256 Mb chip with double sided memory.
The information about the printer on the HP site mentions 256Mb as memory. No other configurations possible:

http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/newsroom/press_kits/2014/MWC/ColorLaserJetPro_MFP_M476_datasheet.pdf
OK, that kills my idea.
time to get it serviced it seems  -probably they'll replace the ram board
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hdhondt
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I agree with hdhondt.

I have two LaserJet printers, and with both of them, the "available" memory is much less than the "total" memory.
... and I don't have trouble printing with them, albeit mostly text output, with occasional photographs or vector graphics drawings.

For the record, from power-on (before any jobs sent to devices):

LaserJet 1320n: 5.58 MB available out of 16 MB total.

LaserJet Pro 400 Colour MFP M475dn: 49.76 MB available out of 192 MB total.
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john8217

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Well said, hdhondt! Thank you.