Member Avatar for Ahmadov

my ram memory decreased from 512MB to 256MB when i changed my hard drive, what shall i do?

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by abu taher

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Both System Properties and System Information showing 256MB (per ) after a hard‑drive swap is abnormal — a drive change does not alter installed RAM. was right to ask where the figure is read from; check the firmware/BIOS first. If the BIOS/UEFI reports 512MB, the OS may be reporting less because memory is reserved by hardware or drivers. If the BIOS reports 256MB, the problem is at the board/DRAM level.

Useful, practical next checks:

  • Boot to BIOS/UEFI and note the reported total.
  • Run a bootable memory tester (for example, MemTest86) from USB or CD and let several passes complete; any errors point to bad DIMMs or a bad slot.
  • Test each module alone in the primary DIMM slot, then swap slots. If a stick works only in one slot or only one stick shows expected capacity, that isolates the bad stick or the bad slot. Consult the motherboard manual for the primary slot and pairing rules before testing.

Other things to inspect and try:

  • Clear CMOS/BIOS (jumper or remove battery briefly) to rule out a firmware misconfiguration.
  • Visually inspect DIMM contacts and slot clips; clean out dust with canned air and ensure clips lock fully.
  • If BIOS shows full memory but Windows shows less, check Task Manager for "Hardware Reserved" and confirm OS limits (32‑bit vs 64‑bit) and integrated GPU shared‑memory settings.

If MemTest reports failures or a module fails in another system, replace that stick. When handling modules, power down, unplug, and ground against static discharge before touching components.

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Member Avatar for 4th&3wood

Where are you reading this figure, System Properties, or System Information. If it is under System Properties the figure that you are reading isn't you total physical memory like you will find in the System Information.

Check to make sure that the modules are properly seated, they could have come loose while you were working in there earlier.

Member Avatar for Ahmadov

both, in system properties and in system information.

Member Avatar for caperjack

both, in system properties and in system information.

so ,as suggested by other poster did you try removing the ram sticks and re-seating them

Member Avatar for Ahmadov

yes I did, nothing happend

Member Avatar for caperjack

yes I did, nothing happend

ok ,so changing a harddrive will not affect the ram count ,so one stick stopped working ,remove one stick and boot computer ,if computer boots ,then remove and replace ram with the other stick ,if computer boots ,then you know both stick work ,so that leads me to think that they don't work together,seen it many time ,if they did work together before them i'm at a lost for a reason ,sorry

Member Avatar for abu taher

Actually I don't understand what shall you do (Ahmad). whats your problem?

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