"Memory Size Decrease" message on startup

Hello,

 

We have a Dell Dimension L400c here at a small non-profit in Cleveland.  We have recently started to experience a message on startup:

  Memory size decrease

  Press to run setup

 

We started to experience this after trying to replace our two 128MB memory chips with two 256MB chips. The computer would not start up, so we went back to the 128 chips. Ever since then, we have had this problem.

 

I should note that although I get this message, when I go into the BIOS, the screen always shows the correct amount of RAM - 256MB.  However, when opening up Windows 98 and going to the Control Panel | System, the amount of RAM will vary from 106MB to 240, or sometimes, the full amount.

 

I noticed that we were using an old BIOS (A01) so I upgraded to A04, but that didn't help.

 

Can anyone make a suggestion on this problem?

 

Thanks,

 

Jeff Miller

Policy Matters Ohio

Cleveland, Ohio