System memory has changed

It could. Reseat the RAM, boot, press F12 and run the Dell diagnostics. If one module is dead, swap the two - if the error follows the module, it's faulty. If not, the mainboard is.

thank you,

so if I undrstand correctly, ur saying I should:

1) open the place with memory slots and take them out and then back in again

2) if problem persists run diagnostics and see if it finds a fault

3) if it does swap them as suggested

so here is the issue with this.... I know where the place for taking them out is and how to open it... BUT, i never took them out before and I dont want to demage them... any suggestions as to how to take them out carefouly?

thank you

Ground yourself by touching something large and metallic (or even a doorknob).

Be gentle with the connectors and do not force anything.

Thank you,

I tried removing the memory modules and inserting them back to the same place, it hasn't helped but now every time I turn on the computer it sais "system memory has changed" and I can't do anything, so I have to restart it, and then it sais:

"Memory write/read failure at 1FFD0004, read FD02FD12 expecting FD2FD12
Memory address line failure at 1FFD0000, read FD12FD12 expecting 02020202
Memory write/read failure at 1000 2FBC, read 00FF00EF expecting 00EF00EF

Decreasing avilable memory

System memory has changed.
Press F1 to continue, F2 to setup."

And in the system properties in windows it still shows 256 instead of 512

I ran the dignostics for the memory and for the board, and all the tests passed and showed no errors.

I did not yet try to switch the modules, but I think it is pointless since the diagnostic did not report any errors at all.

The only think I am left with is taking the laptop to the nearest computer fixing shop, since the warranty is over.

Or is there anything else I can do?

I suspect the diagnostics didn't even test the faulty module - if the BIOS didn't detect it, neither will the diagnostics.

Give memtest86 a try (www.memtest86.com).

I just tryied removing the modules.

The computer works with 256 memory on both modules, on one of them it still showed that the memory has changed message which was strange as there was no other module. When leavin only the other module it worked fine at 256 with no error message and was same as I moved it in the two slots. So I am concluding the problem is not in the slots.

Now after keeping only this one module it works fine at 256 with no error messages at start up so I am guessing the problem was in the other module.

The strange thing, though was that the computer still worked at 256 with the other module as well, though it had presented some error messages at start up. It seems like the computer has problems recognizing the two modules at the same time and that the problem had been originated in the module I had removed.

Is there any other programe I can use? I have problems with this one.

Preferably one that uses DVD images instead.