RAM will sometimes not load

Sometimes when re-booting, my RAM does not load. I normally have 2gigs- running winxp. During these times my control panel/ system page tells me I have 512mb, then I re-boot and it is fine.

Welcome, Newcomer. What is your RAM configuration? Example: 2 x 1GB; 4 x 512MB, etc.

Download MemTest86+ (.zip), decompress file, burn .iso to cd. Put MT86+ disc into computer. The test will start automatically and run until errors are found or stopped by you.

I am running 2 x 1gig. This is a Compaq Presario, AMD athlon.

I'll run these diag tools to see what is what. I added RAM in Feb. because I was having a sudden problem with apps not opening. That solved the problem, but now I'm thinking I may have originally had a different issue, not a low RAM issue. Could my MB be going bad?

Thanks for all your help - compiling the info. Below is what I have so far.

Presario sr1230nx

Info for slot 1 and 2 RAM:

Memory type DDR
Manufacturer (ID) Kingston (7F98000000000000)
Size 1024 MBytes
Max bandwidth PC2700 (166 MHz)
Part number F
Serial number 72120790
Memory type DDR
Manufacturer (ID) Kingston (7F98000000000000)
Size 1024 MBytes
Max bandwidth PC2700 (166 MHz)
Part number F
Serial number 660AAAA4

I spoke to Kingston and they said I have RAM that is not listed as compatible with with DELL/Compaq/HP systems and Bestbuy just gave me (budget/cheap) RAM that would fit and not be necessarily compatible. The symptom of sometimes loading and sometimes not is consistent with that.

I never would have thought that RAM could fit my system and still not be compatible, or I would have checked first.

I am unable to get memtest to run, although I burned the .iso file to cd and put it in drive.

I went to the ASUS website t find my mobo and had no luck doing that using the following info from the cpu-z text report:

DMI System Information
manufacturer Compaq Presario 061
product PJ518AA-ABA SR1230NX NA440
version 0nB1411CO101KELUT00
serial CNH43708C8
UUID E0A0F49B-6701D911-A921B498-B3732380

DMI Baseboard
vendor ASUSTek Computer INC.
model Kelut
revision 2.02
serial MB-1234567890

There are several ways to burn a disc; but only one way to make a disc bootable. The significance (and i'm sorry if this is redundant) burning the .iso as a disc image, rather than a typical data disc, is that the result will (if burned properly) will make the disc bootable. If you did a drag and drop method; or even right clicked and copied file to cd, you did not burn a bootable image.

If you don't already have software that can burn disc images, you can download trial versions of: PowerISO, MagicISO, discjuggler, etc.