failed addition of a DDR3 memory chip on a HP Pavilion desktop 500-457 nf

[Elber56]

Hello.

My last experience with adding a new 8Gb memory chip has turned into failure. 3 weeks of satisfying work then last Sunday, a couple of death screen. Bright blue.. mentionning a device failure, then, suddenly Windows just would no longer start. I checked everything I could and knew how to. Last added device : the new memory chip. I removed it and my PC went back to life! I re-inserted it, just to make sure : failure again. I did that 3 times with the same results. So I removed it. Although I claimed for an exchange with the vendor, I have some doubts. I checked with this page : https://support.hp.com/fr-fr/document/c03916434   (English version here : https://support.hp.com/gb-en/document/c03885123) that it was possible to add a new chip and can accept up to 16Gb for a x64 system.  But I then ran Speccy and found some strange results :

and this screen shot from the system information details (capture before the installation of the new memory chip)

Is it possible  that , in fact, I could only add a 2Gb memory chip ? I cannot believe it.

Somebody please explain, confirm or infirm what I did on my PC.

Is there any way to check that the empty second slot for memory chip is in working order ?

Or, question : is this PC really ready for an additional memory chip and which capacity (8 Gb or less ?).

Thanks again for your help in advance and enjoy your evening or day.

Elly

[Nal_NR]

Hi @Elber56,

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Excellent description and a great diagnosis. It is greatly appreciated.           

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