HP Pavilion Notebook from 8GB to 16GB

[Enamdawa]

I upgraded the RAM of my 'HP Pavilion Notebook' from 8GB to 16GB and the system became even slower than before. What could be the reason for this and how do you suggest it can be handled

[VikramTheGreat]

Hi @Enamdawa,

Welcome to the HP Support Community.
 

Thank you for posting your query. I will be glad to help you.

Upgrading your HP Pavilion Notebook from 8GB to 16GB RAM should ideally improve performance, but if it's become slower, there are a few possible reasons and solutions to explore:

Possible Causes:

1. Incompatible or Mismatched RAM Modules:
2. BIOS Not Recognizing RAM Properly:
3. Faulty RAM Stick:
4. Dual Channel Not Enabled:
5. Background Processes or Paging Issues:

How to Fix It

Step 1: Check RAM Configuration

• Use Task Manager > Performance > Memory to see:
  • Total RAM recognized
  • Speed (MHz)
  • Form factor (should be the same)
  • Number of slots used
  • Channel (should say “Dual”)

Step 2: Run Memory Diagnostics

• Press Win + R, type mdsched.exe, and run the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool to check for RAM errors.

Step 3: Update BIOS and Chipset Drivers

• Visit HP Support and enter your laptop model to download the latest BIOS and chipset drivers.

 
Step 4: Reseat the RAM

• Power off the laptop, unplug it, and remove and reinsert the RAM sticks carefully, ensuring they’re seated properly and in the correct slots for dual-channel operation.

Step 5: Reset BIOS Settings

• Enter BIOS (usually by pressing Esc, F10, or Del during boot).
• Choose "Load Setup Defaults" or similar, then save and exit.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

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VikramTheGreat

HP Support