Accidentally limited RAM and now it won’t even boot to safe mode (Win 11)

Title: Troubleshooting RAM Limitations and Boot Issues in Windows 11

Introduction:
Encountering system boot problems can be a frustrating experience, especially when they stem from unintended system configuration changes. One common issue involves accidentally limiting available RAM, which can prevent Windows 11 from starting correctly—including failing to reach Safe Mode. This article will guide you through understanding what might have gone wrong and provide practical steps to resolve such issues.

Understanding the Issue:
In many cases, users check system settings or use tutorials to optimize or troubleshoot their RAM usage. Sometimes, altering these settings incorrectly can lead to decreased system performance or boot failures. For example, adjusting the Boot configuration via System Configuration (msconfig) to limit the maximum memory can inadvertently restrict available RAM, and overly reducing this setting might prevent Windows from booting into Safe Mode or normal mode.

Common Causes:
– Misinterpretation of instructions: Users may think that “maximum memory” setting limits RAM to improve performance but can mistakenly set it too low.
– Misconception about settings: The notion that changing “maximum memory” removes RAM rather than limits it can lead to unnecessary reductions.
– Accidental configuration changes: Setting the minimum or maximum RAM to extremely low values, such as 256MB, can cause startup issues.

How to Troubleshoot and Fix RAM Limitations:

1. Accessing System Configuration in Windows 11:
2. Press Win + R, type msconfig, and press Enter.
3. Navigate to the “Boot” tab, then click on “Advanced options…”
4. Ensure the “Maximum memory” checkbox is unchecked to allow Windows to utilize all available RAM.

5. Click OK and restart your computer.

6. Using Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE):

7. If your PC cannot boot normally, initiate recovery mode:
   • Power on your system and force shutdown during the initial Windows logo load three times to trigger Automatic Repair.
   • From the recovery options, select “Advanced options” > “Troubleshoot” > “Advanced options” > “Command Prompt.”

8. In the Command Prompt window, type the following command to reset the maximum memory setting:

   bash
bcdedit /deletevalue {current} numproc

   Or, if you suspect the boot configuration has been altered, run:

   bash
bcdedit /set {current} truncatememory

   to remove any memory limitations, then restart.

9. Resetting BIOS Settings: