mini DIMM upgrade, OSX issues

[lhoffstadt]

Hi all, I have a Mac Mini 2010 2.4Ghz that used to have 4GB in RAM.
I have bought 1 DIMM of 8GB so for the moment I can have a total of 10GB.
I have install the DIMM in the MAC Mini and when I boot it up it has go to the disk utility and ask me to install again "El Capitan".

This is the first time I have install DIMM in my MAC Mini but I guess this is not normal.
I was able to solve the issue installing again the OSX, but Im not sure what has happen.
Maybe the new DIMM has caused an issue in the hardware and corrupt the installation?

I was curious about this. Anyone had this same issue?

after I re-install the OSX my Mac Mini has 10GB of RAM.

Thanks.

 

[DeltaMac]

You have at least two bootable partitions on your mini.
One is your normal OS X system, with all your files and apps.
The other is the hidden recovery system.
I think that your main boot drive lost the Startup Disk selection when you installed the extra RAM. Then, it defaulted to the recovery system, instead of the main drive. That can trick you into beleiving that OS X needs to be reinstalled. There's nothing wrong with doing that reinstall.
But, you could have probably just gone to Startup Disk (from the Apple Menu), then clicked on your startup volume to select it, then clicked the Restart button.
You would have saved a lot of time

 

[Fishrrman]

As mentioned above, check (and set) the startup disk preference pane.

Then reboot.

Chances are, the RAM is fine.
In my own Mini I use a 2gb DIMM and an 8gb DIMM for a total of 10mb.
Runs fine.

 

[lhoffstadt]

you are totally right, thanks a lot for the help.

 

[lhoffstadt]

Thanks all for your help, happy new year