[NAME] If you are looking for help here, you need to describe in more detail your system. What model Dell do you have, what operating system, what CPU, what graphics card, the size and type of disk drives. With 16GB of RAM it is not uncommon that not all of the RAM is available, although all of it is usable. Also, you need to describe a little more about your RAM failure. What happens, are you getting an error message? Have you tried running memory diagnostics?
Okay so I'm giving up at this stage. Have tried contacting dell just to be given wrong numbers or be sent to  Mcdonalds tech support. Line.... how does that work.... I am so lost. I'm a student who spent 1k on an xps thinking it will be a great addition to my my needs but it has caused nothing but stress since I turned it on. Only 12 gb of usable ram while I have 16gb purchased. Ram failure constantly. What do I do. I am honestly lost at this point. 
Hardware issue