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Windows memory detection

I've installed a new Mainboard and Different RAM, and even with 1gb installed it only shows 512 in windows. The bios shows whatever is installed on POST. I've tried up to 2gb and windows stays at 512.
I've contacted the supplier and they have sold hundreds of machines with same configuration and they haven't come across the problem.
It's running XP SP2 and I don't want to reinstall windows.
Anyone came across this before?

Download some LiveCD (Linux, FreeBSD, any flavor) and check your RAM size without changes to your system. You will know for sure - is it hardware issue or not.
BIOS can show you not quite right figures.

Here is the Knoppix for your reference: http://www.knoppix.net/get.php

What make/model of your system?

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Suggest you go into the bios and disable the OS install mode. This OS install mode limits the amount of ram the OS will see, to 256Mbs.
References here>

"BIOS shows 1GB of RAM but Windows only shows 256MB":
https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/23487743/Bios-shows-1gb-of-ram-windows-shows-256mb-how-come-ram-is-reporting-incorrectly.html?anchorAnswerId=21798685#a21798685

You may find the comments in this previous thread useful, covering memory upgrades from 1GB up to 4GB>
"Max memory":
https://www.experts-exchange.com/OS/Microsoft_Operating_Systems/Windows/XP/Q__22510635.html

Further reading, if you scroll to the comment at 11:41 AM on 08-06-2007>
"Doubled RAM - not being recognised in Windows":
http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/ram-power-supply-support/172454-doubled-ram-not-being-recognised-windows.html

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Is it as easy as removing the switch in the boot ini file?

Yes you can just remove that switch. Be sure not to delete anything else in it. Then reboot and it should see all the memory.