Diagnose with Memtest86+

MediaMan (MediaMan) One of the recommended steps to diagnose a problem with a PC that is crashing or unstable is to test and diagnose memory because memory is one of the more likely hardware components that can fail. Faulty memory can cause many problems even if the PC continues to operate.

December 2, 2004 10:10 PM ET in News

One of the recommended steps to diagnose a problem with a PC that is crashing or unstable is to test and diagnose memory because memory is one of the more likely hardware components that can fail. Faulty memory can cause many problems even if the PC continues to operate.

Read it here

11 Comments:

  1. Unregistered
    7 Dec '04, 11:40 am

    "The most important item here is the "errors" line. If you see ANY errors, even one, then you have bad ram. If you see any other number than "0" in the "pass" line then your memory is good. It's that easy!"
    ..but...
    what does it mean if the "errors" line says 8 (bad ram) and the "pass" line says 8, too? (good ram)
    Thats what I see on the screenshot..
    Can some1 explain?

  2. Trogan
    7 Dec '04, 1:53 pm

    Good guide prime. Nice and clear about what to download, how to make the floppy and how to run memtest.

    I'l give memtest a go when I have time

  3. primesuspect
    7 Dec '04, 3:30 pm
    Quoting Unregistered

    "The most important item here is the "errors" line. If you see ANY errors, even one, then you have bad ram. If you see any other number than "0" in the "pass" line then your memory is good. It's that easy!"
    ..but...
    what does it mean if the "errors" line says 8 (bad ram) and the "pass" line says 8, too? (good ram)
    Thats what I see on the screenshot..
    Can some1 explain?

    Those are not "8"s, those are "0"s........

  4. Unregistered
    8 Dec '04, 12:34 pm
    what does it mean if the "errors" line says 8 (bad ram) and the "pass" line says 8, too? (good ram)

    ANY errors at all means your memory is bad.

    What I find interesting about this article is that motherboard and CPU issues aren't mentioned. I have been using Memtest86 for a long time, and have come across a LOT of bad memory, but I've also found bad motherboards and one bad P4 2.8C CPU.

  5. Unregistered
    17 Dec '04, 9:04 am

    Thank You for the clear and concise instructions, this has been most helpful!

  6. MM
    30 Apr '09, 8:10 pm

    Well, I have 4 passes and 10,000,000 errors. I have no doubts I have a bad RAM, but what's that with the >0 passes is good?
    Thanks

  7. KairosDrasis
    13 May '09, 3:25 am

    *sigh* If we forget to put a email, please for god's sake don't clear the entire post when I hit the back button... Onward to what I said early, before it all got deleted.

    Passes are not good. They just mean that the test is complete. You will see when test hits 100% pass will go up 1 and the test will restart.

    Simple rule:
    if error>0 then bad ram,
    if pass>1 and error=0 then good ram,
    if pass=0 then your test is not finished.

    Kairos

  8. Gillighan
    2 Oct '09, 11:13 pm

    Great Job !
    Stay Well

  9. e|raze
    27 Dec '09, 12:45 am

    Thanks great guide and very helpful

  10. John
    18 Jan '10, 8:27 pm

    Hi.
    Well, I'm trying to test my RAM, but I have a problem...
    I'm using an Acer Aspire One, which doesn't has neither CD Drive neither Floppy Drive, so I have to use USB, so... can you help me with this? =D
    Since I'm not an advanced user...

  11. RyderOCZ
    18 Jan '10, 8:32 pm

    You need to create a bootable USB key, then download the "Pre-compiled EXE file for USB key" from here: http://www.memtest.org/#downiso

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