Tester for RAM. RAM test: checking RAM for errors

Random access memory (RAM) is a critical component on which not only the speed of the computer depends. Severe memory corruption will most likely result in the system being unable to boot and the user experiencing blue screen death with the corresponding error code. Minor defects in the memory module can cause failures and long freezes when working with resource-intensive software, periodic appearance of BSOD, computer reboots on its own.

Memory problems can also be indicated by a progressive decline in computer performance that cannot be corrected by standard cleaning and optimization methods. To exclude possible errors RAM, you need to test it. This can be done using special utilities or using the operating system itself. The second method is more suitable for novice users, since most professional means RAM testing is too difficult to master.

You can run the standard memory diagnostic utility in Windows 8 and 8.1 as follows. Open standard search and enter the command Windows Memory Diagnostic (in Russian Diagnosis of RAM problems), and then run the component.

The same can be done with one single command executed in the CMD console or the Run window.

This will appear small window, in which you will be prompted to reboot the system.

There is another way to run the memory testing module, but it is unlikely to seem convenient to you. IN command line running as an administrator, you need to run the command bcdedit /displayorder (memdiag) /addlast, and then restart the computer.

A menu will open in which you can specify the required action.

The disadvantage of this method is that testing will be launched every time you reboot and to disable the check you will need to run another command - bcdedit /displayorder (memdiag) /remove . On the other hand, this will allow you to quickly launch the diagnostic module when booting from a boot or rescue disk.

So, after rebooting, you will see a blue screen with a standard set of RAM tests.

The default set is Standard. By pressing the F1 key you can select another set - Basic or Extended. Once the diagnostics are complete, the computer will reboot and a message with preliminary test results will be displayed in the notification area.

For more detailed information, open the Windows Event Log (with the command )

select system section

and in the middle part of the window look for events.

What to do if the utility does detect memory errors? As a rule, in such cases the memory must be replaced. And one more important point, which should be kept in mind. If your computer does not boot and the BIOS emits suspicious beeps that may indicate memory problems, testing is useless and even undesirable. In such a scenario, it is better not to engage in amateur activities, but to entrust the diagnosis and repair of the computer to specialists.

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Hello Friends! Faulty RAM can cause unstable operation of the computer and, as a result, loss of data. Symptoms include unexpected reboots or a “blue screen of death.” When diagnosing a desktop computer or laptop, the first thing to do is check the RAM. You don't need to open your computer to do this. It is enough to boot from a disk or from a flash drive (from a memory card at worst)) and perform RAM test. Windows 7 and Windows 8 include a built-in memory test utility. You just need to run it and schedule the test to run either immediately or at the next boot.

In this article we will look in detail at how to test RAM.

As mentioned above, the Windows 7 and Windows 8 operating systems have a built-in memory check utility. This is convenient because it is always at hand and there is no need for third-party programs.

To start, you need to go to Control Panel > System and Security > Administration. Choose

It is also convenient to use the search from the Start menu

A window will open with information - What memory problems can lead to

You have 3 options to choose from: reboot and scan, scan the next time you turn on the computer, or click Cancel.

When you select the first item, the system will immediately reboot and execute RAM test. Before selecting, you must close all open applications.

If you select the second option, the scan will run the next time you turn on the computer. You can try to finish the unfinished work and reboot.

You can also run a RAM test when loading Windows 7/8 by pressing the key F8 and selecting Troubleshooting your computer

Select the user and click OK

Choose

The same window opens as under Windows. Click on the recommended first item

The system will reboot and begin testing RAM

To select testing parameters, click F1

We can choose a test suite:

Base
Ordinary
Wide

Basic includes 3 tests used for quick check. Normal includes additional tests and runs by default. The extended one includes all possible tests prepared by Microsoft and is naturally the longest in terms of time.

To identify problems, a regular RAM test is quite enough.

When you press a key Tab You will be taken to the next control option - Memory Cache. Disabling which will result in accessing RAM directly, which will allow for more accurate testing.

When you press the key again Tab will switch to the last option for selecting the number of repetitions of the RAM test. Used for a more thorough check and allows you to set from 1 to 0 (infinity) passes.

To apply the settings and continue the test, you must press the key F10

If you are just going to install Windows 7 from a disk image, then you can also test the RAM. For this it is necessary.

Press any key

Use the Tab key to select Windows Memory Diagnostic

The RAM test will start but, already on English

The Status field displays an inspiring inscription - “No errors found yet”)

If any are found, it will be written about it immediately. The results will also be displayed again when loading the operating system if the test was launched from Windows.

Memtest86+ the most popular RAM test

The second, but no less effective, tool for checking RAM is the Memtest86+ program. At the time of writing, the current version is 4.20

You can download this utility from the official website. The archive is downloaded in *.zip format and is intended for installation on a flash drive.

You can also download the image for burning to disk from the official website. You can read how to burn an image to disk in this article.

Let's write the program to a flash drive. To do this, unpack the downloaded archive. If anyone has difficulty with this, please see the article How to open a rar file. We connect the flash drive to the computer and run the unpacked program Memtest86+ USB Installer.exe

Click I agree(I agree to the license agreement)

Select the connected USB flash drive and check the recommended “ticket”

Copy all important data from the USB drive and click Create(Create)

Then click Next

AND Finish

The bootable USB drive is ready.

You can also go into the BIOS and select Boot Menu (F8). Or press F8 immediately upon loading, which will take you to the menu for selecting boot options. You need to choose our flash drive

When booting from a prepared flash drive, the RAM test will begin immediately

In addition to watching the test pass, you can watch:

information about the processor and processor cache
maximum amount of RAM and its speed
information about the chipset and memory parameters
settings of the RAM itself (frequency, latency and whether dual-channel mode works)

There is also a table where in the first column you can track the duration of testing. If all tests are successfully passed, 1 will appear in the Pass column instead of 0 and the inscription will be displayed at the bottom

*****Pass complete, no errors, press Esc to exit*****

Click ESC and boot the operating system normally.

If errors are detected during the memory test, a red table will appear with the addresses of the detected problems, and the test will continue.

What to do if problems are detected?

Turn off the computer, take out the RAM and wipe the contacts with a regular eraser. The one we used at school. It is also recommended to blow out the memory connectors on the motherboard.

Carefully! If you have memory modules without heatsinks, do not hold on to the memory chips! You can deform the contact between the chip and the PCB. (Memory chips are black squares or rectangles on colored PCB)

Blow off any remaining rubber on the memory modules and install them into the motherboard.

Repeat the test

If errors appear again, take the modules to service center under warranty.

If there is no warranty, check each module separately to determine the faulty strip and replace it. (Don't forget that the memory module connector may be faulty. If the memory stick test fails in one slot, check it in another)

If you have a set of 2 or 4 memory sticks, it is recommended to change the entire set.

For more information about memory, see the article How to increase computer RAM?

Conclusion

In this article we figured out how to carry out RAM test.

It is convenient to carry out diagnostics of memory modules using the built-in utility “Check Tool” Windows memory", and using the special program Memtest86+. We learned how to prepare a USB flash drive and burn an image with the program to disk.

And most importantly! Provided measures to take when memory problems are detected.

Video - RAM Test

I will be glad to see questions and suggestions in the comments. I wish you serviceable and reliable memory modules.

First, let's figure out what random access memory (RAM) is - this is temporary memory personal computer(PC), which works when the device is turned on. It is responsible for the stable and complete operation of all installed programs.

As we found out, RAM is a kind of temporary data storage buffer located between the disk drive and the processor.

Therefore, the data on it is stored only until the PC is turned off, which means that before that you need to worry about saving all the materials. The operating speed of the entire PC system, in particular installed applications, depends on the OP.

To summarize, RAM affects:

to stable, fast work PC;
the ability to use several programs (applications) simultaneously;
on the speed of completing assigned tasks.

In order to find out how much on a PC, you need to follow several steps.

Now we know how much OP is provided on the PC, and how much is available. Now you need to understand whether everything is okay with the RAM or if you need to take some action.

Identifying RAM problems

Problems with RAM occur nowadays innovative technologies quite often. There are several most common signs of complications in the work of an OP.

Slow computer operation, requested files take a long time to open, specified functions are not executed, freeze.
Messages about low memory appear on the monitor when downloading files, opening applications, etc.
Some programs stopped working.

Slow computer performance is a sign of problems with RAM

There are quite a few reasons for the malfunction of the OP.

The detail itself is defective. This is rare, but still. In this case, the solution is simple: contact the store or market where you purchased the PC and use the warranty card to make an exchange or repair.
Mechanical damage. It mainly occurs when the OP itself is installed manually by a PC or connector user.
Wear. Any equipment has its own wear rate, which depends on the degree of use, location, and PC load.
Overheat. Occurs mainly due to untimely cleaning of dust from systems. Of course, overheating is possible due to high temperature indoors, but usually in rooms with equipment there is a cooling system.

Video - How to check RAM for errors?

Testing: step-by-step instructions

To understand the reason for the unstable operation of the computer's RAM, you need to test it.

Note! Microsoft once approached the problem of testing quite seriously. In the operating room Windows system There are built-in utilities for checking the status of many components. Windows versions 7 and later provide memory testing by default, but the results are displayed only if a critical situation occurs. But in order to understand the state of RAM at any time, you can check it manually.

Step by step instructions.

Option 1

Press the Win + R keys, a window appears, in the “open” line we enter: mdsched, click “ok”. Figure 4 below shows all the steps.

A window with a verification request appears on the screen; all you have to do is make a choice and wait for the result.

Option 2

Go to the Start menu. On the screen this sign located on the far left.
In the search bar we write the word “operative”.
Now in the top line we find “diagnostics of computer RAM problems”, click.

A window will appear on the screen prompting you to check, taking into account a reboot to at the moment or the next time you turn it on.

You can also check using specialized programs, for example, such as Mem Test 6.0 is a kind of utility for testing the reliability of the operating system.

Having tested the PC's RAM and identified errors, it is necessary to urgently begin to correct them.

RAM ( RAM) - one of the most important details on the computer. Without it, he simply cannot turn on. Due to problems with it, various problems with the performance of the system often arise. Below I will provide a list of the most common problems related to RAM.

Computer freezes during active use and loss of information.
Blue screen or screen of death ( may be one of the reasons for this).
Computer won't turn on ( usually makes a sound that indicates there is a problem).
Frequent, unexpected computer reboots that occur on their own.

Please note that the methods below do not fix the problem, but only notify you that it exists.

If errors are detected in the memory, you can try to apply for a warranty from the seller ( if there is one), but most likely you will just need to replace it with a new one. RAM sticks are not very expensive and the replacement process is quite simple.

There are two ways to check for problems with it. If you have Windows 7, 8 and later versions, you can use the scan in the operating system itself. There is a special utility for this. There is no need to download it.

For earlier versions ( for example XP) you can use a solution such as Memtest86. However, I recommend using this particular program in any case, as it is regularly updated, unlike the built-in Windows diagnostic tools.

Checking memory in Windows

Find a utility that will do the testing.

Go to Start >> All Programs >> Administrative Tools ( or standard) >> Memory checker.

In the window that appears, select “Restart and check” and restart your computer.

You will see a window of the RAM testing process. If errors are found, a corresponding warning will appear. Wait for it to finish. It took me about ~15 minutes. Yours may take longer. This depends on the test settings and computer.

By pressing the "F1" key you can open the options. They have additional settings. There are 3 types of tests in total:

Base.
Ordinary.
Wide.

The longest and most revealing is the wide one. It uses all the functionality. The default is normal. For a quick check, it is recommended to use the basic one. Here you can also set the number of checks. Switching between items is done using the arrows on the keyboard.

Testing with Memtest86

Download free program Memtest on your computer ( in English). It is constantly updated and can more effectively check RAM, unlike the utility in Windows.

And transfer the installation file to the USB flash drive. Then launch. In the window that appears, select the letter of your device and click Create. If an error appears, try checking the formatting box. If you don’t have a flash drive, you can download and burn the image to disk.

Attention! All data will be deleted and ( if you check the box). You will receive after the process is completed.

Errors will be highlighted in red ( if they exist). They were not found on me. If you need to stop checking, press the Esc key.

I suggest watching a video on how to use this program.

Have you found any errors in your RAM?

Computer failures occur for many reasons. Any system component can be to blame, including RAM. In this article we will tell you how to check your RAM for errors.

What is RAM and what is it used for?

RAM abbreviated as RAM(random access memory) or RAM- in English, random access memory; in slang it is often called “RAM”. Below is one of its options.

The processor performs calculations, but intermediate results need to be stored. Who remembers primary classes at school: “we write seven, two in our minds.” This is what RAM is for. This is an essential element of any computing machine. Initially, RAM was assembled on magnetic cores and the like, and the amount of information written to it was minimal. Nowadays, RAM is a set of chips with a fairly large capacity. There is another type of memory in computers - ROM(read-only storage device), the BIOS firmware is stored on it.

RAM differs from it in that it depends on the supply voltage; when the PC is turned off, all written bytes are erased. The RAM capacity for modern computing requires a relatively large amount, several GB, and the speed of data exchange is also important. There are two types of RAM - SRAM And DRAM, with static and dynamic access respectively. The first type is based on the fact that each bit is stored in a separate trigger- a cell of two transistors. This type of computer memory places much less information per unit area of the crystal, but is less susceptible to damage, and the recorded data remains unchanged without additional operations until the power is removed from the circuit. It is used most in the internal memory of the processor, called cache and is located on its crystals. We are directly interested in the computer's RAM. It works using dynamic access memory (DRAM), and capacitors are used to store information. This approach allows you to significantly increase the capacity per unit area, but somewhat increases the likelihood of a certain number of storage cells failing in emergency situations, such as “stress” in the form of overvoltage, overheating, and the like.

Symptoms of RAM Damage

Signs that there may be problems with RAM are frequent computer crashes into the blue screen of death for XP; for Windows 8, 10 it can be black.

Moreover, most often failures occur when working with resource-intensive applications, such as games and graphic editors. The error codes change all the time. You may also experience some fuzzy flickering on the screen. The computer may not boot at all, beeping sounds, they can be deciphered according to the instructions for motherboard. But all these signs do not necessarily indicate RAM; the video card or processor, or a low-power power supply may be to blame. It is worth conducting a Windows RAM test; it will help localize the cause of the problem. In addition, knowing that the RAM is to blame, you can easily carry out repairs yourself. Sometimes the cause of the failure is not even in the memory clearing chip itself, but in poor contact on the connector.

RAM test on computers with Windows 7 and higher

This operating system has built-in tools that check RAM for errors. Therefore, it is not necessary to search for and install third-party software. The process itself takes a little time. It is also worth noting such a feature of Windows 7 (64- or 32-bit) and newer versions as self-diagnosis, that is, if it detects problems in the system, it itself will offer to test the RAM. If you see such a message, you should not refuse.

You can also check the performance of the RAM manually; for this we use one of the following methods:

The program asks when to check, now or the next time you turn on the computer. Choose the right option. At the same time, do not forget that when you reboot, we risk losing all unsaved files. The program automatically turns on forced closing of applications, without giving time to cancel the decision. Therefore, we take precautions and correctly close all running programs. Windows closes and the verification procedure begins.

By pressing the F1 key you can select additional scan options:

Navigation in the menu is carried out using the Tab keys to move between items and arrows to select an option. We dial the number of passes to numeric keypad, having previously removed the standard two. Launch after selecting test parameters using F10.

The memory check process will begin; depending on the amount of RAM, it will take up to half an hour. At the same time, the progress of the process is constantly displayed on the screen: what percentage is checked, what pass is being made, whether problems are found. If you need to interrupt the test (you urgently need a computer), press ESC. After an interruption, you will have to start all over again, including the blocks you have already completed.

When the program finishes running, the computer will automatically start operating system. Moreover, it takes her more time than with the standard procedure. After booting the PC, on Taskbars A notification about the scan results will appear. But it is worth paying attention to the fact that it may not appear at all if no problems are detected, but is displayed only for a couple of minutes. If you run the check and go to the kitchen to drink tea, you might miss it. In this case, “” in the menu will help Control panels in the section " Administration" We find there " Windows logs"among them" System" and in the information list " MemoryDiagnostics-Result».

How to check RAM using utilities

To check the RAM for functionality on a PC or laptop running Windows XP and an earlier version (there are still some), you need to use special programs. In addition, many of these programs offer a wider range of tests than standard remedy Microsoft. On the Internet, most of them can be downloaded quickly and free of charge. When choosing, you need to consider the following factors:

There are programs that run from Windows. It’s easier to work with them - downloaded, installed, some work without installation, checked. But they are not suitable for cases where there are problems with the operating system. Also, checking from BIOS is more accurate. True, you will need to copy them to a flash drive or disk.
Many utilities, especially those created a long time ago, cannot work with more than four GB of RAM. If there is more memory (64 bit versions allow this), then you will have to check it in parts, removing the strips, and this is unnecessary trouble.

As an example, let's look at how to work with one of the common free utilities or similar programs. It is necessary to perform the following sequence of actions:

The design of the window in which the test results are displayed may be different, but everything should be intuitive.

If problems are found

Minor damage to the RAM may not affect the operation of the computer, it will simply reduce the amount of memory and slightly reduce performance. But if problems have already arisen, and the memory test shows a malfunction, repairs are necessary. Of course, if the computer is under warranty and sealed, then we contact the service center or the seller. If not, and you are confident in your capabilities, then you can make the repairs yourself. We perform the following actions:

Conclusion

We will be glad if our short article helped you check your computer’s RAM and solve problems that arise with it. We told you how to check your computer's RAM using methods built into the operating system. We also considered that to check outdated RAM Windows versions you need to use special software, which has many additional features and can be applied on newer versions. For example, the Memtest86+ RAM testing program was taken.