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Thread ID: 23490 2002-08-17 09:10:00 RAM test for Intel XP PC Graeme (1537) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
71972 2002-08-17 09:10:00 Hi
I have a new PC with Intel motherboard D845GRG, Pentium 4 2.0GHz and 512 MB Apacer PC2100 DDR RAM and XP pro OS. I have the latest BIOS.

I would like to run a RAM test program to test all the RAM but the two I have tried - memtest86 and docmem both crash
www.memtest86.com
www.simmtester.com

memtest86 crashes at the start of test number 2
docmem freezes after about 6 minutes

Is there any way to test the RAM in my PC?

Graeme
Graeme (1537)
71973 2002-08-17 09:43:00 I use a different memtest app. I can't remember where I got it from, so I have hosted it here (www.knightguider.orcon.net.nz) This link will ask you if you want to downlad a file called memtest.zip. It is 10KB in size, and contains three files.

Post when you have downloaded it so I can remove it from the server.

read the instructions first otherwise you won't get an effective result.

G P
Graham Petrie (449)
71974 2002-08-17 10:06:00 I'm not sure if you are able to do this, but can you disable fast boot in your bios? This will test the ram (and show it) before the OS boots. SoniKalien (792)
71975 2002-08-17 10:26:00 MemCheck tests the ability of your ram to store up to 4 billion different patterns of bits in ram, and the ability of that ram to correctly hold those values over long periods of time

The important part of that statement was that it tests RAM over a period of time. This allows for the discovery of intermittent errors that will not be discovered during a POST.

G P
Graham Petrie (449)
71976 2002-08-17 10:29:00 I have downloaded the zip file - thanks.
If anyone else reads this thread memtest can also be downloaded from hcidesign.com
- its free.

I have had fast boot disabled and the BIOS counts up thru the RAM ok at startup - its only a very quick test though. I saw a review of ram tests that showed some of them don't pick up all errors but this program - memtest, wasn't reviewed.

I ran docmem again and it got thru one pass ok - took around 19 minutes, then continued to a second pass but it froze after 23 minutes - that would seem to indicate an intermittent problem.

Thanks.
Graeme
Graeme (1537)
71977 2002-08-17 10:35:00 Hi
I have downloaded memtest.zip - thanks - I somehow misread this thread and thought you were the same person that I replied to just before.

I read the instruction web page and it seems that this test runs while Windows is still running - doesn't that mean that the parts of memory used by windows won't get tested?

Graeme
Graeme (1537)
71978 2002-08-17 10:36:00 I will leave that file there for a day or so for anyone else. Otherwise, use Graeme's link.

G P
Graham Petrie (449)
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