how to check a stick of memory?

[bandXtrb]

Any programs to do tests on system memory to see if it's working properly? I was having problems with this RAM stick before in another system, that went away when I removed it, but seems to be working now in this one.

 

[rbaibich]

Try memtest86.

 

[hagbard]

I'd second that.

 

[bacillus]

<< Try memtest86. >>


best tester IMO!

 

[bandXtrb]

Unfortunately it wants me to create a floppy disk and I've just about had it with floppy drives. Whether or not the cable is backwards, or the drive failed, I don't know, but I can't usually get floppy drives working for temporary use.

 

[DoctorBooze]

Well any decent tester is going to want total control so it can test the whole machine. DocMem is the same. You can install memtest86 on your hard drive, but you need to configure your boot loader to start it. I don't know how to do that with the boot loaders on Microsoft products, but I think the NTLDR (Win NT/2k/XP?) can do it.

 

[RalfHutter]

The only way to test your memory is to not be using it. This precludes running a memory test from within your OS. You need to boot into some sort of low-level enviornment so the test can test your memory. They do all kinds of manipulation to the memory that can't be done if your operating system is also accessing it.

Memtest 86 v2.9 is 'da bomb. It is very thorough, it will find errors that other memory tests won't. DocMem is pretty good also, but Memtest is the best.