How to check RAM for errors?

To check RAM for errors in Windows 10, you can use the built-in Windows Memory Diagnostic tool by following these steps: Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box. Type ''mdsched.exe'' in the text box and press Enter. In the Windows Memory Diagnostic window, choose whether to restart and check for problems immediately or check for problems the next time you restart your computer. If you choose to check for problems immediately, your computer will restart and the memory diagnostic tool will run automatically. If you choose to check for problems the next time you restart your computer, the tool will run before Windows starts up the next time you boot your computer. The Windows Memory Diagnostic tool will check your computer's memory for errors and will notify you of any problems that are detected.

How to identify a malfunctioning RAM?

There are a few ways to identify a malfunctioning RAM: Run a memory diagnostic tool: Windows has a built-in Memory Diagnostic tool that can check for errors in your RAM. To access this tool, press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box, type ''mdsched.exe'' and press Enter. You can choose to restart and check for problems immediately or check for problems the next time you restart your computer. Check event logs: You can also check the Event Viewer logs in Windows to see if there are any errors related to your RAM. To access the Event Viewer, press the Windows key + X and select ''Event Viewer''. Look for any error messages in the ''Windows Logs'' section. Test each RAM module individually: If you have more than one RAM module, you can try removing one module at a time and testing the computer to see if the errors persist. This will help you identify which module is causing the issue. Physically inspect the RAM: Sometimes the issue may be with the physical connections of the RAM. Turn off the computer, remove the RAM modules, and inspect them for any physical damage or dust buildup. Clean the modules and reseat them properly in their slots. If you have tried these steps and still cannot identify the issue, it may be best to take your computer to a professional for further diagnosis and repair.

How to check the usage of RAM in Windows 10?

You can check the usage of RAM in Windows 10 by following these steps: Open the Task Manager by pressing the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys. Click on the Performance tab. Click on Memory in the left-hand menu. You will see the current usage of RAM in the In Use (Compressed) section. You can also see the total amount of RAM installed in your computer in the Installed section. Additionally, you can see the usage of RAM by individual processes in the Processes tab of the Task Manager. Simply click on the Memory column to sort the processes by the amount of RAM they are using.

How to conduct a stress test for RAM?

To conduct a stress test for RAM, you can use specialized software such as Memtest86 or HCI Memtest. Here are the general steps: Download and install a reliable memory testing software such as Memtest86 or HCI Memtest. Restart your computer and boot it from the USB drive or CD/DVD that contains the memory testing software. Run the memory test and let it complete at least one full pass. Check the test results for any errors or issues. During the memory test, the software will run a series of intensive operations on your RAM to check its stability and performance. This can help identify any issues with the RAM, such as faulty modules or incorrect configurations. It is important to note that conducting a memory stress test can cause your computer to crash or become unstable, so be sure to backup any important data and proceed with caution.

RAM latency, also known as memory latency, refers to the time delay between a memory controller requesting data from the RAM and the data being retrieved. In other words, it is the amount of time it takes for the RAM to respond to a request for data. Latency is measured in nanoseconds (ns) and is an important factor in the performance of a computer's RAM. Lower latency means that the RAM can respond more quickly to requests, resulting in faster data access and improved overall system performance.

Troubleshoot System Memory: How to Test for Errors in Windows

Author: Vladimir Artiukh
Editor: Oleg Afonin
Updated: 7.05.2024 14:31

Encountering system issues on Windows 10, 8 or 7? Learn how to test your system memory for errors with this comprehensive guide. Discover expert techniques to diagnose and resolve issues for improved performance and stability!

Troubleshoot System Memory: How to Test for Errors in Windows

If programs work very slowly or with errors, if you see various glitches or freezes in Windows, if the system restarts suddenly, shows BSOD errors, it becomes a challenging task to find the root of the problem. Such errors can be cause by both software and hardware issues.

System memory is the component that you can check quickly and easily. In case there are problems with one of the memory modules, you should replace it immediately to restore your computer’s performance back to normal and avoid more serious problems connected to damaging system or user files.

In spite of third-party utilities for the same purpose available for download from the Internet, operating systems Windows 10, 8 and 7 have an integrated tool for checking the system memory. In this guide we will learn to use the Windows memory diagnostic tool to check if there are any problems with a memory module.

Contents

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How to Find Out the System Memory Size, Check it, or Free it Up 🤖⚙️💻

How to Detect Memory Problems in Windows 10

To perform the following steps, you should restart the computer, so close all files which are opened and exit all running applications. Then:

Open Control Panel.
Choose System and Security.
Go to Administrative Tools.
Double-click the Windows Memory Diagnostic shortcut.

An important note: As an alternative, you can use the keyboard shortcut Windows + R, then enter mdsched.exe and click ОК to run this tool.
Click the Restart now and check problems option. (The utility also offers to schedule a test after the next restart if you can’t close your applications and restart right now).

After the restart, the computer will automatically start in the Windows Memory Diagnostics environment and will run a standard test. The utility will run all tests available in the basic mode, as well as LRAND, Stride6 (cache enabled), CHCKR3, WMATS + and WINVC.

Windows Memory Diagnostics. Standard test

You can wait till the end of the Standard test, or you can press the F1 button to change the scan options.

Windows Memory Diagnostics. To change the scan options

On the Options page, you can change the scan mode to Basic, which runs the MATS+, INVC, and SCHCKR (cache enabled) tests.

Windows Memory Diagnostics. Options page

Alternatively, you can also select the Extended mode which includes all tests available in the Standard mode, plus MATS+ (cache disabled), Stride38, WSCHCKR, WStride-6, CHCKR4, WCHCKR3, ERAND, Stride6 (cache disabled), and CHCKR8.

Windows Memory Diagnostics. Extended mode

If necessary, you can navigate the settings using the TAB key to change cache settings. If you disable cache, the utility will be able to address RAM data directly which ensures you run a comprehensive test. Besides, you can also set how many times the scanning will be repeated to test memory modules within your system.

Press F10 to apply the settings, go back to the main page and start a new scan.

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Why Computer Runs into Blue Screen Errors and How to Fix BSOD 💻🛠️🤔

Checking Test Results

You can see the status while the scan is running, but as soon as the test is over, the computer will restart automatically. You will have to use the Event Viewer tool to see the test results and understand whether you have a faulty RAM module or not.

Click on Start.
Type in eventvwr.exe and press Enter to open Event Viewer.
Go to the folder Windows Logs / System.
Right-click on System and select Find.
Enter MemoryDiagnostics-Results, and click the Find Next button.
Close the Find dialogue window.
In the Event Viewer, double-click on the MemoryDiagnostics-Results source, and view the message. If it says “The Windows Memory Diagnostic tested the computer’s memory and detected no errors,” then you can rest assured that memory is not the root of the problem.

If the results show one or several errors, you can try running an extended memory test and check the results again. If you still see at least one error, then one of your RAM modules may be faulty and you might have to replace it.

Sometimes the tool can show you which memory stick has problems showing the results. However, if it cannot provide this information, you may have to remove and test your RAM sticks one by one to find the faulty one.

Though we use this guide for Windows 10, the Windows memory diagnostic tool has been around for many years, and it means you can use it in earlier versions of Windows as well, including Windows 8.1 and Windows 7.