How-to check if you’re having (RAM) Memory problems.
In basics: Windows, and all other operating systems use RAM (Random-access Memory) to store data while it’s processing data from other sources.
If you have a bad RAM module then Windows will begin acting strangely, you will end up receiving BSODs (like 0x0000002E) (Blue screen of deaths) and Windows will become unworkable.
But how do you find out if you have this problem? And how can you solve it, without replacing all your RAM modules? In this tutorial we will cover that.
Getting the right tools!
The first step we’ll have to take is to download the right tools, without that we cannot determine which RAM modules are faulty.
- Go to Memtest Download
- Download the latest ISO version to any location on your drive
- Wait for the download to finish, then go to the location where the file was downloaded.
- Right-click the file and click on “Burn to Disc”
- Place an empty CD/DVD in your burner and click on Burn
- Wait for the process to complete, after it finishes it will automatically eject the disc.
- Put the disc back in your drive and shut down your system
Starting Memtest
After you have burned it and turned off your system, it’s time to boot it from the disc, so we can begin testing your RAM memory.
[alert-note]You must have enabled Boot from a Removable Device for this feature to work, in most cases this is enabled. Otherwise read your computer manual.[/alert-note]- Turn your system back on with the disc in the drive.
- When the system asks to boot from the disc, press any key on your keyboard
- Memtest will automatically begin testing now.
Let this process complete for 7 passes, if no errors are found, then your RAM is working perfectly. If errors are found, then continue reading.
An error was found!
There is no reason for panic, RAM modules are known to go bad over time, and replacing them is really easy.
[alert-warning]IF YOUR SYSTEM IS UNDER WARRENTY THEN STOP! CONTACT YOUR MANUFACTURER FOR FURTHER SUPPORT.[/alert-warning]1. Open your system and remove all RAM Modules, except the first module, leave that in the slot.
2. Start your system again and let Memtest run for 7 passes, no errors? Then continue
3. Remove the first module and place back the second module, again, let it run for 7 passes, no errors? Then keep repeating these steps for each module.
I received errors on a RAM module
In most cases that ram module is faulty and has to be replaced, however it could also be the slot where it sits in, therefore more the RAM stick to another slot, then try the test again.
If the problems reappear after doing this, then the RAM module is faulty and has to be replaced.
If you receive no errors at all, then try a RAM module you know is working in the slot that was causing errors, if that one also generates errors then the motherboard could be faulty.
I received no errors
This is a very rare situation and in most cases this simply does not happen, however it could happen.
Try the following troubleshooting steps
1. Place RAM Module 1 and 2 back in their slots and start the test, if you receive errors, then remove one of them and try it with another stick.
Keep repeating that till you find the RAM Modules that are causing trouble for each other, if you find those then check if you have any of the situations listed below:
1. The RAM module is larger than the other
2. The RAM module speed is higher / lower than the other
3. One of the two modules is overclocked
If one of those situations apply to you then remove the RAM stick that does not match the other RAM sticks and test the other sticks, if they do not generate errors then the removed RAM stick was causing the issue.
I hope you solved your problems with these troubleshooting steps.