How to check the health of windows 7 RAM. Programs for checking RAM
From time to time, many users want to perform such an interesting operation as checking RAM.
The fact is that very often in the operating system Windows operational the memory does not cope with the load assigned to it, although, judging by the volume of such, it should.
In other words, the computer does not give out the speed that it should give, based on the amount of RAM.
In general, this is far from the only problem that occurs with memory in Windows operating systems.
Additional utility memtest86+
In addition to the standard tool described above, there is more than one special utility to check the RAM.
All of them can be easily downloaded and some of them are even in Russian. This option is just right for Windows 10 and Windows XP.
Such programs also do an excellent job with their main task, that is, checking for errors. But according to many users, the best one is memtest86+.
This program gives the most accurate data and can work in the most different versions operating systems, including Windows 7, 10, Vista and so on.
You can download memtest86+ very quickly online. The whole process of using this program from start to finish is as follows:
- Download memtest86+ from the official site. The link looks like this: www.memtest.org/#downiso . There are several download options available to us:
- in .gz format for the Linux operating system and the like (underlined in Figure 5 with a red line);
- in .zip format in order to burn the image later on a regular CD or DVD disc(underlined with a green line);
- in .exe format for writing to a flash drive (blue line).
- After that, you will need to write the downloaded image to a USB flash drive or to the most ordinary disk, so that later, when the system starts, these files can start.
Everything is very simple here - if you downloaded .zip, then by standard means we write the file to disk, if .exe, then we dump it on a USB flash drive, deleting everything else from it. And if you downloaded .gz, then just run it. - After recording, it is necessary to put the boot from the shooting media into the BIOS. To do this, you need to make sure that the system checks at startup for anything in the drives and connectors.
To make this happen, we restart the computer and when it starts, press the Delete button (on some computers F2). Thus, we will get into the BIOS.
There we are looking for an item whose name contains the word "Boot" (for example, in Award BIOS it's called "Advanced BIOS Features" - shown in Figure #6).
There we are looking for the item “Boot Sequence” (again, depending on the version, the name may change).
In the window that appears, we see a list of all available media from which loading can occur. The name of the flash drive will appear "USB", in the name of the disk - "CD / DVD".
We need to click on the first item, that is, "1st Boot Device" and select the desired drive in the window that appears. In the example above, this is a flash drive, that is, a USB drive.
- We insert the media with the program. It will start automatically. The program window looks as shown in Figure 10.
Advice: It is better to check each RAM module separately. This means that you need to physically (by hand) remove each memory module in turn and run a test. In this case, the utilitymemtest86+will find the module that is damaged.It's better to just throw away the problematic memory module and replace it with a new one.
If problems are found, the memtest86+ window will look like Figure 11.
Unfortunately, memtest86+ does not work in Russian. But it can be easily and quickly downloaded online.
Yes, and here the main thing is to find problems, and if they exist, we will see a red color, as shown in Figure No. 11.
You can learn more about how memtest86+ works in the video below.
Thematic video:
The need to check the RAM (RAM) is dictated by the frequent occurrence of the following situations in Windows 7:
- The appearance of the "blue screen of death" (BSOD).
- Computer freeze.
- Unstable or incorrect operation of the computer.
- Critical errors when running applications.
In all such cases, RAM is the most likely culprit and needs to be checked. There are several ways to test RAM in Windows 7.
Windows 7 built-in test
Unlike previous versions OS that required application third party applications to analyze the health of this computer node, the seven has a built-in tool for this. It can be launched in two ways:
- From command line.
- From the control panel.
To run this tool from the command line, you need to click "Start", type mdsched in the search bar, press the Enter key. The following window will appear:
This window shows two options for performing the built-in RAM test:
Which option to choose depends on the user's intentions. Needless to say, when choosing the first option, you need to save your work and close running applications, which is what the message in the window reminds you of.
To run this tool from the control panel, select "Administrative Tools" in it, and in the list that appears on the right side of the window, select "Windows Memory Checker":
Further actions of the user and the computer are the same as when starting the test from the command line.
Built-in memory checker settings
It is recommended that you run this tool with the default settings first. If no problems with RAM were found, then a more detailed analysis can be carried out. To do this, run the built-in test again and press the F1 key while it is running, after which a settings menu is displayed, which can be navigated with the arrow keys and Tab. This tool provides three analysis modes that differ in the set of tests and the completeness and time of passage:
- Basic (Basic) - duration of several minutes.
- Standard (Standard) - takes about an hour.
- Extended - up to several hours.
At default settings, all tests are run in two passes. This value can be changed from 0 to 99. If set to 0, then testing will be performed indefinitely until it is stopped by the user, which can be done by pressing the Esc key.
The successful completion of the RAM test is indicated by the appearance of a window like this:
Boot Memory Check
This is another option for running a built-in test, which is used when, due to problems with RAM, it is not even possible to boot Windows. To launch it after turning on the power of the computer, use the F8 key to achieve the appearance of a menu with additional boot options, then press the Esc, Tab and Enter keys in sequence:
The built-in diagnostic tool will start:
Upon completion of the check, there will be automatic reboot Windows 7 and its normal operation will begin.
Checking RAM using the Memtest86 utility
Many third-party utilities have been developed for RAM tests, but Memtest86 is deservedly considered the “king” among them. It differs from many similar programs in that it has its own bootloader and starts with bootable media(for example, from a flash drive or CD). This allows it to more thoroughly diagnose the performance of RAM. Unfortunately, this utility has two drawbacks:
- The need to obtain bootable media from the distribution iso file. It is hardly necessary to attribute this to shortcomings - that is why the program does not require any OS, and does not depend on it.
- Quite a long test execution time (more than 1 hour).
When should it be used:
- Of course, the first and most frequent case is that the OS does not boot up, or a BSOD appears.
- When the PC is unstable.
- Diagnostics of purchased and non-working RAM modules.
- For fine tuning timings when overclocking system components.
What to do if tests reveal problems
If errors were detected during testing in any way, or the tests could not even complete, then this is a clear sign that one or more RAM sticks are faulty. What to do in such cases:
- Don't be in a rush to get new boards. First, remove all the strips from the slots and reinsert. Just remember to turn off the computer before doing this and discharge static electricity by touching the computer case.
- If a lot of effort is required when removing and installing the slats, then either you forgot about the latches of the slats, or you insert them incorrectly.
- Gently wipe the contacts of the bars with an eraser to remove the plaque formed as a result of contact with air and subsequent oxidation.
- Install the brackets in the motherboard slots, turn on the computer and repeat the test. It is possible that the test will end successfully.
I am glad to welcome you to the site site! In this article, I will tell you everything about diagnosing the RAM of a computer / laptop.
Let's talk about the symptoms that indicate that there may be some errors in the "RAM", as well as how to check it for performance and "integrity".
So, let's begin!
Random Access Memory, or RAM (Random Access Memory) is the "temporary" memory of a computer. This is the so-called "buffer" between hard drive, which permanently stores both your programs and data, and the processor that processes this data. This memory is volatile, i.e. every time you reboot or turn off the power of the computer, it is reset to zero.
RAM is a small bar that is inserted into the motherboard connector. Like any computer component, this bar can fail.
In general, all these symptoms do not necessarily indicate a malfunction of the RAM strips. Freezes and errors Windows installation more often due to hard drive, BSODs - due to OS errors, viruses. It can be said for sure whether there are broken blocks, errors in the RAM, only by conducting memory tests using the methods that I will describe to you below.
If you perceive information better in video format, you can watch a video clip on my YouTube channel:
How to check RAM [Video]
How to check computer RAM
The simplest way to check RAM is the exclusion method. Most often, 2-4 RAM modules are installed in the computer. Therefore, you can take them out in turn, and check if the problem is gone. If without one of the memory modules the freezes stopped and the errors disappeared, then it is faulty.
But, it is quite possible that you have only one memory module.
To find and pull RAM from yours system block- take a close look at the picture below. I think everything will become clear to you immediately. You need to bend the latches on the sides of the memory - and it will “pop out” by itself. 
And here is what it looks like, and RAM is removed from laptops:
Checking RAM for errors using Windows tools
If your system boots normally, but gives various failures and errors during operation, then you can use a standard Windows tool for checking RAM.
That's what it's called - Diagnosing computer memory problems.»
This tool is built into the operating room Windows system 7 and Vista, and we just have to find it and use it:
- We press the button Start, and in the field " Find programs and files» enter part of the name of the program that we need to find. I entered "operational". Among the list of programs we find " Diagnosing computer memory problems:
- In the window that appears, you can choose when the check will be performed - right now or the next time you turn on the computer:
We close everything open programs, save the documents, and run the first item to restart the PC and start checking the RAM right now. - After reboot will automatically start and start checking the memory. We are waiting for the check to be performed, you do not need to touch anything.
On my configuration (i5-4460, 16 Gb DDR3), testing in normal mode took about 15-20 minutes.
By pressing the F1 key, you can select other test options (Basic and Wide), as well as the number of passes. Optionally, you can check with wide test suite, but it will take several times longer, so first do Ordinary test.
- Once the test is complete, Windows will continue to boot.
- To see the result of the Windows RAM test, you need to go to Event Viewer -> Windows logs-> System -> MemoryDiagnostics-Results:
Program for testing RAM - memtest86+
The best way to check memory is to use a special program - memtest86+.
Its advantage is that it can be used even if Windows does not boot, or the PC does not have a hard drive at all.
Download the program to check the RAM you can from the official site memtest.org, or right here on my blog (the files are checked for viruses): the memory test will begin. It looks like this:
The test takes place in automatic mode, nothing needs to be changed, just observe. He will go on forever. If after 1-2 passes (Pass) no red bars with errors appear in the field below, and the “Errors” counter is zero, then your memory is almost certainly clean!
Many people are probably wondering what the “broken” RAM test looks like? To see it, watch the video below.
Memtest86+ RAM test - 1.5 million errors [Video]:
By the way, subscribe to my youtube channel . There I show the whole process of diagnosing and repairing computers and laptops in real time in video format.
Hello, friends! Faulty RAM can cause your computer to become unstable and result in data loss. Signs are unexpected reboots or " blue screen of death". When diagnosing or, first of all, it is checked. 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 produce RAM test. The structure and includes a built-in utility for checking memory. You just need to run it and schedule the test to run either immediately or at the next boot.
In this article, we will understand in detail how to test RAM
As mentioned above, the operating system has 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, go to Control Panel > System and Security > Administrative Tools. Choose
It is also convenient to use
A window will open with information - What memory problems can cause
You have 3 options to choose from: Reboot and Test, Run a Test the next time you turn on your computer, or click Cancel.
When you select the first item, the system will immediately reboot and execute RAM test. You must close all open applications before making a selection.
If you select the second option, the scan will start the next time you turn on your computer. You can try to finish the unfinished work and reboot.
You can also run a RAM test with Windows boot 7/8 pressing key F8 and choosing Troubleshooting your computer
Select a user and click OK
Choose
The same window opens as from under Windows. Click the recommended first item
The system will reboot and start testing
To select test parameters, press 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. Extended includes all possible tests prepared by Microsoft and is naturally the longest in time.
The usual test of RAM is enough to identify problems.
By pressing the key Tab you will move to the next control option - Memory Cache. Disabling which will lead to direct access to RAM, which will allow for more accurate testing.
When you next press the key Tab it 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, press the key F10
If you are only going to install from a disk image, then you can also test the RAM. For this it is necessary.
Press any key
Tab key to select Windows Memory Diagnostic
The RAM test will start, but already in English
In the Status field, an inspiring inscription is displayed - "No errors have yet been found")
If there are any, it will be written about immediately. Also, the results will be displayed again when loading. operating system if the test was run from Windows.
Memtest86+ is the most popular RAM test
The second, but no less effective, tool for checking RAM is the Memtest86 + program. At the time of writing current version 4.20
You can download this utility from the official site. The archive in *.zip format is downloaded and is intended for installation on a USB flash drive
You can also download the image for burning to disk from the official site. How to burn an image to disk can be read in.
Let's write the program to a flash drive. To do this, unpack the downloaded archive. For those who have difficulty with this, please see the article. We connect the USB 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 set the recommended "bird"
Copy all important data from the USB drive and press Create(Create)
Then press Next
And Finish
Boot USB stick ready.
You can also go into the BIOS and select Boot Menu (F8). Or, press F8 immediately upon boot, and it is possible to get into the menu for selecting boot options. You must select our flash drive
When booting from a prepared flash drive, a RAM test will immediately begin
In addition to monitoring the test, you can see:
- processor cache information
- maximum and its speed
- information about the chipset and memory parameters
- settings of the RAM itself (frequency, delays and whether dual-channel mode works)
There is also a table where in the first column you can follow the duration of testing. If all tests are successfully passed, instead of 0, 1 will appear in the Pass column and the inscription will be displayed below
*****Pass complete, no errors, press Esc to exit*****
Click ESC and perform a normal boot of the operating system.
If errors are found during the memory test, a red table will be displayed with the addresses of the detected problems, while the test will continue.
What to do if problems are found?
We turn off the computer, take out the RAM and wipe the contacts with an ordinary rubber band. The one we used in school. It is also recommended to blow out the memory slots in the .
Carefully! If you have memory modules without heatsinks, don't hold on to the memory chips! It is possible to deform the contact of the chip with the textolite. (Memory chips are black squares or rectangles on colored textolite)
Blow off the remaining rubber on the memory modules and install them in the motherboard.
Repeat test
If the errors reappear, take the modules to service center under warranty.
If not under warranty, check each module individually to determine the bad bar and replace it. (Do not forget that the memory module connector may be faulty. If the memory bar test fails in one connector, check it in another)
If you have a set of 2 or 4 memory sticks, it is recommended to change the whole set.
For more information about memory, see the article
Conclusion
In this article, we figured out how to RAM test.
It is convenient to carry out diagnostics of memory modules using the built-in Windows Memory Checker utility, as well as using the special Memtest86+ program. We learned how to prepare a USB flash drive and burn the image with the program to disk.
And most importantly! Provided steps to take if memory problems are detected.
Video - RAM test
Questions and suggestions will be glad to see in the comments. I wish you serviceable and reliable memory modules.
When a blue screen of death appears on the monitor of the device, it's time to think about checking the RAM. In addition, the RAM must be tested in the event that the computer restarts or freezes on its own.
Check RAM on Windows 7 will help standard means, but if you use a different version of the OS, you will need to download a special program from the Internet. Almost always, software failures, at first glance illogical, turn out to be related to RAM problems.
Exclusion Method
The first verification option does not provide for the launch of additional utilities. It is possible when multiple RAM sticks are used. If there is only one, you will need to use an application or another device to check. It is necessary to take out the RAM strips in turn and look at the overall stability of the system. This option is good because it allows you to check the motherboard slots at the same time. If one of the bars functions normally in another device without causing failures, it is quite possible that the cause of the breakdown is the system board. When, after removing one bar, the computer starts working normally, it is she who is faulty. Therefore, the Windows 7 Memory Test Tool does not need to be run.
It is worth noting that the physical removal of the slats does not take much time, and checking when using special programs has a longer process. This is especially true when the amount of RAM is large. If installed perfectly new module memory, and the blue screen remains even during BIOS boot, it is possible that the processor either motherboard do not have support for the device of the manufacturer that released it. In this case, you need to check the official website of the company that is the manufacturer of the motherboard. May need BIOS firmware latest version.
How to perform a RAM test in Windows 7?
To run the built-in program that can test the RAM, you must perform the following steps:
1. Go to "Start".
2. Go to the "Control Panel".
3. Open "Administrative Tools" and select "Windows Memory Checker".
You should be extremely careful. You will need to close all applications and save important documents before performing the check. When the Reboot button is clicked, all programs that require additional actions from the user will be forcibly terminated. Next, the computer restarts, after which the RAM test automatically starts. It is carried out in two stages. They take a small amount of time if the amount of RAM is two gigabytes and the memory is healthy. AT otherwise verification may be delayed. During the testing period, it is recommended to refrain from unnecessary clicks on the buttons. If defects in RAM are detected, information about errors will appear at the bottom of the screen. After finishing Windows checks 7 The computer restarts automatically and a report is generated of all RAM problems found by the system.
Memtest86+
It is worth noting that identifying problems with RAM Windows tools 7 does not always show high efficiency. To perform more serious and in-depth tests, you will need to use the Memtest86+ program. It is presented in a free version and can be easily used on any device with any operating system. The program is available in three versions:
Bootable ISO (provided for creating boot disk by burning the image with a CD burner or DVD drive;
Auto Indtaller For USB Key (not always suitable for older devices);
Pre-Complied for Floppy (an archaic solution for those who do not have USB sockets, a CD writer, but have a floppy drive).
Create a bootable flash drive
You need to go to the official Memtest86+ website and download the required distribution. After that, you need to unzip it. For these purposes, it is proposed to use 7-zip or the well-known Winrar. When the program launch is completed, you must select the drive, which will become bootable.
Bootable CD/DVD
Sometimes it is impossible to check the RAM from a flash drive. The system crashes when using a specific flash drive driver. There are also situations when the drive may not be at hand, the BIOS is outdated and is not able to boot the device from USB devices. In such cases, you have to burn the distribution to disk. The Ultra ISO program is designed for this. After it is installed, double click on any ISO file opens it in this application. Then you need to select the tools menu and the item "Burn image". Memtest86+ is a small program, so writing will be very fast.
Memory check
After the distribution is written to a USB flash drive or disk, you need to go to the BIOS. You need to do this in the process of turning on the computer by pressing the "DEL" button. When the program is launched, you should select the used USB flash drive or CD-ROM in the First Boor Device column. When all actions are performed correctly, the reboot is followed by an automatic memory test. The utility performs nine different tests, but after they complete, the program goes into a loop and starts all over again. As a rule, the first successful two or three tests make it clear that there are no problems with the RAM.
Prevention
Often, the dustiness of the system unit leads to failures of the operating system. In this case, OS testing is not required. Everything needs to be blown out inner space fixtures, paying particular attention to heatsinks and slots. It is advisable to remove all devices, excluding the processor, from the sockets, carefully wipe the contacts. It is worth being careful with microcircuits, since the slightest damage to them can lead to failures.
