Windows memory diagnostic test

Windows memory diagnostic: http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp

Using Memtest 86+ from www.memtest.org :

You will download the .iso to make a bootable cd. You want the pre-compiled bootable ISO (.zip). Unzip the file you download by double-clicking on it and drag the contents out. You will now have a file called memtest86+-4/00.iso (the version number may be different). You can delete the .zip file now. Put in a CD-R disc and start a third-party burning program such as Roxio, Nero, or the freeImgBurn (unless you have Windows 7 which can burn .isos natively). You will need to burn the file as an image, not as data. Refer to your burning program's Help if you don't know how to do this.

Leave the CD-R in your optical drive and restart your computer. When you restart the computer you will see messages:

1. Possibly a message that says something like "Press F12 for temporary boot menu". If you have this message, press that function key. Use your arrow key to select the CD/DVD drive and the computer will boot from the Memtest86+ CD you made.
2. If you don't see a message about a boot menu you will need to go into the BIOS to change the boot order. This message will say something like "Press F2 to enter Setup". Press that function key and you will enter the BIOS. Find the section about boot and change the boot order to CD/DVD drive first, hard drive second. Save your changes and exit Setup. The computer will boot from the Memtest86+ CD you made.

The test will run immediately. You can remove the CD while the test is running.You will need third-party burning software to do this  Burn as an image, not as data. Then boot with the media you made (you may need to change the boot priority in your BIOS so that the optical drive is the first boot device). The test will run immediately. Let the test run for an hour or two - unless errors are seen immediately. If you get any errors, replace the RAM.

MS-MVP - Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!

About just immediately replacing RAM:  FIRST can use the menu to see how many errors per module.  1. Pause testing 2. Menu  3. View errors by module.

You can also move the modules to different slots and retest.  I recommend testing one module at a time just to be sure.

VIA Extended testing option, you can tell if  module is failing only with cache off.

Note: before testing should check BIOS for undesirable settings- on Dell for example: 'OS Install mode' ignores all but 256mb RAM, and CPU compatibility mode turns off the CPU cache for huge slowdown.

In my case all RAM tests just fine in standard tests, but one module fails the extended tests with cache off.

thank you!!