When the computer boots, the diagnostic tool sometimes starts automatically. At the same time, the user does not receive data on the results, if there are no critical failures.

But it is possible to run the scan in Windows 7 in manual mode. In this case, after completing the check in Windows 7, the testing device will notify the found problems in the report. Or in the system message after restarting the PC, depending on the diagnostic method.

We open Control Panel, we find - system and safety, go to Administration and run Required as an administrator.

A window will appear, in which you have the opportunity to choose whether to restart Windows right now or postpone until the next shutdown of the PC.

We choose, for example, Reboot and check right now the computer restarts and then a window appears with a check function operating system.

In the same window, the RAM will be checked. A blue screen will appear, in which the process of testing the RAM will begin.

In it, we draw attention to the fact that no problems have been found so far, but you still need to wait until the end of testing.

If suddenly this inscription changes to some other, then you need to take measures for a more thorough check of the RAM. In addition, it is possible to change the parameters of the memory check.

Press F1 and here using the keyboard you can select which test set will be performed. For example, in this case, it is a normal test suite.

If you want to be 100% sure that the RAM is working, or not, then you need to run a check of a wide set of tests.

To do this, select a wide set and press the F10 button. In any case, we are waiting for the end of the check and get the results, whether any problems were found.

To find out the results of the check, go to Control Panel, go to Administration, we find the item , start viewing events.

Then we go to Windows logs and choose - System.

An event log will be displayed, which may contain messages about what was found in RAM. Whether or not there were any scanning failures, or none at all.

From this data, you can already determine if there are any problems with the RAM.

It is usually used when the computer no longer starts. That is, you need to check the memory on the working PC.

Checking RAM with Mentest86

To do this, you need to download a small utility - Mentest86. Her website is memtest.org. We go to the site and here you can download the installer. Next, check the performance of your RAM.

The site provides a list of versions. You can download the archive, which is installed on disk or bootable. For example, we select an archive from the list of versions to create a bootable USB flash drive.

Download and extract the program from the archive. Run the installer and select your media in the window that opens. In this case, the drive under the letter N.

It is proposed to format the drive in Fat32, put a tick and click Create... The program performs formatting and exits. The test stick is ready to use.

In BIOS, select the boot from the USB drive, on which the program image was recorded, and save the settings. After the PC restarts, the program will automatically start working.

If your computer has more than one memory module, it is best to test separately. In this case, you can determine exactly which memory module is faulty. You can interrupt the check with the Esc key.

After completing the check, you can see the total number of errors, as well as how many and for which test failures were detected.

Red fields in the scan results indicate critical errors in memory operation, which leads to reboots or unexpected PC stops.

There are also errors that are not critical, but, nevertheless, they are there and also do not contribute to the normal operation of memory. More information about the tests can be found on the official website.

At the end of the work, an inscription will appear that the program has finished work, no errors were found - no errors... Push Exit and exit the program.

I must say that Mentest86 works long enough - a few hours, so it should be run while the computer is free.

If any errors are identified, then you need to do so that the RAM check in Windows 7 is performed on another computer. To make sure that it is the memory that gives out malfunctions, and not some other PC components.

Damaged memory strips need to be replaced in order for the computer to work more reliably and stably in the future.

Appears on your monitor too often, even on a newly installed OS, the first thing to do is to check the RAM. Also, the RAM should be tested if the computer automatically restarts or freezes. Checking RAM on Windows 7 can be done regular means however, if you are using a different version of the OS, you will need to download a small utility from the Internet. Almost always, software crashes that seem counterintuitive at first are caused by RAM issues.

Exclusion method

The first check method does not require the launch of additional programs. It is relevant if the PC uses more than one RAM strip. If there is only one bar, you will need an application or another computer to test it. Take out one stick of RAM one by one, check the overall stability of the OS, if the problem persists, take out the next, and so on. This method is also good because you can test the slots right away. motherboard... At the same time, if one bar will work normally in another computer without causing malfunctions, it is possible that the motherboard is to blame. If, after removing one of the brackets, the computer starts working normally, then it is faulty, and the checker Windows memory 7 can be skipped. In addition, physical extraction does not take much time, and testing with the application can take a long time, especially if the amount of RAM is large.

If a completely new one is installed in the computer and the image does not appear even at the BIOS boot stage, it is likely that the processor or motherboard does not support the device of the manufacturer that released it. Check the official website of the company that released the motherboard, it is possible that the BIOS firmware latest version will solve this problem.

How to check RAM in Windows 7

So to run the built in Windows utility, which will test the RAM, follow the path "Start - - Administrative Tools", in the list that opens, select "Windows Memory Checker".

Be careful. Before testing, you must close all applications and save the necessary documents. After clicking the "Perform restart" button, the system will forcibly terminate all programs that require additional actions from the user.

After rebooting, a RAM check will automatically start. Windows 7 runs it in two stages. Each will take about 10 minutes if the amount of RAM is 2 gigabytes and the memory is working properly. Otherwise, the tests may be delayed. During this time, refrain from unnecessary clicks on the mouse and keyboard buttons. If the RAM is out of order, the bottom of the screen will start filling up with error information.

When the RAM check completes, Windows 7 will automatically restart the computer and generate a report on any RAM problems found.

Memtest86 +

Identifying problems with RAM using Windows 7 tools is not always effective enough. For more serious and deep tests, it is better to use the Memtest86 + utility, which is completely free and can be used on any computer, whatever OS is installed.

Supplied in three options:

  • Bootable ISO (created to create a bootable disc by burning an image with a CD or DVD burner).
  • Auto Indtaller For USB Key - (not always suitable for old devices, creates a bootable USB flash drive, and not all computers released a few years ago can boot from USB).
  • Pre-Complied for Floppy (absolutely archaic solution for those who have no USB ports, no CD-writer, but have a floppy drive).

Creating a bootable USB drive

Just go to the Memtest86 + official website and download the required distro. Then you need to unzip it, for this you can use 7-zip or the popular Winrar. After starting the program, you will need to select the drive, which will later become bootable. Be careful, make a backup of the data, all information on the USB flash drive will be deleted in the process of writing a new one.

Bootable CD / DVD

In some cases, the RAM check cannot be performed from the flash drive. Windows 7 sometimes crashes when using a specific flash drive driver, or the drive simply won't be at hand, or maybe the BIOS is outdated and can't boot a computer from USB devices.

If the USB flash drive cannot be used, the best solution would be to write the distribution to disk. And the Ultra ISO program will help with this. If installed, then double clicking on any ISO file will open it in this application. After opening the Memtest86 + file, select the Tools menu. Then click on the "Burn Image" item. Memtest86 + is a very small program, so the recording will complete in less than a minute.

Memory check

After burning the distribution kit to a USB flash drive or disk, you need to enter the BIOS. To do this, you need to press the "DEL" key while turning on the computer. When the BIOS setup utility is launched, in the "First Boor Device" column, select your USB flash drive or CD-ROM.

If all actions were performed correctly, after reboot, an automatic check of the RAM will start. The program does nine different tests, but after completing them, it goes into a loop and starts all over again. If the first two or three tests passed successfully and without errors, most likely everything is in order with the RAM.

Prophylaxis

Very often, RAM failures are associated with dust system unit... In this case, checking the RAM (whether Windows 7 is installed on the computer or any other version of the OS) is not needed. Open the lid of the system unit and blow out all the internal space. Pay special attention to heatsinks and slots. In this case, it is advisable to remove all devices, except for the processor, from the sockets and wipe the contacts. Also, it will not be superfluous to wipe the contacts of the slots themselves. This procedure saves not only from dustiness, but also from metal oxidation.

Performing these steps, be very careful with the microcircuits, the slightest damage to them will disable the device. The best way to wipe the contacts is to use an eraser or rubbing alcohol. This is especially helpful if there are several memory strips, and testing each individually can take a long time. After wiping the contacts, do not rush to insert the RAM bar in its place, wait a little, let it dry.

Random access memory (RAM) is the part of a computer that is used by the system to write current operations to it during operation. Obviously, the performance of the computer depends on the state of this piece of iron. Therefore, it sometimes becomes necessary to check the RAM.

The most striking sign of RAM damage is the frequent and long freeze of the computer, which was definitely not there before, the appearance of a blue screen for no apparent reason, and other inappropriate behavior. And here, checking the RAM for errors can help establish a diagnosis.

In this article, we will consider how to check the RAM on Windows 7. You will not have to download any third-party programs, since this operating system is equipped with its own utility for this procedure.

So, everything is simple. Presses "Start" and select "Run". Or, if the line "Run" is not there, then press the keys win + R. In the window that appears, write mdsched and click OK.

The Windows Memory Checker window opens. If you want to check the RAM on Windows 7 instantly, then select the first item "Reboot and check".

The computer will reboot and check the RAM before loading the system. Here you should silently wait for the end of the process and boot Windows. When the check is over, Windows will boot, and if everything is fine with the RAM, you will see a message about it.

If your computer has more than one RAM module, then you need to check them one by one. That is, before checking, there should be only one RAM in the motherboard.

Configuring RAM check in Windows 7

If a good message appears after checking the Windows RAM, then it's too early to rejoice. This was a weak check and it is recommended that you do it the first time. If successful, a deeper check should be done.

To do this, run mdsched through the command line again and select the first item again. During the next start of the check, press the F1 key and go to the options. There will be 3 modes here:

  • Basic - the main type of check, the most superficial. Takes a few minutes. Most likely, it was used during the first check.
  • Standart - a deeper verification mode that lasts about an hour. After the first check with a good result, it is recommended to use the Standart mode for more accurate diagnostics.
  • Extended - extended scan mode that lasts several hours. If the first two modes showed no errors in the RAM, then you can use it if you want. I don't recommend it though. It’s been too long.

In the test options, you can define the number of test repetitions. By default, the RAM is checked twice. That is, each test is run twice. You can set your number from 0 to 99. If you write 0, then the check will continue until you stop it. Obviously, the more passes you install, the longer the check will take, but the more reliable its result will be.

Also, in the options for checking the RAM in Windows 7, you can enable or disable the use of the processor cache. If disabled, then the response to keystrokes will be delayed.

By the way, the mouse does not work in the settings for checking the RAM. Use only the arrow keys, Tab and Enter. To save the changes, press F10, to cancel the check of the RAM - Esc.

Decoding of analysis results, treatment

If during the check you find errors, then do not rush to run and buy new memory.

First, make sure that it is the RAM, not the motherboard, that is faulty. To do this, try inserting the memory module into a different slot than the one in which it showed the problem. Also rub the contacts of the memory module with a stationery eraser before installing. It would also be nice to test the module on another computer.

If your computer is running overclocked hardware, then RAM errors may appear due to it. Disable overclocking.

If you did all this, checked the RAM again and again found errors, then this organ of your car is really faulty, and you need a transplant. Buy new RAM.

The need to check the random access memory (RAM) is dictated by the frequent occurrence of the following situations in Windows 7:

  • The emergence of the "blue screen of death" (BSOD).
  • Computer freezes.
  • Unstable or abnormal operation of the computer.
  • Critical errors in the operation of 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 Integrated Test

Unlike previous OS versions, which required the use of third party applications to analyze the health of this computer node, the seven have a built-in tool for this. It can be started in two ways:

To run this tool from the command line, click Start, type mdsched into the search bar, and press Enter. The following window will appear:

This window provides two options for running the on-board RAM test:

  • Delayed start of the test the next time the computer is turned on and Windows starts.

    • Which option to choose depends on the user's intentions. Needless to say, when choosing the first option, you must save your work and terminate the running applications, which is what the message displayed in the window reminds 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 Tester Settings

    We recommend that you first run this tool with default settings. If no problems with the RAM were found, then a more detailed analysis can be carried out. To do this, you need to run the built-in test again and press the F1 key during its execution, after which the settings menu is displayed, through which you can navigate with the arrow and Tab keys. This tool provides three modes of analysis, differing in the set of tests and completeness and time of passage:

    • Basic - duration of several minutes.
    • Standard - takes about an hour.
    • Extended - up to several hours.

    At default settings, all tests are performed in two passes. This value can be changed in the range from 0 to 99. If you set 0, then testing will be performed indefinitely until the user stops it, which can be done by pressing the Esc key.

    The successful completion of the RAM test is indicated by the appearance of a window of the following type:

    Check memory at boot

    This is another option for running the built-in test, which is used when, due to problems with RAM, it is not possible to even boot Windows. To start 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 diagnostics will start:

    Upon completion of the test, Windows 7 will automatically restart and begin its normal operation.

    Checking RAM with 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 her to more thoroughly diagnose the operability of the RAM. Unfortunately, this utility has two drawbacks:

    1. The need to obtain bootable media from the distribution iso file. This is hardly a disadvantage - that is why the program does not require any OS, and does not depend on it.
    2. Quite long test execution time (more than 1 hour).

    When should it be used:

    • Of course, the first and most common case is that the OS does not boot, or a BSOD appears.
    • When the PC is unstable.
    • Diagnostics of purchased and non-working RAM modules.
    • For fine-tuning the timings when overclocking system components.

    What to do if tests find problems

    If, during testing, errors were detected in any way, or the tests could not even be completed, then this is a clear sign that one or more RAM strips are faulty. What to do in such cases:

    • Don't rush to purchase new planks. First, remove all strips from the slots and reinsert. Just be sure to turn off your computer before doing this and discharge static electricity from yourself by touching the computer case.
    • If it takes a lot of effort to remove and install the planks, then either you forgot about the plank latches, or you are inserting them incorrectly.
    • Gently wipe the strip contacts with an eraser to remove plaque from contact with air and subsequent oxidation.
    • Install the brackets into the slots of the motherboard, turn on the computer and repeat the test. It is possible that the test will end successfully.

    Hello, friends! Defective RAM can lead to unstable operation of your computer and, as a result, loss of data. The symptom is 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 the memory. You just need to start 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, you need to go to Control Panel> System and Security> Administrative Tools. Select

    It is also convenient to use

    A window will open with information - What can happen with memory problems

    You have 3 options to choose from: reboot and check, check 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... Before making a selection, you must close all open applications.

    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 the RAM test when booting Windows 7/8 by pressing the key F8 and choosing Troubleshooting computer problems

    Select a user and click OK

    We 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, click F1

    We can choose a test suite:

    • Base
    • Normal
    • Wide

    Basic includes 3 tests used for quick testing. Normal includes additional tests and runs by default. Advanced includes all possible tests prepared by Microsoft and is naturally the longest in time.

    A regular test of RAM is enough to troubleshoot problems.

    Pressing the key Tab it will switch to the next control option - Memory Cache. Disabling which will lead to direct access to RAM, which will allow for more accurate testing.

    Pressing the key again 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 specify from 1 to 0 (infinity) passes.

    To apply the settings and continue the test, press the key F10

    If you are just going to install from a disk image, then you can also test the RAM. For this it is necessary.

    Press any key

    Press Tab to select Windows Memory Diagnostic

    The RAM test will start, but already in English

    An inspiring inscription is displayed in the Status field - "No bugs found yet")

    If there are any, it will be written about it right away. The results will also be displayed again when the operating system is loaded, if the test was run from Windows.

    Memtest86 + most popular RAM test

    The second, but no less effective, tool for checking RAM is the Memtest86 + program. At the time of this writing, the current version is 4.20

    You can download this utility from the official website. The archive is downloaded in * .zip format, intended for installation on a USB flash drive.

    You can also download the image for burning to disk from the official website. You can read how to write an image to disk in.

    Let's write the program to a USB flash drive. To do this, unpack the downloaded archive. For those who have difficulties with this, please see the article. We connect the USB flash drive to the computer and run the unpacked program Memtest86 + USB Installer.exe

    Push I Agree(I agree with the license agreement)

    Select the connected USB flash drive and set the recommended "birdie"

    Copy all important data from the USB stick and press Create(Create)

    Then press Next

    AND Finish

    The bootable USB stick is ready.

    You can also enter BIOS and select Boot Menu (F8). Or press F8 right at boot time, and you may get into the boot options selection menu. You must select our USB stick

    When booting from a prepared flash drive, the RAM test will start immediately

    In addition to observing the passing of the test, you can see:

    • cpu information and cache
    • 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 track the duration of testing. If all tests have been successfully passed, in the Pass column, instead of 0, 1 will appear and the inscription will be displayed at the bottom

    ***** Pass complete, no errors, press Esc to exit *****

    Push ESC and make the usual boot of the operating system.

    If errors are found during the memory test, a red table with the addresses of the detected problems will appear, and the test will continue.

    What to do if a problem is found?

    We turn off the computer, take out the RAM and wipe the contacts with a regular rubber band. The one we used at school. It is also recommended to purge the memory slots c.

    Carefully! If you have memory modules without heatsinks, don't hold on to the memory chips! You can deform the contact of the chip with the textolite. (Memory chips are black squares or rectangles on a colored textolite)

    Blow off any remaining rubber bands on the memory modules and install them into the motherboard.

    Repeat test

    If the errors appear again, take the modules to the service center under warranty.

    If there is no guarantee, check each module separately to determine the faulty strip and replace it. (Do not forget that the connector for the memory module may be defective. If the test of the memory strip fails in one connector, check it in the other)

    If you have a set of 2 or 4 memory sticks, it is recommended to change the whole set.

    For more information on memory, see the article

    Output

    In this article, we figured out the question of how to conduct ram test.

    It is convenient to diagnose memory modules both using the built-in Windows Memory Tester utility, and using the special program Memtest86 +. We learned how to prepare a USB flash drive and write an image with the program to disk.

    And the main thing! Provide steps to take when memory problems are detected.

    Video - RAM test

    I will be glad to see questions and suggestions in the comments. I wish you good and reliable memory modules.