Testing RAM using memtest86+

Hi,

I just installed 2GB Kingston Valueram on my new T61(64607EU) and tried following to test the RAM.

1) Downloaded and copied exe file to USB flash drive. FYI, this is where I got the file from: http://www.memtest.org/download/1.70/memtest86+-1.70.exe.zip

2) Clicked ThinkVantage to access Rescue & Recovery screen, where I clicked 'Boot from another Device' and select 'USB 2.0' option, but got below message and nothing happened after that.

"Error loading operating system". Not sure if I need to do any thing to make it work.

Please advice.
Thanks,
Cnu

 

It's because of that your usb drive is not bootbale. There are some options
1. Dowload the ISO version of memtest86.
2. Make your usb drive bootable then copy the exe file.
3. .....

 

Memtest is available as a bootable iso. to boot from it, you must burn it to a cd using the appropriate formatting

 

I just had a really bad experience with memtest86. I'll describe the problems:

I arrived home about two weeks ago to find my desktop crashed which never happens. I rebooted it and it BSOD immediately before the login screen. The bsod was short and too fast to catch and I couldn't freeze and I could never login.

So I ran the Vista memtest on the DVD and sure enough it said:

"You have serious propblems please contact the manufacturer of your computer - More information will be available after you login"

Oh **Sigh**, logging in is impossible. Phil suggested that I down load the memtest ISO and I did. I made a dvd for it and rebooted. Memtest came up and ran and then indicated that I had tons of errors on every test. I suspicious thing about memtest was that it showed very similar error whether I had one DIMM in and no matter where it was. That almost suggested a bad motherboard.

OK... so I RMA'd my memory, installed it and ran memtest. Again memtest showed a serious number of errors on all test. Hmmmm, I thought and ran the Vista diagnostics and received a message saying that the new memory was functioning properly. Hmmmm. I removed the memtest dvd from my system and booted my t61p with it. Memtest again indicated serious memory errors on a system that runs flawlessly!

As a result of my experience with memtest32 i've removed it from service. It's sitting in the trash. I found the propblem with memtest was that it could not recognize working memory at all.

 

Renee: I believe it would be possible, depending on the error type and location on DIMM, for the system to run flawlessly. Someone correct if me I am wrong.

 

This is true for it to run "flawlessly". Try (with whatever setup allows you to boot into windows) a prime95 test. The one that stresses RAM a lot. Or ORTHOS works pretty well for said purposes.

 

What is the Correct Way to run the Test. Does it need to run all the 8 test.

 

From Technical Information section of http://www.memtest86.com/ ( Memtest86+ is based on this):
"Generally a single pass is sufficient to catch all but the most obscure errors. However, for complete confidence when intermittent errors are suspected testing for a longer period is advised."

 

If you read the F.A.Q. at the bottom of my Vista clean install guide (link in my sig), you will find a link to Orev's memtest86+ guide.

Memtest86+ is probably considered the "Gold Standard" of RAM testing among the majority of power users. I have used it on multiple systems and when used properly (i.e. making a bootable disk and then booting to the disk) I have found it to be extremely reliable.

1. It is possible to have faulty memory and exchange it only to get more faulty memory; just because you returned your memory doesn't mean that the new memory isn't faulty as well.

2. It is possible to have a system running with faulty memory that seems to "run flawlessly". The only problem is that the faulty RAM will rear it's ugly head at the most inopportune moment.

My suggestion to everyone:

1. make sure you know how to burn an iso image
2. make sure you are buring to quality media
3. If you run at one pass, you will rule out about 90% of the possibility of faulty RAM. Better to run about 4 passes to be about 99+% sure the RAM has passed the test.

 

The other issue is that is not uncommon to have memory with some errors that will function its when it has lots of errors that things usually go bad.

 

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I want to know if there is a specific procedure to burn iso image since I burned iso image downloaded from memtest site and I couldn't make my laptop to boot it from CD even after chaning boot order in Bios set-up utility.

If possible, let me know detailed steps as I am novice in this area and just started learning this stuff.

Thanks,
Cnu

 

Sorry, didn't look orev's guide in the signature. Burned an 'iso' CD and just started my test.

Thanks orev, stallen and others for your helping hand.

Cnu

 

download the iso version. and extract it.

 

huh? what's the point of that?