Windows Memory Diagnostic tool

[Namewithheld]

My computer (XP SP2 Professional) sometimes crashes or in MS's terms recovered from a serious error. They recommend running the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool to diagnose whether its a software or hardware problem with the RAM. I am a little skiddish on doing this since I am not, by any means a computer expert I just know enough to make things worse. How safe is this tool? I have CORSAIR TWIN2X2048-8500C5D 2gb kit (1gb x 2) pc28500 1066mhz matched pair for RAM. Thanks

 

[Ignatius]

It's totally safe, it won't create/make any problems worse, it just puts your memory through various tests to see if there are any problems. To be thorough, I would run this and memtest (just Google it, it's everywhere) to cover all bases...

Edit - I can't believe my 2,500th post was about memory at 11:30 on a Friday night. What a geek...

 

[Namewithheld]

Thanks much Ignatius.

 

[Namewithheld]

Well I am back. My problem is that when I went into BIOS to change the order of drives when booting up it still when to load up XP. I changed the order to CD ROM with the diagnostic program on a CD in the unit as first then the HD with XP on it. I know I changed and saved that change but I can't get my computer to boot from that CD. This is a head scratcher.

Help!

 

[Ignatius]

Try setting the BIOS to where the only thing you can boot from is a CD, ie make that your first choice and make all of the other ones 'disabled', or whatever the option is. If for some reason you can't do that, you might try putting the diagnostic on a floppy (if you have one) and make that the first boot device...

 

[Namewithheld]

OK, here is what happened:

I eliminated the HD with the XP OS on it and left only the CD ROM with the Windows Memory Diagnostic program on it (Windiag.iso). When I restarted my system this is what appeared:

Reboot and select proper Boot Device or insert Boot Media in Selected Boot device and press a key..........


every time I pressed a key the same message appeared.


What is going on?

 

[Ignatius]

Man, it's been about 5 years since I've burned a disc, but it sounds like it might be just the image file burned onto it but not the actual image/application itself (?) Whatever it is, your PC definitely does not think it's a bootable image...if you have a floppy, maybe try memtest instead, it's a reliable app that's been around forever, and you can create a bootable floppy (look toward the bottom third of the link)...

 

[wherzwaldo]

In reply to:

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[Namewithheld]

Well now that is interesting. I didn't do that. I will try it and get back to you........thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Namewithheld]

UPDATE:

Thanks for the clue wherzwaldo. It worked! Now if I can figure out what 10 errors on extend test ERAND means I'm in business.

 

[MaduroUTMB]

www.memtest.org/