Testing The Memory

Memory failure can cause different problem on your computer. You have learned that the memory will be the one to handle the program that will enable the computer to start so if it is not working you might experience the following problems. 

1. Computer has no display and you get a beep code. In some motherboards it is a long beep sound. 

2. Computer always restart that might cause BSOD, General Protection Fault error messages, Illegal Operations, Fatal Exceptions, etc.

3. Computer fails during O.S. installation or other program installation fails.

If one of the above are the one you experience on your computer, that is the time you need to test your computer memory. If you have 2 or more memory installed on your computer, test it one by one so then take note the results for each memory. 

So what software should be use in testing the memory? Here are few good memory testing software: 

1. Windows Memory Diagnostic. 

To Access this on your computer just open start menu and type on run box "memory" without quotes and press enter. 

 Then in Windows Memory Diagnostic Window, Select the recommended settings and restart the computer.

You can also use the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool in Hirens 13.0. Just boot your computer in Hirens boot cd and select the first menu 

 Then Select Windows Memory Diagnostic.

 This tool  performs a series of extensive tests to determine what, if anything, is wrong with your computer memory.  so you could easily tell if it is really defective.

2. MemTest86+

 This is the best third party software used in testing the memory, aside from its free, it will give you a good detail about the current status of your computer memory. Good thing is it is also included in Hirens boot CD. Just look inside Testing Tools. 

Then Select MemTest86+

Below is the screen of MemTest86+ currently testing a memory. If there are errors, you could see it under Errors. 

You can get the free version of MemTest86+ here . Download it and burn it on a disc. 

You may also get the USB Version of MemTest86+ here.

And if you want the Hirens boot CD, you can get it on their website. http://www.hiren.info/pages/bootcd

Note: You must remember that the memory you are testing is really compatible with your computer motherboard. Incompatibility will cause problems like BSOD, No Display, Memory Failure and others. 

Use DirectxDiagnostic Tool to diagnose your computer

Diagnostics is done by a computer technician to test a computer hardware or software to make sure that it is working as it should be. It is important to test the hardware and software are installed.

To measure the computer hardware and software performance, a benchmark is done.  Benchmark is a type of test where results are used to compare how well a product may do against other products. The higher the value of the results, the faster the component, software, or overall computer is.

A diagnostic program is a program created used to give technical information about a particular hardware device, this program is  designed to diagnose the peripheral.

Before you proceed on diagnostic tool try to look on your device manager if all devices like video, audio, Ethernet, modem, internal webcam, bluetooth and other devices on your computer motherboard are working properly. An X symbol means the device is disabled so just enable it. An ! exclamation point sysmbol means the device software is not yet installed.

Example of Diagnostic program 

In Windows operating system we could use the following programs; 

1. DirectX Diagnostic tool

dxdiag is a shortcut for DirectX diagnostics, DxDiag is a Microsoft tool included with DirectX that allow a computer technician to view system information and DirectX information relating to your video card and sound card. and other peripheral devices. This tool is also used to troubleshoot driver related issue problems. 

To run DxDiag on your computer, click Start, and in the run line, type dxdiag and press enter.

MS Windos 7 RUN

MS Windows XP RUN

Using this diagnostic tool, computer user can see if the problem is video or sound driver. Most of the problem relating to hardware is the incorrect installation of device driver or software. So in order to test if there is a problem in video for example, just access the video tab and use the the Test DirectDraw button and Test Direct3d button.

It will remind you that it will test DirectDraw on this device. Just click Yes to proceed. Make sure no other programs are running on your computer.

It will remind you that it will show some figures or graphics to test your device.

Below is the sample output, this image will last for seconds so just wait till a dialog box appear. 

It will also test the simple animation on your video, below is the output you will see where a white box is bouncing inside the small black screen.

Then it will ask you if you see a bouncing white box, so if you really see it. Click Yes, if not, the diagnostic tool will record it as an error then that is the problem that you need to resolve. Probably you will start on reinstallation of your device driver.

 You could also use the sound diagnostic tool. Like the video, A sounds will should be hear on your speaker so make sure to plug a working speaker properly on your  computer.

After the sound, if you really hear the output sound, just click yes to proceed. if not, there is a problem in your device so make a double check on your sound driver, adjustment of volume and output device.