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From: Richard Urban on 13 Nov 2009 11:19
Memtest86 is next to useless.

I am one who has purchased a hardware tester. I routinely ran Memtest86 and
found good RAM. I then tested the RAM with the hardware tester and found out
it actually WAS defective. After doing this for a year or so I became 100%
convinced that the software testers are worthless. Yes, if the software test
says it is bad it usually is. But in a large number of cases when the
software test says it is good - it is still bad!

I can't begin to tell you how many hours technicians waste on computers
because the RAM tests good with a software test.

Any decent repair shop will have a hardware tester. You are better off
taking it to them, paying a few bucks and know the true status of the RAM.

--

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience & Security


"David B." <mail(a)nomail.net> wrote in message
news:eluGrpGZKHA.2160(a)TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> Yes, I'm sure the average PC user is going to run out and spend 1-2
> thousand dollars on a memory tester. Memtest is more than adequate.
>
> --
>
>
> --
> "Richard Urban" <richardurbanREMOVETHIS(a)hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:upnAItEZKHA.1648(a)TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>> Not a sure way at all to test memory, but better than no test at all.
>>
>> A sure way to test memory is with a hardware memory tester such as shown
>> on this page:
>> http://simmtester.com/page/shop/shop.asp
>>
>> This is what the fellows who frequent the computer shows use before
>> purchasing used memory from their customers.
>>
>> --
>>
>> Richard Urban
>> Microsoft MVP
>> Windows Desktop Experience & Security
>>
>>
>> "Carlos" <Carlos(a)discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:97475A19-ED25-4BD8-8C28-81073E2821B9(a)microsoft.com...
>>> Spock,
>>> The only way to be sure about your memory sticks is to run memtest86+
>>> Download version 4.00 from http://www.memtest.org/
>>> Run it from a bootable floppy or bootable pen drive.
>>> Vista and Win 7 seem to be more susceptible to minor memory glitches
>>> than
>>> Windows XP
>>> Carlos
>>>
>>> "spock" wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hello All
>>>>
>>>> I had decided to install Vista X64 every so often when you try and boot
>>>> up you get the
>>>> dreaded BSOD which displays
>>>>
>>>> NMI: parity error / memory parity error
>>>>
>>>> Why did Install Vista ? Because I have it and it was not being used or
>>>> activated til now.
>>>> I find this puzzling as the memory is 4gb nonparity DDR3 and I have
>>>> tried other memory,
>>>> did not change and I run
>>>> my machine dual boot with XP X64 and I have no known problems under XP
>>>> X64 it is quit
>>>> stable.
>>>>
>>>> My hardware Supermicro C2SBX X38 chipset and Q6700 cpu and
>>>> Adaptec 48300 and an ATI
>>>> 4550 video card
>>>> and a leadtek tv tuner card.
>>>>
>>>> Lee
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> .
>>>>
>>
>

From: David B. on 13 Nov 2009 11:42
I disagree, I've found memtest to be very reliable

--


--
"Richard Urban" <richardurbanREMOVETHIS(a)hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:OJR0Q0HZKHA.1640(a)TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> Memtest86 is next to useless.
>
> I am one who has purchased a hardware tester. I routinely ran Memtest86
> and found good RAM. I then tested the RAM with the hardware tester and
> found out it actually WAS defective. After doing this for a year or so I
> became 100% convinced that the software testers are worthless. Yes, if the
> software test says it is bad it usually is. But in a large number of cases
> when the software test says it is good - it is still bad!
>
> I can't begin to tell you how many hours technicians waste on computers
> because the RAM tests good with a software test.
>
> Any decent repair shop will have a hardware tester. You are better off
> taking it to them, paying a few bucks and know the true status of the RAM.
>
> --
>
> Richard Urban
> Microsoft MVP
> Windows Desktop Experience & Security
>
>
> "David B." <mail(a)nomail.net> wrote in message
> news:eluGrpGZKHA.2160(a)TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>> Yes, I'm sure the average PC user is going to run out and spend 1-2
>> thousand dollars on a memory tester. Memtest is more than adequate.
>>
>> --
>>
>>
>> --
>> "Richard Urban" <richardurbanREMOVETHIS(a)hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:upnAItEZKHA.1648(a)TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>> Not a sure way at all to test memory, but better than no test at all.
>>>
>>> A sure way to test memory is with a hardware memory tester such as shown
>>> on this page:
>>> http://simmtester.com/page/shop/shop.asp
>>>
>>> This is what the fellows who frequent the computer shows use before
>>> purchasing used memory from their customers.
>>>
>>> --
>>>
>>> Richard Urban
>>> Microsoft MVP
>>> Windows Desktop Experience & Security
>>>
>>>
>>> "Carlos" <Carlos(a)discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>>> news:97475A19-ED25-4BD8-8C28-81073E2821B9(a)microsoft.com...
>>>> Spock,
>>>> The only way to be sure about your memory sticks is to run memtest86+
>>>> Download version 4.00 from http://www.memtest.org/
>>>> Run it from a bootable floppy or bootable pen drive.
>>>> Vista and Win 7 seem to be more susceptible to minor memory glitches
>>>> than
>>>> Windows XP
>>>> Carlos
>>>>
>>>> "spock" wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Hello All
>>>>>
>>>>> I had decided to install Vista X64 every so often when you try and
>>>>> boot up you get the
>>>>> dreaded BSOD which displays
>>>>>
>>>>> NMI: parity error / memory parity error
>>>>>
>>>>> Why did Install Vista ? Because I have it and it was not being used or
>>>>> activated til now.
>>>>> I find this puzzling as the memory is 4gb nonparity DDR3 and I have
>>>>> tried other memory,
>>>>> did not change and I run
>>>>> my machine dual boot with XP X64 and I have no known problems under XP
>>>>> X64 it is quit
>>>>> stable.
>>>>>
>>>>> My hardware Supermicro C2SBX X38 chipset and Q6700 cpu and
>>>>> Adaptec 48300 and an ATI
>>>>> 4550 video card
>>>>> and a leadtek tv tuner card.
>>>>>
>>>>> Lee
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> .
>>>>>
>>>
>>
>

From: spock on 13 Nov 2009 11:46
I have just installed sp1 and it looks like that may have fixed it, time will tell

Thanks Folks



"Kue2" <Kue2(a)hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:EC5B2EEE-33D4-4182-83C4-E4084B4F5248(a)microsoft.com...
> Windows Vista has A memory diagnostic program at f-8 screen.
> This will test your memory.
>
> Very good tutorial go here:
> http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial146.html
>
> "spock" <vk5abcnospam(a)optusnet.com.au> wrote in message
> news:uskpYwDZKHA.4992(a)TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>> Hello All
>>
>> I had decided to install Vista X64 every so often when you try and boot up you get the
>> dreaded BSOD which displays
>>
>> NMI: parity error / memory parity error
>>
>> Why did Install Vista ? Because I have it and it was not being used or activated til
>> now.
>> I find this puzzling as the memory is 4gb nonparity DDR3 and I have tried other memory,
>> did not change and I run
>> my machine dual boot with XP X64 and I have no known problems under XP X64 it is quit
>> stable.
>>
>> My hardware Supermicro C2SBX X38 chipset and Q6700 cpu and Adaptec 48300 and an
>> ATI 4550 video card
>> and a leadtek tv tuner card.
>>
>> Lee
>>


From: John Whitworth on 16 Nov 2009 07:19


"Richard Urban" <richardurbanREMOVETHIS(a)hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:OJR0Q0HZKHA.1640(a)TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> Memtest86 is next to useless.

Memtest86 has been able to confirm my suspicions about dodgy RAM on each
occasion that I've been unlucky enough to acquire it. That's good enough for
me. It may not be super accurate, but it is a good start, and it will
probably help 80% of those looking to isolate issues. Your post is just
trying to get people out of the self-fix habit. Sure, if they don't find a
fault after Memtest86, take it to a 'pro'. But if it enables them to prove
there is a problem without incurring costs, why should you deter them?

Not only that, but could I guarantee that my PC is running with the same
speed and voltage settings as the hardware tester? I can with Memtest86.

JW

From: Richard Urban on 16 Nov 2009 21:46
The hardware tester stress tests the RAM at a higher operating voltage and a
lower operating voltage - something that can not be done while the RAM is in
the computer.

--

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience & Security


"John Whitworth" <sexyjw(a)gEEEEEEEEEEEmail.com> wrote in message
news:OpswRcrZKHA.5608(a)TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>
>
> "Richard Urban" <richardurbanREMOVETHIS(a)hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:OJR0Q0HZKHA.1640(a)TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>> Memtest86 is next to useless.
>
> Memtest86 has been able to confirm my suspicions about dodgy RAM on each
> occasion that I've been unlucky enough to acquire it. That's good enough
> for me. It may not be super accurate, but it is a good start, and it will
> probably help 80% of those looking to isolate issues. Your post is just
> trying to get people out of the self-fix habit. Sure, if they don't find a
> fault after Memtest86, take it to a 'pro'. But if it enables them to prove
> there is a problem without incurring costs, why should you deter them?
>
> Not only that, but could I guarantee that my PC is running with the same
> speed and voltage settings as the hardware tester? I can with Memtest86.
>
> JW

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