How to Test the Memory in Windows With Freeware
- 1). Go to the Microsoft Crash Analysis Website and locate the free Windows Memory Diagnostic utility application. Download the utility and save it to your PC.
- 2). Browse to the folder on your computer where you saved the "mtinst.exe" file. Double-click the file to launch the installer for the Windows Memory Diagnostic utility.
- 3). Select a media option, and click either the "Create Startup Disk" (if you want to use a floppy diskette) or the "Save CD Image to Disk" (to burn the utility to a CD) option. Ensure you have either a blank floppy or CD disk in the correct drive device before clicking one of the media options.
- 4). Log out of Windows and turn off the computer. Restart the computer, then press the "Delete," "F1" or "F2" key when you see the initial boot screen. Refer to your PC owner's manual or user guide for information on which key to press. Wait for the BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) setup screen to appear.
- 5). Press arrow keys on your keyboard to move the cursor to the "Advanced" or "Advanced Settings" menu option, then press the "Enter" key.
- 6). Use the arrow keys to navigate to the "Boot Device Priority" or "Boot Order" option. Press the "+" or "-" keys to change the values in the field until the CD or Floppy drive is first in the list of boot devices (the boot device you choose will depend on the media you are using). Press the "F10" key to save the boot device changes and exit the BIOS setup. Wait for the computer to restart.
- 7). Inset the CD disc or floppy diskette with the Memory Diagnostic software in the appropriate device drive as soon as the computer restarts. After the PC boots to the CD or diskette, the Windows Memory Diagnostic utility test scan will start automatically. Wait for the scan to finish, then review the test scan results to determine whether the memory in your PC is defective.