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Test the RAM with Windows Memory Diagnostic

Step 1 of 3

Click Start, type Memory, open Windows Memory Diagnostic

Save all your work first.

The simulation shows Windows in English, like most laptops.

  1. Click Start, type Memory, open Windows Memory Diagnostic

    Save all your work first.

    StartWindows Memory Diagnostic

  2. Choose Restart now and check for problems

    The laptop restarts and the test runs before Windows (10–20 minutes).

  3. Read the result after you sign in

    A notification appears at the bottom right. Any errors = have the RAM checked at a repair shop.

From basic to technician

TechnicianTest the RAM with Windows Memory DiagnosticYou are here
TechnicianBlue or black screen with a “stop code”
Technician fixes (advanced)

The simple steps didn’t help? A technician would try these next, in this order. Stop as soon as the problem is fixed. Commands marked “as administrator”: right-click Start › Terminal (Admin).

  1. Start the test directly (Win + R)

    Opens the same Windows Memory Diagnostic window.

    mdsched

  2. Read the last result (as administrator)

    Shows the date and the message, for example “The Windows Memory Diagnostic tested the computer’s memory and detected no errors”.

    Get-WinEvent -FilterHashtable @{LogName='System'; ProviderName='Microsoft-Windows-MemoryDiagnostics-Results'} -MaxEvents 1 | Format-List TimeCreated, Message

  3. See the installed RAM modules

    Read-only. Lists each memory stick with its slot, size and speed. Useful for the shop: buy matching RAM, or find which stick to test alone.

    Get-CimInstance Win32_PhysicalMemory | Select-Object BankLabel, DeviceLocator, Capacity, Speed, Manufacturer, PartNumber

  4. Errors found: what a technician does next

    Test one stick at a time to find the bad one, clean the contacts, and check the BIOS has default (not overclocked/XMP) memory settings. Soldered RAM on thin laptops can’t be swapped; the motherboard needs repair.

Technical details (for the curious)

What it tests

It writes data patterns to all of the RAM and reads them back. Damaged memory cells return different data. Bad RAM causes random crashes, corrupted files and stop codes that keep changing.

Standard vs Extended

While the test runs, press F1 and choose Extended: much longer (1–2 hours) but more thorough.

Missed the result?

Open Event Viewer › Windows Logs › System and look for the source MemoryDiagnostics-Results.

Coming soon

Still not fixed?

In the next update you can tell us what happened, and our AI helper will suggest another way. Until then, restart the device and go through the steps once more.