Maximum PC memtest RSS Feed

Ask the Doctor: The Neverending Memtest

The Maximum PC Staff — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:00:03 -0500

I downloaded memtest86+ 1.65 (on the recommendation of your magazine) and tried it out on one of my systems. I cannot get past the “auto” running memtest86+ to finish booting to Windows XP Pro. My system is an AMD 2.2GB dual core with 2GB of RAM on a TForce 550 SE mobo. How can I stop memtest86+ from automatically starting every time I boot? I assume there is an autoexec.bat file that is running. Memtest86+ ran for nearly 48 hours non-stop without ever finishing the tests. Is this normal? Should I have let it run to completion?

—Dave

Dave, memtest86+ runs from a boot CD, USB, or floppy drive. Just remove that media before you start your computer, and you should boot normally. The test will actually run forever in the default burn-in mode; if you are seeing 48-hour runs without problems, your memory’s in pretty good shape! The current version of memtest86+, by the way, is version 2.11, which you can get at www.memtest.org.

SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION Are flames shooting out of the back of your rig? First, grab a fire extinguisher and douse the flames. Once the pyrotechnic display has fizzled, email the doctor at doctor@maximumpc.com for advice on how to solve your technological woes.

LiveCD Lockdown: Five of our Favorite, Installation-free Collections!

David Murphy — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 13:30:00 -0500

The beauty of a Live CD is that it gives you a chance to access your computer or a batch of alternate applications without actually having to load up your operating system. You only need to pop the CD into your optical drive and boot it up from your BIOS -- this self-contained environment runs independent of anything that's located on your drive partitions, even though you can still perform a variety of tasks that manipulate the data on your drives.

For example, you can test our new Linux distributions using a Live CD, saving you the time and hassle of blanking an entire partition just to see if it's the right distribution for you. You can also manipulate the partitions of your drives using a Live CD, expanding and creating volumes to create alternate locations for new operating systems, files, or whatever it is you'd use a separate volume for. Live CDs are great for troubleshooting your system (or saving your data) when your primary operating system won't boot, and they can also be used to break into Windows installations that you've lost the password for.

USB Disk Storage Format (and friends)

What it does: We'll start our Live CD list with a fun utility. USB Disk Storage Format isn't a Live CD, but it does allow you to transform a boring ol' USB key into a bootable environment. It's a great match for those who don't have an optical drive (?!) or want the added convenience not having to burn a new disc every time you need to run, say, BIOS updates.

Once you've downloaded USB Disk Storage Format, pick up a batch of DOS files named "HPUSBFW_BOOTFILES.zip." We've linked them here, but in case the link goes away, you should be able to Google search for these. Run USB Disk Storage Format and select a FAT32 filesystem for the format, then check the "Create a DOS bootable disc" box. Select the folder containing the files from the aforementioned archive, then run the program! You now have a bootable USB that you can use to do things like flash your BIOS or, depending on the instructions of particular Live CDs, transform these discs into USB-based tools.

Download it here!

Backtrack

What it does: This Live CD is geared toward extreme vulnerability testing. It's a Linux distribution that comes packed with a variety of security-themed applications and utilities. You can use the included tools to brute-force your way past stubborn passwords, including those of the Windows operating system itself. You can also spoof a wireless access point and force nearby Windows machines to connect to you instead of the real wireless provider. Or if you're feeling a bit more white hat, you can use the included applications to scan and detect a wide variety of nearby wireless networks. But that's just a small sampling of the functionality available in Backtrack -- with more than 300 security-themed utilities to choose from, odds are good that you'll find just what you're looking for.

Download it here!

Memtest86+

What it does: Is your computer acting strangely lately? Try running this Live CD; it performs a comprehensive series of stability tests on your computer memory. You'll never know if one of your sticks has officially gone bad unless you put it through the ringers, after all! This Live CD is easy to use and quite comprehensive in its ability to run both standard and advanced RAM tests.

Download it here!

Live.linuX-gamers.net

What it does: So you don't think Linux is a gaming platform, eh? This Live CD is going to try and prove you wrong, as it contains thirteen different Linux-based games for you to try out. Here's a short list of what you'll be checking out:

Glest -- real-time strategy
Nexuiz -- first-person shooter
Teeworlds -- side-scrolling shooter
Warzone2100 -- real-time strategy
World of Padman -- comic-style first-person shooter

Download it here!

Ophcrack

What it does: Unlike Backtrack, which gives you a wealth of security-themed applications, Ophcrack is a Live CD that's designed for one purpose: breaking through Windows passwords. We're going to assume you'll be using this to get into your own password-locked system that you forgot the code to. Ophcrack works on either XP or Vista installations, and even offers pretty real-time graphs to show the progress of its tables-based, brute-force cracking method.

Download it here!

Super-bonus: GParted

What it does: Ok, we know we usually dish out five free applications for these weekly roundups, but we just couldn't let GParted stay off our list. It's that good. This Live CD is the ideal tool for manipulating your drive's partitions. It's faster, easier to use, and offers more functionality than any partitioning utility you'll find as part of the Windows operating system. Create, shrink, expand, merge, and otherwise futz with your hard drives in more ways than you ever thought possible. This Live CD is the perfect opening step toward creating a dual- or triple-boot setup for your PC. We can't recommend it enough!

Download it here:

How To: Diagnose Faulty RAM

Paul Lilly — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 14:04:03 -0500

Diagnosing system failures and quirky behavior can be a crap shoot, as the same symptoms can point to any number of culprits. But unless you have reason to believe a specific component is at fault, most troubleshooting quests usually start with the RAM.

Telltale Signs

If you've recently started experiencing those dreaded blue screens of death (BSoD), then the first question most techs and forum gurus will ask is, "Have you checked your RAM?," and with good reason. Bad RAM is usually associated with the PFN_LIST_CORRUPT and PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA errors, but it's not exclusive to just these two. Other warning signs include system stalls, reboots, and generally abnormal behavior.

Run Memtest68

Testing for faulty memory is relatively easy to do thanks to a diagnostic tool called Memtest86. This handy program runs a series of tests on your RAM, spitting out any errors when/if it finds them. And because Memtest86 runs before Windows has a chance to load, you won't be interrupted by further blue screens while it tests your memory. If you have a faulty kit of RAM, you may see hundreds of errors right away, or in less severe cases, you may need to run several passes (I recommend you let it run overnight).

To get started, you'll need either a blank floppy or CD/DVD disk, then download the latest version of Memtest86 (v3.3 at the time of this writing) for whichever media you plan to use. If using a floppy, double-click the install file, which will open a command prompt with step-by-step instructions. For CD or DVD installations, burn the ISO file as an image, and NOT as a data file. Most CD/DVD burning programs, such as Nero and Roxio, will do this automatically upon double-clicking the ISO, and other programs, like the free CDBurnerXP Pro will not, requiring you to specify you're burning from an image (click on File and select Write Disk from ISO File...).

Once you've made your Memtest86 diagnostic disk, the next step is to boot from it. Stick the disk in the appropriate drive (if you manage to get the floppy to work in an optical drive, or vice versa, I'd like to hear about it!), then restart your system. You may need to change the boot priority in your BIOS so that your system doesn't automatically boot from your hard drive. If so, hit the DEL key during the POST screen (some older systems may require you push F1, F2, ESC, or other combinations). Once you've set the approriate boot priority, Memtest86 will load and run automatically.

It Found Errors! That's it Man, Game Over Man, Game Over!

Not so fast there, Hudson! While Memtest86 errors are almost always indicative of problematic RAM, the diagnostic also checks your CPU, L1 and L2 cache, and your motherboard. So you could have an even bigger problem on your hands, but don't panic, because it might also be as simple as an incorrect timing or voltage setting. Running aggressive latency timings or less than the manufacturer's specified voltage can cause RAM to churn out errors and act exactly like a defective kit. These settings are usually found in the Advanced menu of your BIOS (some Gigabyte owners need to hold CTRL-F1 on the main screen to access the hidden menu), and double-check that your kit of RAM is running within spec. For example, if your manufacturer specifies 5-5-5-15 @ 2.1V and you're running 4-4-4-12 @ 1.9V, then there's a good chance your RAM will choke. Up the voltage and rerun Memtest. If it passes and your system instability goes away, then congratulations, you not only saved yourself an RMA, but also discovered that your RAM is capable of running tighter (lower) timings than advertised. If on the other hand you continue to receive errors, raise those timings back to stock. Also check that the frequency is correct (running DDR2-800 at DDR2-1066 is overclocking).

If your RAM settings are correct, then test one stick of RAM at a time. While both sticks could be faulty, it's more likely that just one of them is defective. Also test the stick(s) in each DIMM slot to rule out the possibility of a faulty slot, while also providing you with an opportunity to verify you're using the correct slots for dual-channel operation.

I Have a Bad Stick, Should I Buy a New One?

Almost all RAM manufacturers offer lifetime warranties on their chips, so long as you didn't kill the modules by overclocking/volting. And if you inadvertently OC/d/OV'd, be upfront with the manufacturer (you're on the honor system with this one) - the companies worth giving your business to will be more apt to work with you in these situations.

If you do RMA a dual-channel kit, insist on returning both sticks, even if only one is defective. Why? Because dual-channel kits are supposed to be tested by the manufacturer to ensure they play nice together. The chips under the heatspreader on your replacement kit may differ from the ones on your existing kit, even if the make and model are the same, and it's when you mix and match chips that incompatibilities are most likely to occur in a dual-channel environment.