A lot of laptop and desktop computer problems are caused by a failed memory or a failing memory module. As a laptop repair technician I test memory modules every time I get a laptop for repair. I have tried many different memory testing utilities but finally I stopped on Memtest 86+. So far it is one of the best free memory test utilities and I use it everyday. You can find this utility on the Memtest 86+ homepage.
To test your memory modules you have to do next:
- download Memtest 86+.
Choose Download – Pre-Compiled Bootable ISO (.zip) if you want to burn it on CD.
Choose Download – Pre-Compiled package for Floppy (DOS – Win) if you want to place the utility on a floppy disk. I usually use CD because most computers have a CD drive and it’s much faster to start the test from a CD disc.
- Change the boot order on your computer to boot from a floppy drive or from a CD/DVD drive.
- Insert the floppy disk or the CD disc with Memtest 86+ into the computer.
- Start the computer.
If you did everything right, you computer will start from the floppy or the CD and the memory testing utility will start automatically.
If your memory passed the test, you will not see any red error messages.
I usually allow a memory module pass the test 4-5 times. I’ve seen many times that a failing memory doesn’t fail the test on the firs pass and then fails on the second or third pass.
If your memory failed the test you will see red error messages.
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July 18th, 2006 at 3:57 am
Hi,
I’ve got toshiba satellite A60(On board RAM). The RAM is corrupted now. Out of total 256MB RAM , 128MB is working perfectly. I’ve checked it with installing and booting linux using mem=128M option, which is used to usage of RAM from the total available. I am not able to start linux with all the RAM available. Though I am facing a little graphics problem(mouse pointar distortion) due to shared graphics memory with onboard RAM, its OK to work with it… Can any one suggest how to do the same for Windows??? I have Windows XP cd provided with laptop…
The option I searched is to put /maxmem=128 parameter in boot.init.. but that is if windows is already installed.. what for the installation?????
July 5th, 2006 at 9:04 pm
I’ve a Dell Inspiron 2100 and Gateway Solo 3350. Both are pentium 3 laptops with 12″ screen. My Gateway is working perfect but Dell could not be powered up. If i wanted to test the functionality of my Dell LCD screen, can I disassemble it and fix it on my gateway. Though the brands are different, I find the size and design quite similar. Pl advise.
June 4th, 2006 at 4:51 pm
[...] From your description I understand that you purchased this laptop recently and the laptop might be still under the manufacturer warranty. If it is still under warranty, take it or ship it to Toshiba authorized repair center and let them fix the problem. I would test the memory first. The laptop has dynamically allocated shared graphics memory; it has no dedicated memory and uses part of the main memory for video purposes. I guess if the main memory is going bad, you can get an error message related to the graphic card. [...]
May 21st, 2006 at 10:53 pm
Mark,
I think you might have a more serious problem. Try to connect the laptop to an external monitor and see if you can get the same bad video output there. Set you laptop to display video on both internal and external screens. Compare the video output. If you see the same lines through letters on the internal and external screens, you might have a bad system board.
If the video output is bad only on the laptop LCD screen and the external video is fine, then you might have a loose connection between the system board and the LCD screen. Reseating video cable on the system board and on the LCD screen might fix the problem.
May 18th, 2006 at 9:15 pm
hello. i have 1 question. i recently took my laptop to get looked at – it was messing up madly. well they told me that it was a memory problem and i believe them…so now here’s my question:
why is it that my laptop works only in certain positions? i’ve noticed that when the toshiba backsplash comes up during boot there are lines through the letters (signifying its defected memory). most of the time, however, when i see these lines, i can lift one side of my laptop and the lines go away…and my laptop boots normally.
thanks,
mark
May 7th, 2006 at 3:37 pm
Strike my last comment. After downloading this WinXP Power Toy it worked just fine. The power toy uses the built in WinXP CD burning utility to burn ISO images.
May 6th, 2006 at 7:11 pm
When i try to get the MemTest software burned to a CD, my burning program reads the .iso file but shows it as empty. I tried buring the CD anyway just for kicks, and then tried to boot from it. This failed of course and booted Windows regularly. Any idea why the .iso file is reading as blank?
May 2nd, 2006 at 6:50 am
Kane,
You can find a Donate button on the right side of the website.
I am glad that my website helped you to fix the problem. Donations are always welcome.
May 2nd, 2006 at 6:33 am
I am an HVAC mechanic. My son broke the DC jack on my daughter’s Toshiba A65 in Dec’05. I have never worked on a computer, let alone a laptop so I told her to take it in and see what it would cost to repair. The answer was not good. I looked on the internet for the part which I found from $35 down to $9. I bought one on Ebay for $9 and found your website. I followed your instructions and repaired the unit myself. Thank you very much for your website. Could you email me your address so I can send you a donation.
April 17th, 2006 at 9:58 pm
Hey Mike,
I have never seen the problem like yours before. I would try to upgrade or re-flash the BIOS first. It’s possible that a corrupted BIOS causing the problem. I would also try to remove the DVD drive, the wireless card and the modem to see if any of these devices make the system to hang on startup. But it’s more complicated, you will have to get under the keyboard.