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.
If you find this article useful, please consider making a donation to the author. Thank you!
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.
April 17th, 2006 at 2:45 pm
Hi,
I have a Toshiba M35x-S149. Its motherboad and cover was replaced about 9 months ago because of power problems…
Now, I have a strange problem…. when I power on or open lid to start from standby, it takes few minutes before any sign of life, i.e. not disk activity, screen blank, power light is blue and front light is green indicating it is powered on.
After few minutes, it will start to come alive, i.e. disk activity and regular startup.
Oh, I installed XP home edition from the recovery CD and reformatted the HD.
Any ideas/sugesstions…
needless to say, it is out of warranty:(
Thanks very much
April 12th, 2006 at 9:46 pm
Hi J Nehu,
All disassembly guides I have created are posted on the Toshiba laptop disassembly website. Unfortunately, I haven’t created a guide for Toshiba Satellite 1135 yet. Read through other disassembly guides and you will be able to take you lappy apart. All disassembly guides are very similar.