RAM errors can be very subtle, or they can take your computer out of action in seconds. The diagnosis is tedious, especially when the system has several modules installed, but using the right tool will save you time and a few headaches. That brings us to Memory Checker, a free and open-source program that, with a series of specific commands, will help you test the RAM memories in your PC.
Blue screens, spontaneous restarts, programs that return to the desktop on their own. These errors can be associated with different problems on a computer (from driver conflicts to excessive temperature), but it is very likely that the elimination process will lead you to look more closely at RAM memory.
Fortunately, on the Web you can find several programs to test your modules and confirm if the RAM memories are the problem in your PC, without spending a cent. One of the most robust is HCI MemTest, with a free edition that can evaluate up to 2 GB (although nothing prevents you from opening multiple instances), but if you prefer a more integrated option and don't mind working from the system console, you should download a copy of Memory Checker.
How to test your RAM memories with Memory Checker
Memory Checker is completely portable and does not require installation. Once you unzip the zip file, inside the folder you will find the .exe file along with a readme and details about its license (CC0). If you load the executable directly, Memory Checker will use its basic factory parameters, testing 92 percent of the total physical memory with an automatic number of threads.
The algorithm is based on a pseudo-random data verification. First it writes to RAM until it is completely full, then reads the content comparing the results with the original chain. If there are differences, the program will show an error, and you will need to repeat the same process with each module until you can isolate the defect.
The modifiers for Memory Checker are --batch (exits the program immediately when finished), --continuous (keeps the test in a loop), --debug (generates additional data visualized with DbgView), --monochrome (disables color in the console), and --high (raises the priority of the executable). Finally, you can limit the percentage of RAM memory to evaluate, as well as the number of threads so that its impact is lower.
In summary, if you think the RAM memories are the problem in your PC, you will need Memory Checker. Of course, no memory tester has the last word, and the correct strategy is to combine two or more to verify that the results are legitimate, but there are occasions when an error is so large that it leaves no doubt. Download a copy!
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