Using Memtest
From Battleground Europe Wiki
Memtest 86
Memtest can seem intimidating at first, but it really isn't.
- Download this file: http://www.memtest86.com/memt32.zip
- Extract/unzip it. It creates a folder called "memt32" with several files inside.
- Get a blank floppy disk and insert it into your floppy drive.
- On your Windows desktop, right-click My Computer.
- Left-click "Format"
- In the Formating options, check the box that says "Create an MS-DOS Startup Disk"
- When that is finished, double click "3 1/2 Floppy (A:)"
- Then copy the contents of the "memt32" (but not the folder itself), to the floppy disk.
- Reboot your computer.
If Windows starts again, you need to reboot and press Del when given the option to enter your BIOS settings. Within those settings, change the boot up options so that Floppy is chosen before the hard drive.
The computer will restart from the floppy disk in MS-DOS mode (white text on a black screen). You will see a command prompt "A:>"
- Type the word "install" and press Enter. [A:>install] This will install the memory test program. Follow the on screen directions, which are basically, reboot the computer (with the reset button if you have one - otherwise turn the power off then on).
The computer will start again but this time the memory test program will automatically run. You'll see a blue screen with white text .
Try to let this run for a long time, ideally, overnight.
The screen will display the errors if it finds any.
HCI Design's Memtest
This one can be used from within windows, no bootdisk necessary. But I am not sure if it as thorough as Memtest 86.
