Memory Standard Troubleshooting Guidelines

Document Scope

This document outlines guidelines for troubleshooting memory issues, encompassing best practices and necessary tools for effective diagnosis and resolution. It covers problem identification, root cause analysis, and testing methodologies.

Troubleshooting Guideline for Memory Issues

1. Identifying Symptoms: The first step is to identify symptoms of memory issues, such as system crashes, blue screens, or frequent application errors. Take note of when the symptoms occur and what activities were being performed at that time.
   
   

2. Check for Software Issues: Before assuming a hardware problem, investigate potential software issues that could be causing the symptoms. Run a virus scan, check for corrupt system files, and ensure your operating system and drivers are up to date.
   
   

3. Test the Memory: If software issues are ruled out, proceed to test the memory. Use reliable software tools like MemTest86 or Windows Memory Diagnostic to conduct thorough memory tests. Record any errors reported during testing.
   
   

4. Isolate the Problem: If errors are detected, isolate the problematic memory module by removing and testing each module individually. This will help determine whether there is a single faulty module or a more widespread issue.
   
   

5. Replace Faulty Hardware: Upon identifying the faulty memory module, replace it with a new one. If the problem is widespread, consider replacing all memory modules for comprehensive resolution.
   
   

6. Verify the Fix: After replacing hardware, rerun the memory test to confirm that the issue has been resolved and no errors are reported.
   
   

7. Monitor the System: Monitor the system for several hours to ensure complete resolution of the memory issue and to identify any potential underlying problems.

Tools

mprime for CPU/Memory (Under torture, choose test 3 which stresses memory controller and RAM)