Last Updated on August 31, 2026
When it comes to troubleshooting computer problems, sometimes it can be very difficult because you won’t always get a specific error message that tells you the problem or gives you an error code that you can look up online.
Hardware problems can be especially difficult to diagnose because they have many symptoms such as random freezing and crashing and powering off your computer. And many hardware components can have the same symptoms when they are failing.
Random access memory (RAM) errors are one of the more common components to fail on a computer. In this article, we will be showing you how to use the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool to check for problems with your ram.
How to Launch the Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool
1. Open the Control Panel
The Windows Memory Diagnostic tool is a built-in feature in Windows that helps you check for physical memory problems. It works by performing a series of intense tests on your system’s RAM to identify and report hardware issues. To run the tool, go to the Windows Control Panel and open the Windows Tools directory.
2. Start the Diagnostic Application
Look for the specific Windows Memory Diagnostic icon inside the folder. Double click it to start the configuration process. A small prompt will immediately appear on your screen asking how you want to proceed.
3. Restart Your Computer
You will be notified that you need to restart the computer to have the Windows Memory Diagnostic run its tests. Save all your open documents and close your active applications first. Click the option to restart now and check for problems.
Running the Default Memory Scan
1. Monitor the Progress Bar
Once the tool is running, your computer will reboot into a blue diagnostic screen. You will see a yellow status bar indicating its current progress. The system tests your hardware outside of the standard Windows desktop environment.
2. Access the Advanced Options
The tool immediately starts running the standard test profile by default. Pressing F1 on your keyboard will allow you to configure the advanced options. Do this if you do not want to use the default settings and need a deeper hardware scan.
Understanding the Different Test Mix Options
1. The Basic Test Mix
This option allows you to choose what type of tests you want to run. The “Basic” test mix is the fastest option available. It includes a series of standard tests that aim to detect common memory issues. These basic tests check for issues with data integrity, memory corruption, and general stability. This provides a reasonable level of confidence in the health of your system’s memory.
2. The Standard Test Mix
This runs a more comprehensive series of tests than the basic test mix. The standard test takes much longer to run completely. It includes an Address test to check for addressing errors in RAM and a Data pattern test for corruption. It also runs a March test for bad sectors, an Inverse march test, and a Random number test.
3. The Extended Test Mix
The “Extended” test mix is a highly intensive set of memory tests. It involves a wider range of algorithms that examine memory thoroughly. These tests take significantly more time to complete because they perform detailed physical checks on your memory modules. You should run this if you suspect severe or hard-to-detect memory issues.
Configuring Cache and Pass Count Settings
1. Adjust the Cache Setting
This option allows you to choose the cache setting for each specific test. The choices are Default, On, and Off. The Default setting uses the standard system cache settings. The On setting forces the cache enabled. The Off setting disables the cache entirely for raw hardware testing.
2. Set the Pass Count
This option allows you to enter the number of times you want to repeat the diagnostic test. The more times you repeat the test, the more likely it is to detect intermittent hardware errors. Repeating the test multiple times will take several hours to finish completely.
Reviewing the Memory Diagnostic Results
1. Check the Desktop Notification
When the test has been completed, your computer will automatically restart. Log back into your Windows user profile. If there were no issues, you should see a pop-up notification appear in the bottom right corner of your screen.
2. Open the Windows Event Viewer
Sometimes the desktop notification fails to appear after a reboot. You can open the Windows Event Viewer tool to dig up the raw logs. Navigate to the Windows Logs folder on the left sidebar and then click on System.
3. Locate the Diagnostic Event
Look for an event with a source specifically named “MemoryDiagnostics-Results.” You can use the find tool on the right side of the screen to search for this exact phrase. The event will provide detailed information about the test and confirm if any bad sectors were detected.
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