Windows Memory Diagnostic
Microsoft Online Crash Analysis is a website put up by Microsoft to aid users in investigating crashes, bluescreens and stop errors. Part of the service is the Windows Memory Diagnostic software which is a standalone tool that can scan the computer memory and report on errors it found.
Windows Memory Diagnostic (link) is a dos tool which has to be installed on a floppy drive or CD. It can only be run during system start and not from within Windows. Many users will feel uncomfortable with this procedure but those affected by crashes might probably be inclined to try everything in their might to get to the reason of the crashes.
The tool will start the computer memory check instantly after its interface has been loaded during system startup. It will run test passes and it is important to perform at least one full test pass before quitting the software program.
The first test pass is the most important one. If no errors are found it is unlikely that additional runs will find errors. If errors are found you discovered a possible source for the system crashes, bluescreens and stop errors.
The installation should not pose difficulties for anyone. Buttons to create a startup floppy disk and to save a CD image to disk are provided upon execution. The first will create a bootable floppy disk containing the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool while the latter will create in ISO image windiag.iso that has to be burned to CD or DVD.
An alternative to Windows Memory Diagnostic is Memtest86+ which is highly recommended by computer professionals to check ram of computers. It has also be burned to CD and run during system start.
Update: The website is no longer available. It is not clear yet if Microsoft has pulled the Online Crash Analysis website from the web or if it is being updated or fixed right now.
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I have to disagree with Rarst with “I second memtest86+. Windows one is not really bad and totally usable but memtest+ is better.”
Memtest86+ may be nice, but it will fail it read some memory issues unlike and won’t let start with faulty ram on Unlike Windows memory Diagnostic which is actually a tool on Windows Vista CD and probably on Windows 7 CD as well Dotan would successfully start and give you the error code where memtest86+ failed.
Only sad part there is no exe for Windows memory so anyone can use it as part of a set of program to run from dos from a usb. It is a self bootable software or at least i haven’t found one yet.
I second memtest86+. Windows one is not really bad and totally usable but memtest+ is better.
Dotan that’s the name Microsoft gave the program, probably in an effort to make Windows users feel comfortable using it.
Windows Memory Diagnostic? This has nothing to do with Windows, it will work no matter what os is installed, they are just throwing the Windows name around to sound official. This is probably just a rebundled memtest++ with a nice GUI. memtest++ has been widely available for years, in fact every single os except for Windows comes with this on the install disc.