Recently we had a couple machines in our office have problems with RAM. The initial symptoms vary but ultimately the computer fails to boot and the diagnostic lights indicate RAM failure. I've done the usual trouble shooting, and most often simply re-seating the DIMMs fixes the problem.
I'm wondering if this is a sign of things to come. Does this kind of failure mean that the DIMM is on its last leg? Is there an easy way to double check the memory?
There are a lot of utility available over the web to double check your ram. The Windows Memory Diag is really good. I also recommand a free and a payable version of MemTest. Also, as suggested in the comments below, by Lee, run a test with Prime95 on your PC to see how it handles it. There is a x86 and a x64 version to download.
http://files.extremeoverclocking.com/file.php?f=205
Hope you can find the best software that fits and fix your needs.
Regards, David.
Use The Microsoft Memory Diagonostic Tool
Create Startup Disk, from which you can create a startup floppy disk with the program. Save CD Image to Disk, from which you can save an ISO image of the program to your hard drive. Then you can burn that image onto a CD and make it bootable using CD creation software. After you build your bootable media, reboot your PC and start the diagnostic from the floppy or CD.
MORE INFO:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/2008.09.utilityspotlight.aspx
That's one of the best ways to test, it's quick, easy and makes an ISO for you to burn to CD.
Run the exe, create the ISO, burn the ISO and boot to it.
As has been noted, you may want to run these tests for at least a full 12-24 hours to be confident there's no issues with the hardware.
