For the cheapos, Memory Diagnostic is a freebie software tool available for download from the Microsoft websiste. It’s built to sniff out flaws in a machine’s RAM modules.

We know that the source mant blue screen is not always Windows, or rogue code for that matter. Guilt could just stem from stressed system memory. That’s what makes  Windows Memory Diagnostic so valuable. The software handily tests the RAM on a computer and uncovers any error.

“Windows Memory Diagnostic supports x86-based computers with the following microprocessors: Intel – Pentium or Celeron families; AMD – K6, Athlon, or Duron families; and microprocessors compatible with those listed above. You can test all types of RAM that run on x86-based computers with the supported microprocessors,” touts Microsoft’s description of the tool.

Both Windows Vista and Windows XP users be guided to whip up bootable media (either a floppy, USB drive or a CD) which can be used to start an ailing PC. Windows Vista already features the tool integrated as a default component under Administrative Tools, or accessible via the Repair option in the operating system’s installation media. Furthermore, Vista gets you a skinnied flavor, with diminished visual feedback and sparse features. Happily, the Windows Memory Diagnostic utility is packaged with with three categories of tests, namely Basic, Standard and Extended. Testers can opt between selecting two tests in Basic mode, six in Standard and 11 in Extended and a scenario which is verily spans the entire night. “However, if you have error checking and correcting (ECC) RAM, Windows Memory Diagnostic may not report any errors because the ECC mechanism automatically detects and corrects the error. It might still be useful to run Windows Memory Diagnostic if you have ECC RAM because it may detect errors that the ECC RAM is unable to correct (which indicates problems with the RAM). Windows Memory Diagnostic is limited to testing only the first 4 gigabytes (GB) of RAM. If you have more than 4 GB of RAM, the remaining RAM after the first 4 GB will not be tested by Windows Memory Diagnostic,” Microsoft added. Microsoft Windows Memory Diagnostic is available for download here.

Download it here:

Free Microsoft Windows Memory Diagnostic Utility (link 1)
Free Microsoft Windows Memory Diagnostic Utility (link 2)