Checking for Memory Errors with memtest86

Support knowledgebase (thallma_memtest86)
Applies to

SuSE Linux: All versions

Symptom:

Your system is unstable or it crashes sometimes.

Cause:

A defective memory module can cause your system to crash or freeze after some time if a broken module is accessed.

Solution:

Follow these steps to check your memory for errors. You will need a floppy disk for this.

  1. Download the "Linux Memtest86 v2.4 Source Package" from the following http://www.memtest86.com/
  2. Unpack the archive with
    tar zxvf memtest86-x.y.tar.gz
  3. Change into the newly created directory
  4. Execute the command "make".
  5. Change to user root using the command "su".
  6. Insert an empty floppy disk into the drive.
  7. Execute the command "make install".
  8. Restart the machine with "shutdown -r now" and boot from the floppy disk.

Without further action, the default check will be performed after the start of memtest86. To run all available checks press c for configuration in the main view. Choose 3 for Test Selection in the menu that appears. Select 3 again to select All Tests.

Note: It is not 100% certain that there are no memory errors if all tests run successfully!

Also review the hints in the article General hardware problems.


See also:
o General hardware problems

Keywords: MEMORY PROBLEMS, HANGS, CRASHES, ERROR MESSAGES, MEMTEST86

Categories: Hardware

SDB-thallma_memtest86, Copyright SuSE Linux AG, Nürnberg, Germany - Version: 02. May 2001
SuSE Linux AG - Last generated: 10. Oct 2002 by mjb (sdb_gen 1.40.0)