Windows Memory Diagnostic Prog vs Mem86+

[rjs735]

Anyone have experience with the results of the Windows Memory Diagnostic. This a free download from MS web site.

Case in point is a IBM TP 600E running WIN98SE. Asl ong as you don't try any long file downloads the system runs fine. If you download eventually the system hangs. Repetition creates the same condition. By the way the hang download occurs with IE, Firefox and Opera. Occurs with wireless connection or wired (ethernet) connection. I have cable modem connection to the internet. All my other systems work fine. This sytem just started failing about a few months ago. I haven't persued it till now.

1. Ran SFC no problems.
2. Ran scandisk and defrg no problems.
3. Looked at everything safe mode no problems.
4. Started running various Benchmark progs and memory diags.
5. Ran Windows Memory Diasgnostic program showed various picked and dropped bits on every test at one address in low 32MB ( on MB ram on board).
6. Then Ran MEM86+ first for several iterations and got no hit's.
7. To validate the Windows Memory Diagnostics I ran it on IBM TP T23.Ran fine no errors.
8. I reran Mem86+ for 18 hrs no errors.
7. I took the 600e apart and the FAn for CPU cooling works fine. I have eliminated heat as an issue.
8. I took out the 128MB of additional ram and the system booted up fine with just 32MB. The failing 32mb according to WM Diags

The memory on the 600e is 66mhz. The T23 is 100mhz.

I have used Mem86+ before and have come to trust it. Windows Memory Diags the jury is out.

Before I spend some money to replace the MB which has the 32MB on the MB I would like some feed back on anything I may have missed.

Comments and Help welcome. TIA.

[h20-ski]

You have done every thing that I would have done. Although I tend not to trust any memory program that runs in windows because there will be some areas that the program can not test unlike Memtest

[rjs735]

The windows memory diagnostic is kind of a misnomer because it runs as bootable floppy or a bootable cdrom as a dos program.

After I posted I ran down a forum called forum.thinkpads.com I found out how to edit the bios to bypass the dim 0 slot that contains the onboard failing memory. Unfortunately the windows diag as well as mem86+ do direct write bypassing the bios and therefore the errors are still there when I test.

However when I boot up the low 32mb is not there. But I am begining to think that the memory is not the problem because the hang condition re occurs even with dim 0 by passed in the bios.