Test Ram on Server w/o bringing it down?
I suspect bad RAM on a Windows 2k3 server, odd things are happening.
I would like to know if there are programs that will test as much RAM as possible without rebooting or bringing down the server. I have a program called MemTest 3.5 which tests, but the test are pretty basic.
Are there other programs which will do this?
It is a Dell PowerEdge 2900 w/ 2 GB of RAM.
Thanks!
I would like to know if there are programs that will test as much RAM as possible without rebooting or bringing down the server. I have a program called MemTest 3.5 which tests, but the test are pretty basic.
Are there other programs which will do this?
It is a Dell PowerEdge 2900 w/ 2 GB of RAM.
Thanks!
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You don't really have "free RAM" in Windows. All of it is allocated by the windows memory management system, so even if there were software that claims to be able to test the RAM it can't really do that. You will never get any results that make any difference. The only way to test the RAM is by using the utilities mentioned above, or better yet, by using a hardware memory tester, but that would probably be beyond the need for most, and the memtest86+ will usually pick up most possible errors.
ASKER
I don't need this explained to me.
There is a program called MemTest for windows which will test available RAM, while windows is running. I understand that you can't reliably test all ram on a machine while it is running. Please stop explaining this, i'm not awarding points for this answer, I understand.
Again, my question is, ARE THERE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT WILL ATTEMPT TO TEST AVAILABLE RAM WHILE WINDOWS IS RUNNING?
Nobody has answered that question yet.
There is a program called MemTest for windows which will test available RAM, while windows is running. I understand that you can't reliably test all ram on a machine while it is running. Please stop explaining this, i'm not awarding points for this answer, I understand.
Again, my question is, ARE THERE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT WILL ATTEMPT TO TEST AVAILABLE RAM WHILE WINDOWS IS RUNNING?
Nobody has answered that question yet.
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ASKER
Hi John,
Yes, that is the one I am using currently. I was wondering if there are others available?
The owner has said the server cannot be brought down for several days, and I am getting goofy errors that I believe are memory related. I would like to be able to exhaust our options while the server is still up, before bringing it down and letting it test the RAM with memtest86 or anything. I know it isn't the ideal circumstances, but I said I'd give it a shot.
thanks
Yes, that is the one I am using currently. I was wondering if there are others available?
The owner has said the server cannot be brought down for several days, and I am getting goofy errors that I believe are memory related. I would like to be able to exhaust our options while the server is still up, before bringing it down and letting it test the RAM with memtest86 or anything. I know it isn't the ideal circumstances, but I said I'd give it a shot.
thanks
I'm just trying to tell you that there is no point in wasting your time trying to look for software which will be useless anyway. There is no software that can test RAM properly while windows is running. Any software that says that it can do so isn't telling the truth. If you test your server with such software I don't know what you will be able to proof with the readouts you get, as those readouts don't have any meaning.
Unfortunately, I am not aware of any others. I have that one on my Bart Disk, and it is fairly reliable, but I think thats the best you will be able to do.
You might be able to find some info inside of the Windows Debugger, but debugging the running system would still require booting into a debug mode, and *could* probably still bring the server down, so wouldnt be wise...Plus it is something you cant just downlaod and start using successfully....
I am afraid you might be stuck with having to wait till the poweroff. Might put in in the perspective that it might cost the customer additional after hour charges/expedited repair charges, should the RAM fail in the middle of the night, and require it fixed immediately. Maybe that might make him understand the importance of doing it now....
You might be able to find some info inside of the Windows Debugger, but debugging the running system would still require booting into a debug mode, and *could* probably still bring the server down, so wouldnt be wise...Plus it is something you cant just downlaod and start using successfully....
I am afraid you might be stuck with having to wait till the poweroff. Might put in in the perspective that it might cost the customer additional after hour charges/expedited repair charges, should the RAM fail in the middle of the night, and require it fixed immediately. Maybe that might make him understand the importance of doing it now....
also if it ends up being the ram be ready with spares from the local computer store to swap the bad ones out with. given the situation it seems like the employer would not be happy with a other day of downtime after discovery. just keep the receipt :)
ASKER
by the way, memtest under windows did find bad ram, i was able to bring the server down over the weekend then and confirm it with memtest86. swapped the ram and everything works fine now.
good to hear....
ASKER
My question was, are there other programs that can test the available free RAM while windows IS running?