Windows Vista Home Premium Memory Diagnostics Tool Problem

[oimi]

Hello,

I decided to check my RAM using the Windows Vista Memory Diagnostics tool. When I restarted it automatically started doing the tests, then I noticed that it kept repeating the process. It would reach step 2 of 2 and complete 100% and then revert back to step 1 of 2 with 0%.

Now I am stuck with this problem each time I try to start up the computer, does anyone have any idea what I can do to resolve this?

[TheReaFireblade]

Do a system restore, then use a proper memory testing utility - namely MemTest86

[rej156]

Take your HDD out and put it in a friend's computer.
Reformat it, install the OS again.
Hopefully you shouldn't have any corrupt files or viruses etc.. xD

[Xoni]

I have just done this a few minutes ago (PC wouldn't start all day - was a bad stick o' DDR).

If it has a button with "F1 = Options" you can press F1 - it can take a minute or two - but an options page comes up and you can choose to not run the test repeatedly.

There are a number of other options there, so take your pick.

If you can't get the options page, boot from your DVD drive, with the Vista disc in it, and choose from the repair options - maybe do a system restore, for example.

Don't give up too easily....

[chuckskull]

Take your HDD out and put it in a friend's computer.
Reformat it, install the OS again.
Hopefully you shouldn't have any corrupt files or viruses etc.. xD

Reformatting is not a be all and end all solution to computer problems, it is a last resort at best.

Booting into safe mode (F8 at bootup), should allow you to bypass the test and do a system restore or go back and turn off the memory test the same way you turned it on.

[oimi]

Right, as you say reinstalling Windows is the last resort.

Unfortunately I cannot boot into Windows (even safe mode) as Windows Memory Diagnostics starts up each time I reboot.

When I press F8 I get to choose what I want to boot from, but after that if I do not select CD/DVD then it goes through to the loop again.

I've taken out each piece of ram and done the test in the hope that this would resolve the issue.

I get no options with F1, can't even escape the loop by pressing esc, which is supposed to allow this.

I read elsewhere that someone else with the same problem tried a system restore and it didn't resolve the issue.

I have no problem with malware, the only problem relates directly to this loop (which is why I am annoyed because I have an otherwise perfect installation of Windows Vista).

[Xoni]

So why not let it boot from the DVD-ROM, with Vista in the drive, choose the option to repair your windows installation, then when the list of options comes up - you can choose the memory diagnostics and from there, change the options so that it stops.

[oimi]

Because if you select memory diagnostics it does not have an option to stop it, only to make it happen.

[SNBAD]

take vista off & put XP on it (Vista is pants)

[oimi]

That's not the kind of advice I was looking for, that would require that I completely reinstall everything and like I have said already that is only a last option.

I switched to Vista because I had tons of problems with XP, corrupted photos and music.. Even after I had replaced the hard drives that I blamed at the time.

Thanks for nothing.

[SNBAD]

oh i am sorry

[SNBAD]

didn`t meen to upset you dude, its just that most people cant wait to get rid of vista os & jump back on XP............

[oimi]

Anyone got any other ideas?

[oimi]

didn`t meen to upset you dude, its just that most people cant wait to get rid of vista os & jump back on XP............

Well seriously, if I had wanted to reinstall Windows I would have done that without consulting you guys first (save all the time I have been using up trying to find a different solution).

I installed Vista on this machine, which is only about 6 months old (my first computer build).

[Xoni]

I know you don't seem to be liking my option - but what I meant is that you can try telling it to just do the check once.

Is that not an option?

As said (sorry for repeating - but I don't know exactly what you have or haven't done) - select the memory diagnostics - when that starts (without restarting or anything else) you should be able to get options with F1 - where you can tell it not to repeat the test.

I did that myself - then rebooted and to the installed o/s and the problem was sorted. Even though it had told me that part of my RAM was duff - I did a hard reboot (ie switched off at mains) and that was me sorted.

If you can't do that, and I'm driving you round the bend, then I'm sorry for that - but anyway, I can't think of anything else, so I'll leave you in peace, then.

And to me, Vista knocks ten bells out of XP! Vista 64 even more so.

[oimi]

I'll test this out in the morning, thanks for reiterating.

You mean you think that Vista is a massive breakthrough?