[plug] Testing RAM

[Simon Scott (SSC)]

Dunno if this has been covered in this thread, but BIOS ram testing is
minimal at best. There are a few other ram testers available, a couple under
linux and one that I saw that you boot from lilo. Supposedly these testers
pick up a miriad of problems that traditional bios testers miss.

-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Hunt [mailto:michael.j.hunt at usa.net]
Sent: Wednesday, March 14, 2001 2:18 PM
To: plug at plug.linux.org.au
Subject: RE: [plug] Testing RAM


> On Tue, 13 Mar 2001, Michael Hunt wrote:
> > P.S. The BIOS doesn't do extended memory checking (you know the
> long way vs.
> > the quick way) so I haven't got that option either. May switch it to a
> > machine that does though !!!!
>
> Michael,
>
> Surely if it takes PC100 RAM it'd have the option to do a full test on
> RAM? ie, disable an option something like "Fast POST" in BIOS setup or in
> some it's "Disable fast POST"? I'm not sure if this is the same as
> extended memory checking, if it doesn't check extended memory at all then
> it's one strange BIOS, or just one I've yet to come across.

The board is one of the all in one jobies (i.e. onbaord sound, video, modem,
lan etc). Got it working quitwe nicely but certainly wouldn't be my first
choice. It actually has an AMIBIOS with "very" few options. Looks like it is
setup for the extremely novice user. It is a weird board and the first time
that I have not been able to access this option.

> Alternately, a quick search for 'memory system test' on freshmeat.net
> http://freshmeat.net/search/?q=memory+system+test leads to several, one
> promising one is http://freshmeat.net/projects/memtest86/

Thanks Bernard for the links. Net access is not great here in West Africa
otherwose I would have freshmeat. You have just saved me some time and
money, so I do appreciate the obvious but thoughtful getsture !!! When I am
next online (and the service is reasonably fast) I'll check the link out.

> Regards,
>
> Bernard.

Michael Hunt
West Africa

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