Repairing and Upgrading Your PC

Troubleshooting Memory Installation and Operation

As electronic devices with no moving parts, memory modules seldom malfunction—if they are installed properly. When problems do occur, they may be as obvious as a failed RAM check at boot or as subtle as a few corrupted bits in a datafile. The usual symptom of memory problems is that Windows displays the Blue Screen of Death. Sadly, there are so many other possible causes of a BSOD that it's of little use as a diagnostic aid.

When Bad Memory Turns Good

As odd as it sounds, faulty memory is seldom the cause of memory problems. When you experience memory errors, the most likely cause is a marginal, failing, or overloaded power supply. The next most likely cause is system overheating. In particular, ...