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Windows includes a built-in memory tester that runs outside the normal desktop so the operating system and other applications don’t occupy RAM during the check. Save any open work before you begin, because the tool restarts your PC to run.
How to open the memory checker
The quickest route is to open the Start Menu, type “Windows Memory Diagnostic” and select the top result. If you prefer a command, press Windows + R, enter mdsched.exe and press Enter.
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Windows Memory Diagnostic explained: what the test does and how to read results
A small dialog will appear with two choices. To run immediately, pick the option labeled “Restart now and check for problems (recommended)”. The machine will reboot and load the diagnostic outside the regular Windows environment.
What the test does and how to control it
Once the utility starts it runs a series of memory checks automatically. The screen shows progress information such as the current test pass and an overall percentage.
Press F1 to change the test settings. You can select among the Basic, Standard and Extended mixes, with Extended performing the most comprehensive set of checks but taking the longest. You can also increase the number of passes — the tool allows up to 15 repeats for a deeper scan.
Finding the results after the scan
After the diagnostic finishes your PC will boot back into Windows. Although the utility says results “will be displayed again after you log on,” that summary does not always appear automatically.
To review the outcome manually, open Event Viewer from the Start Menu and look for the memory diagnostic entries there. This is the reliable way to confirm whether the tool reported any errors.
