How to troubleshoot a PC-memory problem

By Fred Langa Free tools from Microsoft, other software publishers, and RAM vendors all can work together to solve your PC’s memory troubles. In Windows 7 and Vista, an easy-to-use Memory Diagnostic Tool is built right into the operating system; XP users have other choices.

New RAM and new OS — and new trouble

Reader Robert started having blue-screen reboots after he upgraded his XP PC:

• “There are not many things that beat me these days, but I do have an annoying problem. After testing Win7 on a very old computer, I thought it would be a piece of cake to install it on a much newer Acer Aspire E650 that was running XP.

  “So I installed Win7 and brought it up to 2GB of RAM.

  “Now it will go for a day or two, and then it Blue-Screens and reboots. I clean the Registry and use a file cleaner, and away it goes again. All the drivers seem to be fine. What would you do here?”
  

Your system apparently was running fine under XP, so let’s assume the original hardware was OK. That leaves us with two changed items to look at: your new operating system and your new RAM.

Possibly you have a subtle compatibility issue with your new Windows 7 setup. Most XP systems can run Windows 7 fine, and you did in fact get it up and running. But it still would be worth your while to back-check for trouble with Microsoft’s Win7 Upgrade Advisor (info/download).

Related posts:

1. Tons Of RAM = Memory Hell?
2. Free Memory Diagnostic Tool
3. Microsoft Admits WinME Memory Problems
4. “Memory Optimizers” Redux
5. Using Task Manager to troubleshoot startup woes