4 Ways to Open Windows Memory Diagnostic to Check Memory [MiniTool Wiki]

Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool

Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool (WMD) is a built-in memory tool of Windows, and it is available in Windows 7 and above Windows versions.

Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool is an excellent free memory test program. To put it more clearly, it is used to check for possible memory problems, including testing of the Random Access Memory (RAM) on your computer.

Pros and Cons of Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool

Pros:

Free;
Easy operation;
No user intervention required;
Windows does not need to be working or installed to use the tool.

Cons:

Only test the first 4GB of RAM;
Extra steps are required when you create a startup disk and CD image.

4 Ways to Open Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool

If you encounter memory problems, you can use Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool to find them out. But do you know how to open it? The following content will display 4 ways to open Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool. Let’s learn about them respectively.

Note: Please save everything on your computer for the computer will be restarted by the memory diagnostic procedure.

Way 1: Open Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool by searching.

Type Windows Memory Diagnostic in the Cortana search box. Then click the searching result named Windows Memory Diagnostic to open this tool.

Way 2: Open Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool through Run

Step 1: Press the Windows icon and the R key on the keyboard simultaneously.

Step 2: Type mdsched and then click OK.

You will get a pop-up window as the following picture shows.

Way 3: Open Open Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool in Control Panel

Step 1: Type Control Panel in the Cortana search box and choose the searching result named Control Panel.

Tip: You can click here if you want to learn more about Control Panel.

Step 2: Type memo in the top-right box and click Diagnose your computer’s memory problems.

type memo and click Diagnose your computer’s memory problems

Way 4: Open Windows Memory Diagnostic Tools via CMD

Step 1: Press the Windows icon and the R key on the keyboard simultaneously.

Step 2: Type cmd in the Open box and then click OK. (You can click here to learn more about CMD.)

Step 3: Type mdsched and press Enter.

How to Use Windows Memory Diagnostic to Check Memory Problems?

Now, you have known how to open Windows Memory Diagnostic. Let’s see how to use it to carry out a memory test.

Step 1: Open Windows Memory Diagnostic.

Step 2: Choose the Restart now and check for problems option.

select Restart now and check for problems

Note: The tool also allows you to do a test in the next reboot if you cannot close your applications and restart immediately.

Once your computer restarts, it will start in the Windows Memory Diagnostic environment, and the test will kick in the Standard mode right away.

In Windows 10, Windows Memory Diagnostic tool has 3 types of tests: Basic, Standard, and Extended. By default, the standard test will be carried out which can detect memory problems in most cases.

Basic modetests MATS+, INVC, and SCHCKR.
Standard modetests all in the basic mode, and LRAND, Stride6, CHCKR3, WMATS+, and WINVC.
Extended modetests all in the standard mode and also does MATS+, Stride38, WSCHCKR, WStride-6, CHCKR4, WCHCKR3, ERAND, Stride6, and CHCKR8.

In the test process, if any errors are found, they will be recorded and reported to you when you run your Windows in the next time.

When Windows Memory Diagnostic tool finishes checking the memory for errors, your PC will automatically restart, and you will be able to check the test results. If no errors are found, you will get the information “No memory errors were detected”.

How to Check the Test Result?

Step 1: Type eventvwr.exe in the Cortana's search box open Event Viewer.

Step 2: Expand the Windows Log folder. Right-click System and then choose Find among the options.

Step 3: Type MemoryDiagnostics-Result, and click the Find Next button.

Step 4: Close the Find dialog. In Event Viewer, give the MemoryDiagnostics-Results a double click, and see the message.

If the message is that The Windows Memory Diagnostic tested the computer's memory and detected no errors, you can discard memory as the root of the problem.

If the result shows one or more errors, you can try running an extended memory test to recheck the result. If there is still at least one error, one of the RAM probably has a problem, and it may need to be replaced.