虽然(Though)很少见，但有时计算机上的内存芯片（又名RAM）可能会变坏。它们通常比 PC 上的所有其他组件更耐用，因为它们没有移动部件并且耗电量很少。由于内存芯片是任何计算机最重要的组件之一，因此任何问题或问题都会立即以奇怪且有时令人困惑的方式表现出来。
也很难立即将问题诊断为RAM 问题(RAM problem)，因为大多数 PC 都有多个RAM芯片，而且并非所有这些芯片都会同时出现故障。当一个失败而另一个正常工作时，就会开始出现各种奇怪的行为。以下是 PC 内存不足的一些症状。
RAM 问题表现
1.无论(time regardless)您使用什么应用程序，Windows 都会一次冻结几分钟。打开Word(Word)可能需要 2 分钟，打开 IE 可能需要 3 到 4 分钟。通常性能(Usually performance)问题最先出现，很容易被误解为病毒或恶意软件(virus or malware)。
2. 你得到臭名昭著的蓝屏(blue screen)死机，但没有添加任何新硬件或安装任何新软件。如果您遇到蓝屏(blue screen)并且尚未安装任何新的驱动程序或Windows更新，则可能是内存问题导致蓝屏(blue screen)。
3. 在你做某事的过程中，电脑随机重启。随机重启也可归因于许多不同的因素，但如果您遇到此问题以及提到的任何其他问题，则很可能是RAM 问题(RAM issue)。
4. 您开始注意到系统上的文件已损坏。如果您对某些文件进行了大量处理并注意到它们没有正确保存或数据已损坏，您可以将其缩小到硬盘驱动器或内存(drive or memory)。如果您已经在硬盘驱动器上运行了诊断程序并且一切正常，那么当文件的一部分存储在RAM中时可能会导致这些读/写错误。
5. 您开始看到屏幕上(screen or things)出现奇怪的颜色或线条，或者突然出现乱码。有时内存问题(memory issue)可能非常严重，以至于发送到屏幕的数据损坏，因此显示不正确。
6. 启动计算机时，您会听到一声哔声、多声哔声和连续的哔声。根据您的制造商，将通过一系列哔声报告内存问题。(memory problem)我见过很多戴尔(Dell)机器。当计算机发出哔哔声(computer beeps)时，几乎总是RAM 问题(RAM problem)。
诊断 RAM 问题
下一步是实际确定是否是PC 上安装的物理RAM导致了问题。(RAM)您可以通过以下两种方式之一进行测试：运行(run software)检查RAM的软件或物理打开计算机并关闭RAM。
理想(ideal method)的方法是打开计算机，一次取出一根RAM，看看问题是否消失。例如，如果您有两根棍子，请取出一根并重新启动计算机。如果问题仍然存在，请关闭计算机并将取出的那根放回原处并取出另一根。
如果您有两个以上的RAM，请按照相同的步骤操作。如果您只有一根内存(RAM)条，那么您将不得不购买另一根内存条或尝试使用另一台计算机上的兼容内存条（如果可能）。每台计算机都使用特定类型的RAM，因此您确实必须检查以确保另一台 PC 的记忆棒与您的记忆棒兼容。
在软件方面(software side)，您可以使用多种程序和工具来解决内存问题。
Windows 内存诊断工具
最简单的开始方法是使用Windows内置的Windows内存诊断工具(Windows Memory Diagnostics Tool)。要访问它，请打开控制面板(Control Panel)，然后单击管理工具(Administrative Tools)。您也可以打开控制面板(Control Panel)，然后在搜索框中(search box)输入单词记忆(memory)。您将看到诊断计算机内存问题(diagnose your computer’s memory problems)的链接。
然后它会询问您是要立即重新启动还是在下次重新启动时运行测试。计算机将启动到诊断工具并开始运行测试，测试分为两个单独的通道。
在底部，您会看到一个状态(Status)字段，它将显示已检测到的任何问题。您还可以按F1键并更改几个选项，例如测试类型(test type)（基本(Basic)、标准(Standard)或扩展(Extended)）、缓存设置(cache setting)和通过次数(pass count)。多年来，我发现这个默认测试(default test)非常方便和准确。
内存测试86
memtest86是迄今为止在内存检查人群(memory-checking crowd)中最受欢迎的并且运行良好。它自 1990 年代以来一直存在，最近已更新到5.1 版(version 5.1)。在撰写本文时，还有一个beta v6正在开发中。(beta v6)
为了使用它，您必须将下载的ISO 映像(ISO image)刻录到 CD，然后将 PC 配置为首先从 CD驱动器启动。这正是Windows 内存(Windows Memory) 诊断(Diagnostics) 工具(Tool)所做的，但它都是内置的，因此不需要这两个额外的步骤。
我喜欢 memtest86 的地方在于它也适用于Mac 或 Linux 计算机(Mac or Linux computers)。因此，如果您的Mac 系统或 Linux 系统(Mac system or Linux system)上的内存可能不好，您可以使用此工具轻松检查。
启动到 CD 后，您将获得一个包含几个不同选项的菜单。如果没有任何意义，请不要键入任何内容(t type anything)，它将自动默认为第一个选项。
内存测试(memory test)将开始，如果有任何错误，它会在右下角显示。
Memtest86有一堆在系统上运行的内存测试，所以它比Windows 内存(Windows memory)工具需要更长的时间。这是一个很棒的工具，几乎是内存诊断的行业标准(industry standard)。
还有其他工具可以进行类似的内存检查，但 memtest86 是所有工具中最详尽和准确的。如果您的内存不好，购买RAM的最佳地点是Crucial.com ，因为它只会向您显示与您的特定系统兼容的RAM 。享受！
How to Diagnose, Check, and Test for Bad Memory
Though rare, there are times when the memory chips (aka RAM) on your computer can go bad. They usually outlast all other components on а PC because they have no moving parts and use verу little power. Since memory chips are one of the most essential components to any compυter, any problems or issues will immediately manіfeѕt themselves in strange and sometimes confusing ways.
It’s also hard to instantly diagnose a problem as a RAM problem because most PCs have multiple RAM chips and not all of them will fail at once. When one fails and others work properly, a variety of odd behaviors will start to occur. Here are some symptoms of bad memory on a PC.
RAM Issue Manifestations
1. Windows will freeze for minutes at a time regardless of what application you are using. It may take 2 minutes to open Word or 3 to 4 minutes to open IE. Usually performance issues are the first to appear and can easily be misconstrued as a virus or malware.
2. You get the infamous blue screen of death, but without having added any new hardware or installed any new software. If you’re getting the blue screens and haven’t installed any new drivers or Windows updates, it could be a memory issue causing the blue screen.
3. The PC restarts randomly while you are in the middle of doing something. Random restarts can also be attributed to a lot of different factors, but if you are having this problem in combination with any of the other mentioned, then it’s more than likely a RAM issue.
4. You start to notice files becoming corrupt on your system. If you’re working with a lot with certain files and notice that they are not saving properly or the data is being corrupted, you can narrow it down to the hard drive or memory. If you’ve run diagnostics on the hard drive and all is fine, then these read/write errors can be caused when parts of the file are stored in RAM.
5. You start to see strange colors or lines appear on the screen or things look garbled suddenly. Sometimes the memory issue can be so bad that the data being sent to the screen becomes corrupt and therefore displayed incorrectly.
6. When you boot the computer, you hear a beep, multiple beeps and a continuous beep. Depending on your manufacturer, a memory problem will be reported with a series of beeps. I’ve seen this a lot of Dell machines. It’s almost always a RAM problem when the computer beeps.
Diagnose RAM Problems
The next step is to actually determine whether it is physical RAM installed on your PC that is causing problems. You can test this in one of two ways: either run software that checks the RAM or physically open the computer and switch out the RAM.
The ideal method would be to open the computer and take out one stick of RAM at a time and see if the problems go away. If you have two sticks, for example, take out one and restart the computer. If the problems persist, turn off the computer and put back the one you took out and take the other stick out.
If you have more than two sticks of RAM, follow the same procedure. If you only have one stick of RAM, then you’ll have to purchase another stick or try to use a compatible stick from another computer, if possible. Each computer takes a specific type of RAM, so you really have to check to make sure a stick from another PC will be compatible with yours.
On the software side, there are several programs and tools you can use to troubleshoot memory issues.
Windows Memory Diagnostics Tool
The easiest way to start is to use the Windows Memory Diagnostics Tool built into Windows. To get to it, open Control Panel and then click on Administrative Tools. You can also open Control Panel and just type the word memory into the search box. You’ll see a link to diagnose your computer’s memory problems.
It’ll then ask you if you want to restart immediately or run the test the next time you reboot. The computer will boot into the diagnostic tool and start running the test, which is broken up into two separate passes.
At the bottom you’ll see a Status field, which will show you any problems that have been detected. You can also press the F1 key and change a couple of options like the test type (Basic, Standard, or Extended), the cache setting, and the pass count. I have found this default test to be very handy and accurate over the years.
memtest86
memtest86 is by far the most popular amongst the memory-checking crowd and works very well. It’s been around since the 1990’s and has been recently updated to version 5.1. There is also a beta v6 in the works at the time of this writing.
In order to use it, you have to burn the ISO image that you download to a CD and then configure the PC to boot from the CD drive first. This is exactly what the Windows Memory Diagnostics Tool does, but it’s all built in and therefore doesn’t require these two extra steps.
What I like about memtest86 is that it also works with Mac or Linux computers too. So if the memory on your Mac system or Linux system is possibly bad, you can easily check using this tool.
Once you boot to the CD, you’ll get a menu with a couple of different options. If none of it makes sense, don’t type anything and it will automatically default to the first option.
The memory test will begin and it’ll show you at the bottom right if there are any errors.
Memtest86 has a bunch of memory tests that it runs on the system, so it takes quite a bit longer than the Windows memory tool. It’s a great tool and pretty much the industry standard for memory diagnostics.
There are other tools out there that do similar memory checks, but memtest86 is the most exhaustive and accurate out of all of them. If your memory is bad, the best place to buy RAM is from Crucial.com because it will only show you RAM that is compatible with your specific system. Enjoy!
