Package: memtest86 (3.2-1.1)

A thorough real-mode memory tester

Memtest86 scans your RAM for errors.

This version is apparently not as actively maintained upstream as memtest86+ is. Especially if you own a recent computer on which it does not work, you should consider looking at the memtest86+ package.

This tester runs independently of any OS - it is run at computer boot-up, so that it can test *all* of you memory. You may want to look at `memtest' (in package `sysutils'), which allows to test your memory within Linux, but this one won't be able to test your whole RAM.

This used to be part of the hwtools package, which still contains another real-mode memory tester (memmxtest) optimized for mmx machines (but apparently not maintained any more).

It can output a list of bad RAM regions usable by the BadRAM kernel patch, so that you can still use you old RAM with one or 2 bad bits.

A convenience script is also provided to make a grub-based floppy or image.

Tags: System Administration: Benchmarking, System Boot, Hardware Enablement: Floppy Disk, Implemented in: C, User Interface: Text-based Interactive, Role: Program, Scope: Utility, Purpose: Checking