Computer Memory Error Help

Getting memory errors from a computer can seem absolutely ridiculous. After all, aren’t computers supposed to be perfect memory machines that never forget a bit of information? Well, that would be nice, but the reality is that all machines, whether they are made of metal or brain tissue, can lose information that has been stored in their memories. The reasons that memory errors occur, however, can differ depending on specific circumstances within your machine.

Hard Memory Errors

Not all memory errors are the same. Computer geeks break memory errors into two categories: hard and soft, also known as repeatable and transient.

Hard, or repeatable, memory errors are those that happen because of hardware problems. They often occur because of motherboard defects and blown computer chips. They can even happen because a loose memory module is making it impossible for the machine to access information. Regardless of what specific problem is causing your hard memory error, your computer is doomed to repeat it over and over again until it has been fixed.

Luckily, hard memory errors are usually pretty easy to diagnose. If you know much about computer hardware, then you can open up your machine and poke around for loose connections that could create memory errors. If your motherboard or a chip has been damaged, though, then you will need to replace them. Those without a computer science background should leave this to the professionals. Getting too involved in the guts of your computer can lead to more problems than it will solve.

Soft Memory Errors

Soft memory errors are much harder to diagnose and fix because they can happen once and then lie dormant for years. Eventually, the memory errors will become more persistent and it will degrade your computer’s performance.

Soft memory errors occur when bits read the wrong value but then find ways to correct the mistake. It’s like a child who mistakenly reads “the” when she means “a.” It’s easy for her to go back and correct herself without interrupting the flow of the story. Over time, though, a child who is allowed to read words mistakenly will begin to think that she is performing the task well, even as she fails. This is similar to what happens to computers that experience soft memory errors. Unfortunately, computers don’t have parents that can correct their mistakes, so they always snowball into bigger problems.

Detecting Memory Errors Accurately

If your computer has been giving you memory error messages, then you will want to find the source of the problem before it escalates into a worse situation. Many Windows and MAC operating systems contain troubleshooting options that will identify memory errors. You can usually find these tools listed as diagnostics or advanced diagnostics, depending on your OS.

You can also use software that is specifically designed to hunt down memory errors. There are various web sites that claim to have the top memory error programs. It is best to read reviews posted on web sites that you trust before you choose to download or purchase software. This will help you use your time well instead of wasting it on software that doesn’t provide effective results.