System diagnostics software

swarner · 08-21-2006, 06:29 PM

I would like to know what people think is the best System diagnostics software?

I know of a few like Micro-Scope but would like peoples opinions before i buy one of these expensive programs

Any opinion is welcome and much appreciated

**crazijoe** · 08-21-2006, 06:46 PM

Actually I use any of them that are free.
HDD manufacturers, Memtest86, etc..

Dirkpitt289 · 08-26-2006, 10:01 AM

I have Micro Scope but have never used it. Does it work on newer computer systems? What I mean is is it still a reliable tool. My kit is several years old and every now and then I come across it and can't decide weater to ditch it or not.

Zazula · 08-26-2006, 10:10 AM

http://www.techsupportforum.com/showpost.php?p=599104&postcount=2

Dirkpitt289 · 08-26-2006, 10:42 AM

Thanks, I will have to check out what version I got.

**Doby** · 08-26-2006, 08:02 PM

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

Thats one of my favorites and its free

infused · 09-04-2006, 01:02 AM

diagnostics
mem86 does not support new chipsets and IS unreliable...
sysinternals software
aida32
intel chipset util (handy)
siw.exe
maxtor, seagate, westerndigital hdd tools for hard drive stuff
Windows PE
Microsoft Memory Diagnostics (better than memtest86)

recovery
recovery professional
stellar ntfs & fat
stellar cdfs

forensic
encase

repair
hijackthis
msconfig
regedit :)
safemode

You don't need much more than this...

It's knowledge that is the power... once you know how the OS works these tools simply speed up repair work. You really need to know how everything works.

**crazijoe** · 09-05-2006, 04:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infused

Microsoft Memory Diagnostics (better than memtest86)

Wrong

Zazula · 09-05-2006, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infused

Microsoft Memory Diagnostics (better than memtest86)

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazijoe

Wrong

Come on now, crazijoe, we all know you can do far much better than replying monosyllabically; please do elucidate because we do need your input.

Does "wrong" has the sense that one is not better/worse than the other because they are either complimentary or pretty much the same - or does "wrong" mean you esteem memtest86 so good that there's no need for any other RAM diagnostic utility (even if we take into account only freeware ones)?

**crazijoe** · 09-05-2006, 06:24 AM

Actually I have used both on several occasions. One Example that sticks in my mind was a system that was running a Intel D875PBZLK MB, 2 sticks of Mushkin 512MB (dual channel kit). I ran both Memtest86 and MS Memory Diagnostics on each individual stick for 12 hours each. I have found that memtest86 had errored on the same test over and over again on one stick where the MS test did not pick up the problem. I replaced the dual channel kit and re-ran the tests. Both sticks passes both tests. The machine booted fine and worked perfectly during the burn in test. I sent the machine out the door and the customer hasn't had a problem since.

infused · 09-06-2006, 05:45 PM

Try using memtest86 on very new chipsets and see how reliable it is... Cause it isn't. Espically on intel server boards that i've been using, it just refuses to find errors where WMD does.

I do tend to run both though...

Zazula · 09-11-2006, 07:12 PM

1. One can compare and evaluate diagnostic utilities only under strict conditions and only by using specimens of known irregularities. A perfect analogy is the antivirus programs: they are tested with the same sample viruses; in the field their results differ, including misses or false positives. The last time known to me that this kind of testing for RAM utilities was performed, was some years ago, well before the Windows Memory Diagnostic came into play:
Memory Diagnostics Shootout (read both pages)
Memory Diagnostics Shootout - Round 2 (read all 3 pages)

2. Obtaining an error indication in Memtest86 does NOT necesserily mean the RAM module is defective: Troubleshooting Memory Errors

Quote:

Please be aware that not all errors reported by Memtest86 are due to bad memory. The test implicitly tests the CPU, L1 and L2 caches as well as the motherboard. It is impossible for the test to determine what causes the failure to occur.

Sometimes memory errors show up due to component incompatibility. A memory module may work fine in one system and not in another. This is not uncommon and is a source of confusion. In these situations the components are not necessarily bad but have marginal conditions that when combined with other components will cause errors.

3. There have been reports of the WMD catching RAM errors which Memtest86 missed, and vice-versa; just like what happens with AV programs all the time.

4. There have been well established observations by techs for the following:
• Memtest86 will freeze using an Athlon 64; in this case only the latest Memtest86+ (1.15 or better) will work.
• In Asus motherboards with a VIA chipset (e.g. A7V8X-X), Memtest86+ will freeze because a bug in the BIOS. Here Memtest86 is needed.
• Intel motherboards have to have the USB Legacy Support disabled in the BIOS in order to work with Memtest86/Memtest86+ without freezing.

5. The fact that even more advanced RAM diagnostic utilities, like Memtest86+, face challenges with the ever-evolving motherboards and CPUs, is confirmed by just looking at how they needed to evolve during time: Memtest86+ Change Log

6. And still, not everything is covered; weaknesses are reported daily at the Memtest86+ Official Forum and the addition of new features is requested by techs.

7. Just like Security experts do with their AV arsenal, all quality memory diagnostic utilities are complimentary; if the first one finds nothing and the problem persists, another one is used. That means absolutely nothing regarding how good or bad each one of them actually is. Memtest86+ FAQ:

Quote:

- I'm getting errors with memtest, but not in some other memory test or vice versa.
Different memory tests test the memory in different ways, it could easily be that an error not picked up by one test, is picked up by another. Keep in mind though that a test such as memtest86+ can only prove things that are there, it can not prove that there are no errors in the memory. A full pass of memtest86+ gives you a very good indication that the memory is ok, but it is never a definitive proof of correctly functioning memory.

- If memtest86+ shows no errors does that mean my memory is not defective?
Of course no answers are definitive, no matter how good memtest86+ is or will become there is always the possibility that a particular type of error will go unnoticed. As long as you are having no problems with the system it will be pretty safe to say that the modules are good. If you are having problems with the system however you will just have to check by trial and error, ie swapping the modules for new ones and/or testing with modules of a different brand/type.

8. Besides the three memory diagnostic utilities mentioned in the title, another low-cost addition ($29) is GoldMemory.

~~Meztiso~~ · 09-17-2006, 10:42 AM

It appears that there is a version available via P2P that also appears to be legal to use as a "demo". I d/l'd and installed it, and my initial impression is that it is OLD.

Really old, like the copyright is from 1996 - 2003, and the hardware used in the demo video was like a 486 or pentium or similar.

Is the "for sale" version of Microscope 2000 this dated, and if so, is it still useful ? I am curious about the product, but do not want to expend more energy exploring an option that appears to be a dead-end.

I checked the Microscope Home Page, and it also felt quite dated, as if the product is now "neglected and being phased out".

Is this the case ?

Dirkpitt289 · 09-17-2006, 01:12 PM

I just found my Micro Scope 2000 kit. I question just how reliable it would be today? It has a copy right of 1996 and the book boasts as to being Windows 95 compatible.

Luckily I have several PCs in various state of repair so I guess it couldn't hurt to play around with it.

I'm curious to hear from others out there as to how they have used it.

~~Meztiso~~ · 09-17-2006, 02:53 PM

Quote:

...and the book boasts as to being Windows 95 compatible.

Expresses my concerns perfectly.

Dirkpitt289 · 09-18-2006, 07:33 AM

I was able to find and download a copy of Micro Scope (and it wasn't a virus, go figure) v11.04. It seems to work but does anyone know where I could possibly get a copy of the manual so I can understand what is being done and how to interpret the information?

~~Meztiso~~ · 09-19-2006, 04:36 AM

Quote:

I was able to find and download a copy of Micro Scope (and it wasn't a virus, go figure) v11.04. It seems to work but does anyone know where I could possibly get a copy of the manual so I can understand what is being done and how to interpret the information?

Also exactly expresses my sentiments. Dirk, I'll post here if I find something useful.

08-21-2006, 06:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
swarner Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Ireland Posts: 210 OS: Vista Ultimate	System diagnostics software I would like to know what people think is the best System diagnostics software? I know of a few like Micro-Scope but would like peoples opinions before i buy one of these expensive programs Any opinion is welcome and much appreciated __________________ Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad Computers are like air conditioners. They work best with windows closed.

08-21-2006, 06:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
crazijoe Moderator, Hardware Forums Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Omaha, The Center of the Universe Posts: 7,632 OS: WinXP, Win2K3 My System	Actually I use any of them that are free. HDD manufacturers, Memtest86, etc.. __________________ Microsoft MCSA + Messaging, MVP, A+, Network+ Do you want a real Republican? HDD diagnostic tools / HDD data recovery software

08-26-2006, 10:01 AM	#3 (permalink)
Dirkpitt289 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: East Coast Posts: 27 OS: XP Pro	I have Micro Scope but have never used it. Does it work on newer computer systems? What I mean is is it still a reliable tool. My kit is several years old and every now and then I come across it and can't decide weater to ditch it or not. __________________ Dirkpitt289

08-26-2006, 10:10 AM	#4 (permalink)
Zazula Manager Emeritus, I'm blond, James Blond Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Athens, Greece Posts: 7,644 OS: Win XP Pro SP2	http://www.techsupportforum.com/showpost.php?p=599104&postcount=2 __________________ "Time is the wisest because it discovers everything" Thales of Miletus (ca.624BC-ca.546BC) "Everything flows, nothing stands still." Heraclitus of Ephesus (ca.535BC-475BC) "One thing I know, that I know nothing" Socrates of Athens (ca.470BC–399BC)

08-26-2006, 10:42 AM	#5 (permalink)
Dirkpitt289 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: East Coast Posts: 27 OS: XP Pro	Thanks, I will have to check out what version I got. __________________ Dirkpitt289

08-26-2006, 08:02 PM	#6 (permalink)
Doby Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Central PA (USA) Posts: 7,066 OS: XP sp2/ Vista	http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/ Thats one of my favorites and its free __________________ Would you like to help TSF fight cancer and other diseases??? JOIN TEAM TSF

09-04-2006, 01:02 AM	#7 (permalink)
infused Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 18 OS: WinXP	diagnostics mem86 does not support new chipsets and IS unreliable... sysinternals software aida32 intel chipset util (handy) siw.exe maxtor, seagate, westerndigital hdd tools for hard drive stuff Windows PE Microsoft Memory Diagnostics (better than memtest86) recovery recovery professional stellar ntfs & fat stellar cdfs forensic encase repair hijackthis msconfig regedit :) safemode You don't need much more than this... It's knowledge that is the power... once you know how the OS works these tools simply speed up repair work. You really need to know how everything works.

09-05-2006, 06:24 AM	#10 (permalink)
crazijoe Moderator, Hardware Forums Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Omaha, The Center of the Universe Posts: 7,632 OS: WinXP, Win2K3 My System	Actually I have used both on several occasions. One Example that sticks in my mind was a system that was running a Intel D875PBZLK MB, 2 sticks of Mushkin 512MB (dual channel kit). I ran both Memtest86 and MS Memory Diagnostics on each individual stick for 12 hours each. I have found that memtest86 had errored on the same test over and over again on one stick where the MS test did not pick up the problem. I replaced the dual channel kit and re-ran the tests. Both sticks passes both tests. The machine booted fine and worked perfectly during the burn in test. I sent the machine out the door and the customer hasn't had a problem since. __________________ Microsoft MCSA + Messaging, MVP, A+, Network+ Do you want a real Republican? HDD diagnostic tools / HDD data recovery software

09-06-2006, 05:45 PM	#11 (permalink)
infused Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 18 OS: WinXP	Try using memtest86 on very new chipsets and see how reliable it is... Cause it isn't. Espically on intel server boards that i've been using, it just refuses to find errors where WMD does. I do tend to run both though...

09-17-2006, 10:42 AM	#13 (permalink)
~~Meztiso~~ Register user Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 341 OS: WinXP Home	Microscope.. It appears that there is a version available via P2P that also appears to be legal to use as a "demo". I d/l'd and installed it, and my initial impression is that it is OLD. Really old, like the copyright is from 1996 - 2003, and the hardware used in the demo video was like a 486 or pentium or similar. Is the "for sale" version of Microscope 2000 this dated, and if so, is it still useful ? I am curious about the product, but do not want to expend more energy exploring an option that appears to be a dead-end. I checked the Microscope Home Page, and it also felt quite dated, as if the product is now "neglected and being phased out". Is this the case ?

09-17-2006, 01:12 PM	#14 (permalink)
Dirkpitt289 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: East Coast Posts: 27 OS: XP Pro	I just found my Micro Scope 2000 kit. I question just how reliable it would be today? It has a copy right of 1996 and the book boasts as to being Windows 95 compatible. Luckily I have several PCs in various state of repair so I guess it couldn't hurt to play around with it. I'm curious to hear from others out there as to how they have used it. __________________ Dirkpitt289

09-18-2006, 07:33 AM	#16 (permalink)
Dirkpitt289 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: East Coast Posts: 27 OS: XP Pro	I was able to find and download a copy of Micro Scope (and it wasn't a virus, go figure) v11.04. It seems to work but does anyone know where I could possibly get a copy of the manual so I can understand what is being done and how to interpret the information? __________________ Dirkpitt289